5 Basic Yet Fancy Add-ons for Your Blog @TwoOs+More Today!

So, you have a blog, but there's a little something missing? Jealous of all the cool kids and their buttons and add-ons? You've come to the right place!

Sarah @TwoOs+More just had her third sweet little boy, so to give her a *little* extra time to welcome him to the O family, she's having me over today to talk about some basic/fancy upgrades for your blogs!  Head on over to check it out!

We're also linked up w/ Hallie @Moxie Wife for Five Favorites today!

{FF} Top 5 Tips for Moms of Newborns

Three very dear friends (Sarah + *two* others!) are very close to meeting brand new babies this month, and I couldn't be more excited for them!  In honor of the new babes on the way, I consulted my Mom Guru, my friend Ellie, and we came up with some tips. Now, these are more for the new mom of a newborn, but you veterans out there should glean something! So, since I'm obviously an expert (ha.ha.), here's the tips...

1. Be prepared, (but know that there's only so much you can prepare).
Get stocked up on the practical, basic things you'll need for the first little time after you get home from the hospital.  Get some witch hazel and some mega-huge pads.  Find a comfortable nursing tank top, and maybe an item or two that makes you feel pretty, like a nail polish or a lip balm, because you are going to look for a while, as Grace puts it, like you've been hit by a truck.  Know, however, that there is only so much you can do to get ready for this new life. At some point, she's going to arrive, and send your expectations flying, and you will be the mom. 

2. Remember that the days are short but the years fly by. 
You are going to get tired of hearing "enjoy it now, it flies by" or "they grow up so fast!". When you are sleep-strained and wishing that they would just know one thing to do on their own, you don't want to hear that you're supposed to enjoy something!  So, as Ellie puts it, "tuck away as many memories of your sweet baby as possible...how he smells and smiles and giggles, his fat rolls and soft skin. These memories will serve you well when he turns into a rowdy, unruly toddler who draws on your new couch in black permanent marker".

3. Rest.
While it's not really realistic to "sleep when the baby sleeps" (that's often the only time for showering, dishes, vacuuming, calling a friend or painting your nails as well...), the sentiment is true for sure, especially if you're using up a bunch of calories by breastfeeding.  Your sleep is going to be disrupted, so snatch it where you can.  If a friend offers help, ask them to hold the baby while you take a nap!  Otherwise try to keep a restful attitude for the first few weeks so that your body can recover.  Don't try to have tons of company over to go to all the events there are.  Lay low, start slow. 

4. This too shall pass
I think the most helpful piece of advice I received as a first-time-hassled mom was also from Ellie.  She told me that the super-fussy day/night flipped schedule Leo was keeping was just a phase that he'd grow out of by about 6/7 weeks old.  I was so relieved!  6-7 weeks may sound like an eternity, but just knowing that there was an end in sight made it all easier.  I have continued to remind myself of this advice as the boys have gotten older.  With each new weird sleeping pattern or frustrating behavior that requires constant re-direction, I think "it's just a phase", and it's true!  Moreover, we need them to have these phases, because they are forming us too.  As mothers we are constantly called to rebirth.  As our little one's babyhood passes away, toddler-hood is born and on and on.  So in each stage we face a newness and an overwhelming that molds us into better mothers.  Don't fight this pruning.  It's OK, and it definitely doesn't mean you are a bad mom.

5. It's OK to feel like you have no idea what you're doing
It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed and shocked and unprepared for motherhood.  It's healthy to have these feelings because they are the beginning of learning.  They are, as Ellie puts it, "the birth pains of your path of motherhood".  You're learning as you go, but you are that baby's mom.  You are the one whom God chose from all time and eternity to be the mother to this baby at this particular time in your life, and in history.  Your particular gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses, personality, experiences, doubts, and knowledge are what your child needs.

My Momma rocking it with her cutest child ;)

*Bonus Links*
Toddler Tips
Momma Said
Best Baby Shower Gift
Just Enjoy
The Myth of Motherhood

Joining Hallie over @Moxie Wife for Five Favorites!

