Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 30
January 23, 2015
Post-workout mango-peach protein smoothie
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of AllWhites Egg Whites. All opinions are 100% mine.
The frustrating part about “good nutrition” for me is that nobody agrees on what is best. I’m not the type of person to just latch on to one philosophy or approach and simply dismiss all of the others…which often leaves my head swimming in confusion.
There is no area where this is more true for me than when it comes to recommendations for pre- and post-workout meals. There are a million different opinions and options, and when I try to plan my workout around my regular meals to leave room for the “extra” meals, I’m really tempted to just give up exercising altogether. (In fairness, it doesn’t take much for me to get to the point of wanting to give up exercise…)
But one thing most sources agree on is the importance of protein, especially following a workout. For me, that often means a hard-boiled egg and a piece of fruit, which frankly gets old after a few days in a row.
That’s why I love the idea of a protein smoothie made with AllWhites Egg Whites. I was excited to try one of their signature protein smoothies for this post, and I can honestly say that we’ll be keeping a carton in our fridge for quick smoothies in the future. (In addition to post-workout smoothies, I think adding AllWhites to our regular smoothies will make them more filling and nutritious for the girls, whether for breakfast or popcorn-and-smoothie nights!)
This mango-peach protein smoothie is delicious, refreshing and filling, making it the perfect post-workout snack in winter or summer!
Ingredients:
2 cups ripe mango, cut up fresh, 1 medium to large ripe peach, pitted and cut up 2/3 cup AllWhites® egg whites, 100% liquid egg whites dash fresh grated nutmegDirections:
Combine all ingredients in blender. Cover and blend on medium speed until smooth.
When using frozen fruit, add additional water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until your smoothie reaches your desired consistency.
Calories: 240
Protein: 18g
Find more AllWhites Egg Whites Favorites here, and be sure to follow AllWhites Egg Whites on Pinterest for even more recipes! Plus, grab a coupon for $0.50 Off AllWhites Egg Whites!
Post-workout mango-peach protein smoothie
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
My creative goals for 2015
If you’d asked me about creative goals three or four years ago, I would have laughed in your face. “I am not creative; I prefer things with straight lines in black and white,” I would have said.
My understanding of creativity has changed over time, and now I see creativity in diagramming a sentence and writing HTML, in the way I live my life and go through my days.
But the funny part is that as my understanding of creativity grew and changed, so did my desire to pursue more “typical” creative pursuits.
It started with the 101 Days of Christmas series, which has led to me trying all kinds of new activities and crafts, but it’s even stretched beyond that.
After a year of debating with myself, I started piano lessons in the fall (our teacher is a saint who comes to our house and gives five lessons all in a row for me and the girls!).
And this summer I stumbled across Stephanie Corfee’s site and decided to take up doodling and hand lettering as well, not just on the edge of my phone pad and the envelopes of birthday cards (which is how my dad always did it), but to really learn the skills involved and embrace it as an art form.
This year, I want to be intentional about embracing that side of creativity by setting a few simple creative goals:
1. PianoI am still learning to read bass clef, and I’d like to master that in 2015. I’d also like to be able to confidently add chords to melodies and use my pedal while playing with both hands (while I may have embraced my creative side, I am still not what one would call coordinated!).
Piano is definitely the creative pursuit where I’m making the most progress on a regular basis, since I don’t want to let our piano teacher down by not progressing between lessons. I’m not sure how to bring that same accountability (which is less about the money spent and more about her expectations of me) to other creative pursuits.
My goal for this year is to make my way through both Creative Doodling & Beyond (which I love) and The Art of Whimsical Lettering (which I’ll admit I don’t love as much as I hoped I would) and maybe pick up another hand lettering book or two.
In addition, I’m excited to use the coloring books from Doodle Art Alley for coloring and doodling inspiration. (Two of these coloring books are in the Ultimate DIY Bundle that’s only available until the 26th!)
I’d like to make my kids prints of their names for Christmas so that I’ll have a definitive goal to work toward.
3. CrochetingI’ve enjoyed a few simple crochet projects in my time—a baby blanket, a garland of shamrocks, etc.—but I’d love to improve my skills enough to complete a few more projects.
Part of my challenge here is that the time when I could be crocheting, like while watching TV in the evening, usually includes Jackson crawling all over me! But I also get stuck on stitches and following a pattern, so I need to set aside some time to master a few of the basics.
4. Baking I went through a phase of making fun food and creative cupcakes for the girls, but for some reason I stopped—I’m sure because I let my limited skill set discourage me.
That said, I’d like to make all of the girls’ birthday cakes/cupcakes this year with really fun designs, and I’m hoping to use the skills from the brand new Cookies for the Seasons ebook from Bridget at Bake at 350 and Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate (both of which are also included in the bundle!) plus The Perfect Cupcake course from Craftsy (one of 18 courses that bundle purchasers choose from as a bonus) to learn a few new things about decorating cakes, cupcakes and cookies as well!
5. SewingFinally, I know just enough about sewing to get myself in trouble. I made the girls a set of diapers, bibs, burpcloths and diaper bags for Christmas one year, and I’ve sewn things like crib sheets before, but I tend to rush through projects and look for shortcuts rather than doing them “right.”
Our oldest daughter, who loves fashion design and is a fairly proficient hand sewer, has been begging me to teach her to use the sewing machine, so I’d like to use Nicole’s Sewing School 101 ebook to learn with her, and then tackle a few projects like Sleep Over Totes for all of the girls, learning to sew a skirt, and a few seasonal embroidery projects from Mollie Johanson’s Seasonal Stitching Club (yep, you guessed it…those ebooks and patterns are all included as well!).
***
As a member of the Ultimate Bundles team, I will freely admit that I’m biased, but I can honestly say that over the past three months—as I’ve been reviewing ebooks, chatting with authors and putting together the Getting Started Guide for this bundle—I have been inspired again and again to try something new, to stretch, to create for the sake of creating without worrying about perfection.
It’s an insanely practical bundle, with projects for every skill set and level from top DIY bloggers. Learn to use chalk pastels and to create homemade skincare products, to take amazing photos and edit them quickly and easily, to transform a thrift store find and paint furniture.
And you’ll also get both of my 101 Days of Christmas ebooks, with more than 200 simple ideas, crafts and recipes for the holidays.
Hurry though! The Ultimate DIY Bundle will only be on sale until the end of the day on Monday, 1/26. Even if you only have an eye on a few of the resources included, it’s more than worth the cost, so you don’t want to wait!
Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. For more information, read the fine print and get the answers to frequently asked questions from Ultimate Bundles.
My creative goals for 2015
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
January 22, 2015
On letting go of mommy guilt
I think there are two things that all mothers can agree on: the horror of the stomach flu and the relentlessness with which mommy guilt pursues us at every turn.
It starts early when well-meaning friends, family and strangers ask us how the baby is sleeping and we sheepishly admit that no, we’re not getting much sleep, let alone sleeping through the night.
From there, the guilt takes different forms depending on the choices we make—some of us feel guilty for staying home with our kids and not providing them the benefits that “they” say daycare and preschool offer. Others of us feel guilty because we’re working, dropping our kids off at daycare even when they cling to us and want to stay home.
Homeschool, private school, public school.
Team sports, art lessons, free play.
Reading together, serving healthy snacks, staying up late to snuggle.
And then there’s the unexpected—an accident and a trip to the ER, an illness, an undiagnosed learning disability.
Guilt, guilt and more guilt at every turn.
I used to think that I was immune to mommy guilt because of my personality. I’m an INTJ, a maverick, a rebel. I am confident in the choices we make as parents, I don’t have trouble saying no, I’m a noncomformist by nature, and I’m generally an optimist.
I didn’t feel guilty—just heartbroken—when our daughter was diagnosed with ITP and I didn’t feel guilty when we transitioned Jackson exclusively to formula.
But, like all moms, the mommy guilt is still there, lurking under the surface and ready to pounce when the opportunity presents itself.
That’s why, when Jackson’s top teeth came in and we suddenly realized with startling clarity that he had a severe upper lip tie—a lip tie that was, in all likelihood, the source of his growth and tummy issues—my first reaction was to feel stupid for missing it earlier, especially because I’d known to look for it.
I realized that, for me, mommy guilt sneaks in not in the decisions we make for our family but in realizing that sometimes I can’t control everything and that sometimes I miss the obvious things.
We’ve been dreading the surgery to snip Jackson’s frenulum for months—having had to reschedule it three times in December because he had a fever and a cough from two different viruses—but today was the big day.