{Five Favorites} Alter Egos

As discovered through internet quizzes...

You've all fallen for it. "I took #wasteoftime.com's quiz and I'm an endangered Red Panda! What type of animal are you?!"

Here to amuse ourselves in these doldrums of winter, the five secret personalities you never knew I never had.

1. Pop Diva - Robyn

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This one is the most mysterious. As my sister put it after reading the Wikipedia link I sent, "yes, I've never heard of her." Apparently, though, if I were a pop diva, I'd be a Swedish one from the '90s. Who knew.

2. Starring in the Musical - Sweeny Todd
Did I say that last one was the most mysterious? This one. This one. Oh my. I should have just re-taken it, I guess, because I have no idea. Maybe it's my Dragon-Mom side showing? The results said something about how my hair is always perfect (ha. see below.) and that I'm a melancholy person. Maybe. When chocolate deprived, yes. 

source (+me)

3. Food - The Sandwich

That's right folks, my food alter ego is...the sandwich.

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They say it's because of my "girl-next-door" personality. Ok.

4. Disney Princess - Belle

Ok, I'll buy it. ;)

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You had me at "beautiful". Although, I suppose that's the idea with Disney princesses...

5. Harry Potter Character - Ginny Weasly
This one's my favorite. 

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Because who doesn't like being the pretty popular one? Well...except for that whole Chamber of Secrets thing...but I did land the coolest guy in school. ;)

c. 2008 Gaming, Austria

Coming soon from Zimbio and Buzzfeed: the "Which Internet Quiz are You?" quiz.

{FF} Top Five Audio Books

Joining Grace for Hallie's Five Favorites this week....

::drum-roll::

Top Five Audio Books for Moms Doing Dishes

Listening to audio-books is something that Steven got me into. I'd love *actually* to read more books, but that requires at least one free hand, and considering that I need three extra hands to keep my boyos in line...not. gunna. happen. At least for now... Anyways. Steve listens to books at work. We have an Audible account, or Steve gets them through the library for free online. [Get to the list already, lady!].  

I really like the results. A lot of the time, I'd rather not wash fifty thousand dishes or fold-all-the-clothes...again, but listening to a good story while I am, makes the time go by faster. A sort of  "whistle-while-you-work", I suppose.  SO, here's my list of a few good "listens". Oh, and I'm picky about the narrator; you can be reading a book I absolutely adore, but if your  voice is all wrong, you're out. First paragraph, your done. What can I say? I was spoiled by years of Wind in the Willows and Chaucer as narrated by my Dad, the best reader I know. 

1. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, narrated by Humphry  Bower. 

photo source

I absolutely loved this book. Humphrey Bower does a superb job with the voices and narration, and the story is epic and inspiring. I've heard that the movie version doesn't do the story justice (as is often the case with long books), so if you've seen that, still give the book a try. My brother had to read this in high school, and loved it, so it's gotta be good (forced reading + good is somewhat rare ;)). 

2. The 'Odd Thomas' series by Dean Koontz, narrated by David Aaron Baker

photo source

This is a series about a guy with super-natural abilities, including the gift to see dead people. I know, I know, sounds kind of...whatever, but Koontz is a fun story teller, and Catholic to boot (why is it that Catholic authors of fiction trend towards mystery?). I love how he weaves in some Classical references and how he doesn't ignore the spiritual/religious side of people. His hero is a clean-living-Heaven-hopeful young guy, who gets himself into a world of trouble with every turn. These stories are a lot quicker than some audio books, and definitely entertaining. 

3. The Millenium Triology by Steig Larsson, narrated by Simon Vance 

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Along with The Girl Who Played with Fire & The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was a masterful piece of fiction. I listened to all three, and they were whatever the listening equivalent of "page-turner" is. I'll have to admit that the violent content was way abrasive on my pretty little naive ears at times, and I'd watch out for kiddos listening along with you (read: don't), but Larsson set out to write these books in large part to highlight and condemn violence and mistreatment of women. Overall, well-written stuff, worth checking out. 

4. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett, narrated by Nigel Planer

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Terry Pratchett cracks. me. up. He is snarky and hilarious. His books are perfect to listen to, because they are the kind that you'd want to read aloud to someone anyhow. After listening to 'Good Omens' (wildly fun), Guards! Guards! just continued the romp.  Pratchett's writings are prolific, so you'll have plenty of fodder for stack upon stack of crusty pots. If you're easily offended by humor that pokes fun at your religion, steer clear, but if you can laugh with the best of them (think Monty Python), you'll enjoy this stuff. 

5. The 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale

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Y'all don't need me to tell you to read these, I hope...but, just in case, here's Haley @ Carrots for Michelmas on the subject of reading Harry, and on Mrs. Weasley.  Listening to Jim Dale narrate an older favorite is lots of fun. It doesn't look like you can get this one on Audible, so hit up your library or buy it online. 

SO, there ya have it, folks! Get in that kitchen, and listen! ;)  

[Does anyone else channel LeVar Burton when recommending books?]

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**I CAN go AN-Y-where....** (...and now you have a song stuck in your head for the day too; you're welcome, come anytime...)

{Favorite Quick Takes}

Joining Hallie for Favorites and Jen for Quick Takes

(because that's how we roll in the world of slacker-bloggers!)

Basically just what's on my mind and what I like this week. With pictures.;)

1. The Radical Life
I keep on talking about this Radical Life guy:

Matthew Warner

I like his stuff. This week's post is more good stuff: 12 Most Important Metrics for Your Child's (and Your) Education.


2. Freeset Fundraiser
You probably heard about the UPS plane crash last week. We should definitely pray for the families of the two pilots who lost their lives in the crash. There is another way to help the victims of the event. Freeset is a fair-trade company that employs women who were trapped in the human trafficking industry in Calcutta. They pay their employees about 3x what they would otherwise make. They make organic cotton T-shirts and jute bags.

They make some pretty bags, y'all.

The UPS plane was carrying about $150,000 of their merchandise, representing 3 months of work by their employees. You can go here to donate to Freeset to help them cover their losses. In a truly lovely exchange of events, Freeset is also making a memorial T-shirt, the profits of which go 100% to the UPS pilot's families. (Thanks to Melanie @ the BigMama blog for sending me towards all of this).


3. Mom-couragement
I am always finding some good encouragements for moms. Here's a thought from a new source, Incourage. In a post entitled "10 Ways to be a Happier Mom" (who wouldn't click that?) by Ann Voskamp, I find:

 Love always begins with patience, and patience is a willingness to suffer.

How is that encouraging, you ask? --how could it be encouraging to suffer? Suffering isn't exactly what you think it is, then. Did you know that the root of our word, passion, is the Latin verb patior which means to suffer?! Think about it...what greater act of love is it than to give up your own selfishness (time, talent, wealth, wants etc.) for another?  Indeed..."Greater love has no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). When we sacrifice in the small things, when we make the extra efforts for our loved ones (and our un-loved ones!), we are growing in love. --and what could be better, or more important than that?

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4. Home Pre-schooling
SO, I'm not sending Leo off to a pre-school this fall.  I never really thought that I would be...he's only *almost* 3 after all...and I kind of like having him around...BUT I am going to be doing some more planned efforts at education (other than the constant stream of wisdom in didactic moments that comes out of my mouth ;) ).

This will perfectly describe me in the not-too-distant future...

What have I done to prepare so far? I made a Pinterest board (...but you should basically just look at Sarah's if you're in my boat...she rocks.) SO, I'm obviously Super Mom, and ready for anything. 

5. Veiled Truths...This week I read another post about veiling during Mass, this time from Jenna @ Call Her Happy. Basically, she's considering veiling during Mass, which was something women did *way back when* as a way to be respectful, and humble (and less distracting to themselves and others!). I was first intrigued by the idea by Jennifer @ Conversion Diary, a while ago. Kelly @ This A'int the Lyceum also wrote a good post about veiling, with some pictures of different non-veil veil options.  I think that where I stand on the idea is that I think it's kind of neat.  BUT I think this in a "I would wear a tasteful non-doily-on-my-head veil and everyone would love it" kind of way. 