I sat with him as they prepped him for surgery, the picture of calm and peacefulness, as I usually am during big things (while I fall apart over things like holes in all the girls’ socks or kids who won’t stay in their beds at bedtime). When I went to meet him in recovery, though, he was disoriented and having trouble waking up, screaming and sobbing as the nurse’s rocked him, and the facade started to crack.
When we got in the car, ready to head home, I burst into tears, an inevitable releasing of the flood gates that follows any big, scary event in our lives.
I don’t feel guilty that he had a lip tie, and I don’t feel guilty that he had formula instead of breastmilk for the past 6 months. But I do feel guilty that he was hungry and not gaining the weight his body needed for those few months because I missed such an obvious problem (never mind that he saw multiple doctors and specialists who missed it as well!). And I feel guilty that he’s having this surgery as a toddler instead of as a smaller, more easily comforted infant.
And here’s the truth: whatever your source of mommy guilt, it’s time for all of us to let go of the guilt. We are imperfect people, and this is a fallen world. It’s impossible for us to remain in control, to think our way out of every situation, to anticipate what the future holds, and to make perfect decisions all of the time.
Sometimes we’ll get it right. And sometimes we’ll get it wrong. And while I do think we have a responsibility as parents to try our very best, to make decisions carefully, and to put our children first, I think most of us need to focus more on cutting ourselves some slack than raising the impossible bar even higher.
Guilt doesn’t help us parent better; it makes it harder for us to make decisions and to follow our gut. It makes us parent from a place of fear rather than one of love. And it steals our joy.
So today I’m letting go of the guilt (although I might still burst into tears when I remember his screaming in the recovery room). I refuse to be guilty or ashamed, to hide my “mistake” out of embarrassment. I’m going to stop beating myself up and celebrate the things we get right as parents and the fact that surgery is now behind us.
That’s the gift I’m giving my children, and myself, today.
On letting go of mommy guilt
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
CommentsYes. This. Times 1,000. Dealing with some myself right now, so ... by StacyI can so relate with this story. Our daughter now 3 had this ... by JamieI love your insighy!!! I so needed this this week..had an ... by sharonI am amazed at the fact that you were able to put al those ... by DanisaSometimes we just need to give ourselves a break! by Grammy007Plus 3 more...
January 21, 2015
Resources to help you embrace creativity in the midst of the mundane
I’ve often sat in awe of the creativity and skill of the truly talented artists of our world—the greats like Leonardo da Vinci as well as the artists of today with quirky crafts like carving the tiny tips of sharpened pencils or drawing 3D sidewalk chalk art that rivals anything in Mary Poppins.
My dad and husband are among those talented artists—handcrafting furniture, painting pictures and murals, turning rough supplies into a beautiful finished product.
The talent seems to have skipped right over me in our family, and I wore that badge proudly for many years in an effort to ignore my creative side. Yet I’ve realized over the years that there’s still a hunger deep inside of me to embrace my creativity.
I probably won’t ever sell my creations, and there certainly won’t be any viral videos of my work making their way across Facebook; however, even the simple act of crocheting a banner of shamrocks for the windows in March, doodling a coloring page for my girls to color, or carefully picking out the notes of a new song on the piano ignites a creative spark within me.
It’s not just these “creative” pursuits that meet our need for creativity, of course. You can also embrace your creativity in the way you make dinner, the way you do your work, and the way you see the world.
Which is good news for those of us whose days are filled with those things that can easily be called mundane—sitting at a desk, helping the kids with their homework, preparing meals, cleaning up after everyone and putting yet another load of laundry on.
For those of us who wish for more still, who are happy to embrace the small moments of our lives via the lens of creativity but still want to carve out time to learn a new skill, exercise an old one, or just make a mess without worrying about the final product, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
As I worked with the Ultimate Bundles team to put together the Ultimate DIY Bundle 2015, our goal was simple: create a package of resources from the world’s leading DIY and crafting bloggers that will allow purchasers to jump right in and exercise those creative muscles, no matter how long they’ve been sitting dormant.
No more trawling through the internet looking for good-quality, easy-to-follow information and advice: it’s all right here! For the crazy low price of just $34.95, you get access to a carefully curated library of over 75 eBooks and eCourses. It’s the perfect tool to skip the information overload and throw yourself straight into a new activity.
Topics in the bundle include:
Home decor
Furniture painting
Photography
Chalk pastels
Handmade gifts
Homemade skincare products
Cake decorating
Photography and photo-editing
Paint colors and interior design
…and a whole lot more (78 eBooks and eCourses in total) – to help you be inspired or get started with your next DIY or crafting project!
With the collection, you’ll also get both of my 101 Days of Christmas ebooks, with more than 200 simple ideas, crafts and recipes for the holidays.
But the best part—if I do say so myself—is the complete guide to getting started, which helps you discover exactly which resource to use for your specific crafting or DIY project and jump straight into it with confidence!
Hurry though! The Ultimate DIY Bundle will only be on sale for 6 days – from 8am ET on Wednesday, January 21 until 11.59pm ET on Monday, January 26.
You can buy with complete confidence because you’re covered by the Ultimate Bundles 30-day money-back guarantee. That means you have a full 30 days to enjoy all the eBooks and eCourses in the bundle, and if you don’t think they provided enough value, you’ll get a full refund.
Not only that, but The Ultimate DIY Bundle comes with 4 awesome bonuses, worth over $150. That’s 4x the price of the bundle alone! These include…
A free $15 Store Credit PLUS 8×10 Art Print from Hope Ink ($43 Value), a free online class from Craftsy (up to $60 Value), free $15 store credit to Fawnsberg.com, a free sewing pattern PLUS a Premium Video Class from UpCraft Club ($19.99 Value) plus free, full digital copies of Where Women Create Magazine and Greencraft Magazine ($20 value) from Stampington and Co.
So, don’t miss your chance to grab The Ultimate DIY Bundle, and get 78 incredible eBooks and eCourses for just $34.95. This amazing deal ends in just…
Pick up your copy right now, before it’s too late. Or, learn more here.
Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. For more information, read the fine print and get the answers to frequently asked questions from Ultimate Bundles.
Resources to help you embrace creativity in the midst of the mundane
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
January 20, 2015
What I’m reading for the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2015 reading challenge
I generally avoid reading challenges because my reading list is constantly evolving and I’ve learned from experience that I rarely stick to the reading list I plan in advance.
But this one was just too much fun to ignore.
Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy has put together a 2015 reading challenge with just 12 categories (and a fun Pinterest board for quick inspiration!). It sounds simple enough, but selecting books for the challenge was harder than I expected!
After much procrastination and deliberation, here’s my list:
A book you’ve been meaning to read…
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
This one has been on my list since before it was published, and every time I read an essay by author Greg McKeown (of which there are many in the blogosphere!), I wonder why I haven’t yet read it. Adding it to my “definitely going to read in 2015″ list!
A book published this year…
The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You by Jessica N. Turner
I’d like to think I’m pretty good at squeezing every ounce out of every minute of every day, but I’m not always good at finding minutes for self-care. That, along with rest, are among my battle cries for 2015, and I’m looking forward to discovering whether Jessica has tips and strategies to offer that I’m currently missing.
A book in a genre you don’t typically read…
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Funny enough—since this blog first launched as Organizing Your Way—I don’t read a lot of decluttering, organizing and home management books. Those are skills that come to me naturally, so reading about them often feels a bit redundant. That said, so many people have recommended this book as a unique spin on the topic that I’m anxious to dive in and see what the fuss is about.
A book from your childhood…
The Diary of a Young Girl (aka The Diary of Anne Frank) by Anne Frank
Because I’m currently obsessed with reading and learning all I can about World War II (and trying to understand the horror of it all), The Diary of a Young Girl, which I read several times when I was in school, seems like the obvious choice here.
A book your mom loves…
Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are by Shauna Niequist
My mom laughed when I asked for her favorite books because my love of reading is just one of the (many) ways we’re different. Because she’s not much of a reader, I decided to switch this category to “a book you think your mom would love,” and my nomination is this coming devotional from Shauna Niequist, which includes content from her other books as well as new content in a simply daily devotional format. I love Shauna’s writing and her heart, and I think my mom would enjoy this one—and the accompanying recipes—as well. Maybe I’ll get us each a copy for Mother’s Day this year!