Like this. Which you can find here. "Eternity scarf"

SO...pretty much defeats the purpose, which would be one of making my time at church more prayerful (HA! with two boyos...! yea...) etc. So, for now, I think I will remain unveiled...but there are these scarves...$5 only...BUT...then there's St. Paul, reminding us women to be adorned with "good deeds" and not with pearls and braids...SO, yes, for now...just me and my unruly (read: boyo-pulled) locks. 

6. Tie a Yellow Ribbon
You may have thought that all this was over, but we still have A LOT of soldiers out there in harm's way on our behalf. It may not seem to little old you and me like they are out there for us, when they go to places like Afghanistan to help those folks, but then I hear news from Egypt, and I compare it to news from here (which is horrible enough), and I know that our soldiers are out there for us. Case in point, my wonderful brother-in-law. Lt. JDB has just been deployed with his unit of the Army National Guard to Afghanistan, and he'll be gone for almost a year (with a stint in Mississippi first which sounds just as bad). So, as you go to sleep tonight in your safe and A/C'd home, remember all of our loved ones out there, and please pray for their safety. 

Two J's on Mag's #1 list today: and neither one missing her b-day for anything.

Which brings me to...

7. MARGARET's BDAY!! 
Younger siblings aren't allowed to get older (take note, Jono!!), but older ones DO...mwahahhaha. Anyways. Today is Mags bday. Or it was when I started finishing this post...anyways...AUGUST 24th is the best and so is she. You may remember her from her famous stints as guest-blogger here and here and here. Basically click the *snark* tag on the posts, and you'll get them all. Best older sister ever. Most of the time. Prettiest and smartest and most fun. Always.

Always got my back :)

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY lovey. xoxoxo

{FF} Toddler Tips Edition

Linking it up with Hallie again!
Make sure to head back over there for the better bloggers ;)

and now...

{Five Favorite Tips for Dealing with Toddlers}

1. Use a Timer. 

No joke, this trick is miraculous. Brothers are fighting over a toy? No problem:
Mom: "It's Daniel's turn, Leo, I'll set the timer, and then it will be your turn!"
Leo: "Awright!"

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I credit my friend Kaylinne for this one. She works at a daycare, and uses her watch all day long to give kids turns. The day she came over and showed me this one, Leo and Gabriella kept taking turns holding a toy. Long after they weren't even playing with it, they kept passing it back and forth when the time was up! This works for everything. Nap-time, bath-time, time to go inside, taking turns etc. I don't even have to have a timer, Leo buys it when I tell him I have a timer in my head and then say "beep-beep! Timer's up!".

2. Bedtime Picture Book.

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Leo was being, shall we say, difficult for bedtimes. My awesome Mom-Mentor friend Ellie gave me this great trick. I made a little picture book from photos I took and a cheap plastic soft photo album. The pictures are of Leo going through the steps of getting ready for bed and being asleep in bed. At the end of the book, it describes how Leo gets stickers for a good bedtime. It took a few days of no stickers, then Leo had the hang of it, and behaved beautifully at bedtime. He's not always peachy, but usually he is brought around by "...oh, I guess you aren't getting a sticker in the morning for a good bedtime...". I don't even have to read the book with him before bedtime anymore...but I have it in case!

3. "When" consequences.

This is another tip that I learned from Ellie way early on, and I love using it. Instead of saying "IF YOU HIT YOUR BROTHER ONE MORE TIME YOU ARE GOING TO TIME OUT!!!", you say "WHEN you hit your brother, you sit on the stairs." It sounds the same at first, but it's ever so subtly different. In fact, instead of threatening your children, you are teaching them that there are consequences to their actions. The results of their behavior are up to them, then, not you. They choose to behave poorly, they get to sit on the stairs, and so on. Also, you aren't threatening them all the time. That is nice too. 

4. Say what you mean.

This one can be summed up b-e-a-utifully by Kendra over @ Catholic All Year in this post. Basically, parenting with authority so that your kids listen and do what you say can be summed up by that one phrase: say what you mean. Always. When kids grow up understanding that you always say what you mean, they understand that you aren't budging, there will be consequences...ba-da-bing, they stop pushing against you (in a perfect world, of course, but hey--this works pretty well;))

5. You don't always have to say no.

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Sometimes we get caught up in saying no. We have to say it A LOT throughout the day, mostly so that our children don't involve themselves in life-threatening experiments with the world around them (no, you may not use that knife; no, you may not run into traffic; no, you may not eat all of the cookie dough...). But I think that we get caught up in saying no so often that we forget it's not going to kill us to say yes sometimes...when he asks you to build him a train track, or to play outside, or to read one more story at bedtime. Don't cave into being the yes-man-mom, but know that you can say yes in a lot of situations, and it just might be easier to play outside for 15 minutes, and have a happier kiddo, than to say no and have to deal with the fuss-fest.

There you have it! Now, head back on over to Hallie's to join in the favorites fun! :0)

{FF} Momma Said...

Joining Hallie for Five Favorites.

Make sure to pop back over there for the actual bloggers ;)

***

So, yes, this is a "mommy blog" blogging about other mommy blogs who blogged about being moms...

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For {Five Favorites} this week, I'm going to take a look at some awesome posts from other bloggers on the blessedness (::wink:wink::) of Motherhood. So, with as much ado as possible, and in no particular order, here we go!

1. 

Sarah @ Two Os + more with
Letting the Sweet Moments Trump the Not So Sweet
Sarah has a very light-hearted and informative blog that always has plenty of variety (I love the pics and the "Out of the Mouth of Dom" in her weekly updates). This post is one of her more serious ones, however, and she tells it straight. Being a mom is pretty bittersweet...and sometimes you just gotta let go of the poopy moments and bask in the sweet ones.

2.

Grace @ Camp Patton with Natural Family Seat of Our Pants

Anyone who's read this blog for 2.5 seconds recognizes that I am a Camp Patton fan. Grace has a dry sense of humor and keeps it honest and snarky about life with 3 under 3. This post highlights some good thoughts about NFP.  I'm planning to enlighten you all with my deeper thoughts on the subject at some future date, and I'll probably link this up again. What I like about it is that it highlights the fact that NFP is different for every couple, and our judgy-mc-judge-thoughts about other families should take the high road. God has different plans for each family...unique, wonderful plans.

3.

Kendra @ Catholic All Year with So You Guys are DONE, Right?
Kendra's blog is one that I've just started checking out (I think Sarah sent me there?). She's a Catholic home-schooling mom of seven kids...and a great resource for mom stuff. I agreed with absolutely everything she had to say about disciplining kids in this post. The post above, however, is a nice perspective on larger families. When people start telling you at 2 kids that you've got your hands full...it's nice to know what you might say ;). Her thoughts on families don't quite mesh with mine, so perhaps that's why I like to read her thoughts. The stigma that families with more than 3 kids have something wrong, or obviously were mistaken, or whatever need to be broken down. Children are beautiful gifts, and some people are called to have plenty of them :0). 

4.

Haley @ Carrots for Michaelmus
with Trying Not to be the "Just Wait" Mom
Haley is another blog that Sarah sent me to :D. She's got great thoughts and reflections (and has chickens too!). This particular post was great, because it wasn't quite what I expected. I thought Haley was going to tell us not to be impatient with the day-to-day motherhood blah stuff (which is a good thing to think!), but instead she went one better. This post teaches us "older" (ha-ha!) moms not to hurry the "younger" ones along. As someone who feels like an *expertista* on most everything after running through it twice, I needed this one. 

5.