A book that was originally written in a different language…
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
This category was so hard for me. I’m sure I’ve read books that were written in a different language before, but it’s just not something that stands out to me when reading book descriptions, and picking up a heavy classic did not appeal to me. Then I came across this one, which sounds just like the type of quirky book I’d read anyway, making it a shoo-in for this category.
A book “everyone” has read but you…
Bonhoeffer: A Biography by Eric Metaxas
I feel left out of enough conversations that reference Bonhoeffer to move this one up my list as a book that “everyone” has read except me.
A book you chose because of the cover…
The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel
As I looked through the books in my reading pile and wishlist, I really couldn’t pinpoint a single book that I’d chosen because of the cover, so I headed to the 2015 Reading Challenge Pinterest board to choose one from there instead. This cover jumped right out at me and made me want to learn more, so here it is!
A book by a favorite author…
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
I fell in love with Liane Moriarty’s writing last year—or more accurately, her insight into personalities, motivations and relationships—but The Husband’s Secret is one I haven’t yet read. In all honesty, the descriptions of her books never really make me want to read them, even though I have enjoyed every one so far. This one is no different in that regard, but I’m fairly confident that I’ll enjoy it anyway!
A book recommended by someone with great taste…
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Anne Bogel, Modern Mrs. Darcy herself, recommended this as one of her top reads of 2014. My goal is to read more nonfiction in 2015, and I love history with a passion, so it was an easy choice for this list.
A book you should have read in high school…
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
On the comments of a recent list of “classics you should have read,” several of my friends recommended To Kill a Mockingbird as one that’s both enjoyable and poignant. I have quite a few classics on my to-read list this year, but I think this one probably fits this category the best.
A book that’s currently on the bestseller list…
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
I almost bought the Kindle version of this a few weeks ago when it was on sale, and I’m not sure why I didn’t. But I’m intrigued enough by the story—and it’s continued success as a bestseller—to make sure I grab it next time the price drops!
Are you participating in this reading challenge? I’d love to hear what you’re planning to read!
What I’m reading for the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2015 reading challenge
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
CommentsLooking forward to reading it, but I'll have to gear myself up ... by Mandi @ Life Your WayUnfortunately, they removed this feature from the Kindle ... by Mandi @ Life Your WayWanted to make sure you are aware of “text to speech” on ... by pvhGood luck with your challenge! Still Alice is an amazing and ... by Brooke BumgardnerOh, that's an awesome start–I need to start soon and not ... by Mandi @ Life Your WayPlus 3 more...
January 19, 2015
Lessons from my personal retreat (and the words I heard over and over)
Last week, while my parents were out of town on business, I drove 5 hours to their house for a 3-day personal retreat. As I mentioned, I realized before I left that this is the first time in my entire life that I have ever been alone for that long (Sean and I both still lived at home when we got married), and as an introvert, it was bliss. (Although Sean will tell you that I got chattier via text the longer I was there.)
My goal for this time was manyfold:
To find some quiet to just think/brainstorm/catch the vision for 2015 for my personal life and business. To rest. Ah, uninterrupted sleep three nights in a row…how you spoil me! To work through a couple different goal setting programs, including Michael Hyatt’s 5 Days to Your Best Year EverDid I mention rest?
Although I’ve often wished for a working weekend where I could knock out a bunch of work quickly and without interruption, my goal for this time was actually to work as little as possible. I often feel like I’m carrying dozens of half-formed thoughts around in my brain, and I needed some time for those ideas to form and connect so that I don’t feel so scattered all the time.
I set up my computer in my step-dad’s office, where I could get to it as needed but it wouldn’t be distracting me most of the time, and it worked perfectly for a few short work sessions.
To be sure I used my time wisely, I even took Facebook and Instagram off my phone and only used Facebook to moderate a couple of groups, avoiding social media the rest of the time. But now I’m having trouble reentering the world of Facebook and Instagram…as much as I love both, it was kind of nice to not think about them while I was gone.
My “supplies” for this time included several journals, doodling books and tools, workbooks, my yearly calendar, my Bible and—of course—my Kindle. I read in bed with cups of Yogi Egyptian Licorice tea. I read on the couch with cups of Yogi Vanilla Spice Perfect Energy tea. I read in the morning, in the afternoon and at night.
Because I would have happily curled up with my Kindle and read fiction and biographies the whole time, I had to be intentional about making time for the things that would actually support my goals for this trip. So I also listened to audiobooks while driving, while walking and while doodling, including these books:
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield Manage Your Day to Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus & Sharpen Your Creative Mind by 99U Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day by Todd Henry Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Timothy KellerAnd of course I needed ice cream. (I’ve heard this is a must for a personal retreat, and who am I to buck convention?!) Despite being in the middle of my Whole 30, I went ahead and got myself a tiny little ice cream to enjoy on my last night. I was again reminded that my body doesn’t love dairy as much as my mouth does, but it was worth every bite! (And I stocked the fridge with real Whole 30 foods for the rest of the time.)
Over the course of three days, I took notes, wrote down thoughts and completed various exercises in my journals, and I was amazed by the themes that emerged time and time again.
Like this quote, which I can’t remember ever hearing before but I read or heard at least four different times:
“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything.” ~Warren Buffet
I was also struck by themes like:
doing too much without rest just leads to burnout, not better productivity failure is inevitable and a stepping stone to success your most important work should come first, before all of the other demands on your time distractions are costlier than they appear in terms of both productivity and creativity routines and habits lay the framework for getting things doneAnd because I love quotes, my journal is filled with quotes that spoke to me. Here are a few of my favorites:
“[You’re] distracted from distraction by distraction.” ~T.S. Eliot
“Genius is the act of perceiving similarity among disparate things.” ~Henry James
“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” ~William S. Burroughs
“Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.” ~Chuck Close
“We tend to overestimate what we can do in a short period, and underestimate what we can do over a long period, provided we work slowly and consistently.” ~Gretchen Rubin
In the quiet and peace, I refocused my goals for the year (using some of Michael Hyatt’s strategies but still avoiding putting concrete numbers or measurements on things like reading to the girls or playing more games together), sketched out a schedule for sticking to work hours (something I know I won’t do perfectly because sometimes work demands more time than I’ve allocated, but hopefully it will provide a base to return to), took the Enneagram test (I’m an 8w7), and made plans for the projects I realistically want to tackle in 2015.
Overall, it was an amazing experience, a million times more valuable than any of the conferences or retreats I’ve attended in the past because of the quiet and the space to think. I don’t know if and when I’ll get to do it again, but I have a feeling we’ll be reaping the benefits of this one for quite a while!
Lessons from my personal retreat (and the words I heard over and over)
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
January 16, 2015
Scaling back our 2014-2015 curriculum {again}
This is definitely a pattern for us.
I shared our 2014-2015 curriculum in April of last year, and over the four months that followed, I continued to tweak and add to it. By the time fall rolled around, we had a VERY full schedule, one that took the big girls way too much time to complete each day.
We stuck to it for 6 weeks to be able to really evaluate what was realistic for us, but then I began to cut things, as I always do.
In the end, my list looks quite a bit different from the plan I laid out last year, and I’ve thought about cutting things further. I believe in the value of things like copywork and handwriting, and spelling and dictation, but I’m also leery of providing busy work that takes away from true, independent learning. Fortunately, those things don’t take long—and the girls are actually fairly enthusiastic about doing them—so I’m leaving them in for now.
kindergartener:
Explode the Code (We tried Logic of English Foundations for the first time this year. I really like this program, but it is just not a good fit for my kindergartener, who is easily overwhelmed and not ready to write, so we’re going back to the workbooks we’ve succesfully used with the previous 3 girls.)1st grader:
Explode the Code First Language Lessons (Level 2) Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive3rd grader:
copying grammar charts handwriting copywork & dictation Spelling Plus (using Spelling City for practice and testing) WordBuild4th grader:
CC Essentials handwriting copywork & dictation Spelling Plus (using Spelling City for practice and testing) WordBuild
kindergartener:
Singapore Earlybird Math, A1st grader:
Teaching Textbooks, 3rd grade3rd grader:
Teaching Textbooks, 5th grade4th grader:
Teaching Textbooks, 5th grade
History 3rd & 4th graders:
Story of the World (2 & 3)everybody:
CC memory work and related books Science3rd & 4th graders:
Academics in a Box (I wanted to make the monthly STEM boxes from Academics in a Box work for us, but I haven’t been disciplined about making time for them. We still have a few to work through, though, so we’re going to try again.)everybody:
CC memory work and related books Geography3rd & 4th graders:
The Complete Book of Maps and Geography map games on the computer Languages4th grader:
French, Duo Lingo3rd grader:
Spanish, Duo Lingo3rd & 4th graders:
Classical Academic Press’s Latin Primer A (online) Bible1st, 3rd & 4th graders:
Daily Bible readings and SOAPing in their journals
kindergartener, 1st & 3rd graders:
science & history enrichment class3rd & 4th graders:
Ambassadors, the drama our church puts on each springeverybody:
biweekly piano lessons individual ice cream & library dates with Dad American Heritage Girls A Year of Doodles (online) books, books & more booksDo you fall into the trap of adding too much and then needing to scale back? What’s the best curriculum decision you ever made?