Bonnie @ A Knotted Life with Nine Months of Doing it Wrong
Bonnie is a mother of six with good perspectives and solid experience. I feel like I'm reading advice from an older sister or aunt at times with her :0). Her thoughts in this post totally clicked with me. Just before going in to deliver her newest baby, she reflects on the backwards way she has been praying for the last several months. She had prayers of fear. I've realized a lot lately that I pray in much the same way (and I'm trying to become better!). My prayer is often fear-based, as in: "Please don't let x-y-z happen to us!!!". These are the moments of growth...the stretching times when we realize why God made motherhood such a well-trodden path in this life.

>>Bonus Blog Reel<<

Check out the following blog superstars for more great Mom tips:

Kelly @ This Aint the Lyceum

Jen @ Conversion Diary

Hallie @ Moxie Wife

Dwija @ House Unseen 

Jessica @ Housewife Spice

Late for the Party but Wearing my Boots...

{Five Favorites}
linking up with Grace for Hallie's FF
AND
joining Jen for day #3 of the blog challenge}
shhhhh...this is yesterday's post...

So...Five Favorites...I thought about doing an un-Favorites post, since this is a day late and a dollar short, as it were, but since that's basically what I gave you last week...here we go with the realsies!

>>(only) Five Favorite Children's Books<<
Wherein I hold with my trend of pretending to be an actual blogger (see here and here).
Today's version: books!
(For actual book-blogging, check out Julie over @ Julie's World...
She's a book reviewer AND an author!)

I really do love books. I have recently been pretty strict about having fewer toys in the house (because they just make big messes...and who needs toys when you can just spill an entire box of cereal onto the kitchen floor and then smash it into dust, just for fun?), but I don't apply the same rules to books. I'll need to start being more creative about protecting them from small ones (Daniel soaked one in a sink-ful of water and schmeared another with yogurt in the span of about 20 minutes the other day...), but books are welcome here.

Here's a few of our favorites...

1. Rumplestilskin retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Great pictures, clever Momma. Good one.

 2. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema, picures by Leo and Diane Dillon

African folk tale wherein the Mosquito gets it. 

I remember this one from my school days at St. Patrick's...was it during the unit we did in second grade on Africa? We built huts and dressed in colorful wrap dresses (over top of our lovely green plaid jumpers and yellow blouses or dark blue pants w/ light blue shirts and green plaid ties, of course). 

 3. Anything by Robert McCloskey

We've been reading One Morning in Maine for a while now (aka "The Sal One"),

but I just found Make Way For Ducklings at Ollie's for $2.29. Yes please.

4. Llama Llama Red Pajama, story and pictures by Anna Dewdney

A present from Tia Lizzie Wilber :0)

We love Llama Llama. Anyone who puts "please stop all this llama drama" in a sentence has my vote for sure.

 5. Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

With the Ernest Shepard illustrations only please. 

Classic Eddy-kids bedtime story with Dad. With all the voices, of course.

So, what are some of your favorites? 

{Five Favorites} Too. Dang. Hot.

Linkin' it up w/ Hallie over at Moxie Wife for a tardy game of:

It has been at least 90 degrees for...several days now. (whine whine whine). So here are some favorite things for beating back the heat.  

1. ICE ICE BABY...

 Only 100 calories of delicious, cooling T-R-E-A-T.

There is a strawberry version, but why? Why? Why? :0)

 2. Summer-flavored hand soap. 

Leo has been wearing UNDERWEAR during the day (oh my!), and this stuff gets him to wash his hands every time :D. My Nana always used to ask us after we had used the bathroom, "Did you wash your hands?". When I got older, I would come out and ask her if she had anything to ask me. :0).

In Leo-ease: "Hoamny soap" 

3. VISITORS!!! 

I am going to be spoiled for sure. My *little* brother Jono (UNCLE JONO) is visiting right now...my sister Mags (of sometime blog fame here>>keep your eyes out for more...!) arrives on Friday, and my dear friend Marie arrives in 2 WEEKS! (Marie blogs on life and love over at The Merry Dreamer; you should check it out!