Scaling back our 2014-2015 curriculum {again}
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
January 15, 2015
25 novels and biographies about World War II
2013 was marked by an obsession with young adult dystopian novels, and last year was the year of escapism (and also the year I discovered that not all contemporary fiction is as cheesy as most of the contemporary Christian fiction I read in my early 20s…but that’s a post for another day).
While I have several reading goals this year, the year as a whole just might end up being characterized by books 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.
WWII Books I’ve Read and Recommend Nonfiction Unbroken: A World War II Book of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand The Nazi Officer’s Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived The Holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom Fiction All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1) by Elizabeth Wein Number the Stars by Lois Lowry The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff Far to Go by Alison Pick WWII Books on My Reading List Nonfiction The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown Don’t Give Up, Don’t Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life by Louis Zamperini and David Rensin No Ordinary Time: Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II by Vicki Croke Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue by Kathryn J. Atwood Fiction Rose Under Fire (Code Name Verity #2) by Elizabeth Wein The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult The Paris Architect: A Novel by Charles Belfoure Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas The Nightingale by Kristin HannahDo you like this genre of books? Which of these have you read? Any books you’d add?
25 novels and biographies about World War II
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CommentsNumber the Stars: love it! And the Book Thief and Boys in the ... by NancyI read The Book Thief last year and really enjoyed it. My ... by DebbieThe Book Thief is one of my all time favorite books. I checked ... by Jessica Allen“War Brides” by Helen Bryan and “Sarah's Key” by ... by Katie EngebretsenYou really should read Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blume. by JenniferPlus 4 more...
You were born to create
“You were born to create.”
Do you believe that’s true? Do you consider yourself creative?
A few years ago, I might have said that some people were creative and some people think in straight lines and black-and-white, falling into the latter category myself.
But over the past few years, I’ve discovered that you can be type-A, organized, a go-getter…and still be creative.
And more than that, I’ve discovered that creating–even without the obvious talent that my husband, my dad and even my daughters show–unlocks something within me that makes me feel more satisfied and happy with my life overall.
For me, creating includes taking piano lessons (yes, at 32 years old, with my 8-year-old helping me figure out fingering and how to read bass clef) and doodling.
Whether you’re unsure about whether you even have a creative side or you’ve simply lost touch with that side of yourself in the hustle and bustle of “real life,” this free mini-course is for you. With four simple steps you can take to rediscover your creative side, it’s sure to inspire you to make room for creating in your life!
Hurry, because it’s only available for a few days. Claim your FREE mini-course today!
P.S. When you share this course with others, you’ll also have the opportunity to unlock a subscription to Better Homes & Gardens and an amazing bundle of resources for your creativity!
You were born to create
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
January 14, 2015
“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor…”
“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor—it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.” ~Peter Walsh
I love this quote.
We tend to focus on the physical stuff when we’re simplifying and decluttering—and I’ve talked about decluttering enough that I’m sure you know I think that’s important. But I’m realizing more and more that it’s the other stuff that often takes a bigger toll on us, affecting our emotions, motivation, happiness and even physical health. I’m talking about things like:
overscheduled days unhealthy relationships unforgiveness pride fear “shoulds” unhealthy habits too many commitments perfectionism distractions unrealistic expectations digital clutter comparisons aspirational clutter (a term coined by a member of our Live course…meaning all the stuff you keep around because you wish you were the person who used them, even though you’re not whether that’s craft supplies, books, exercise equipment, etc.)What “non-stuff” clutter is standing between you and the life you want?
“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor…”
© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved
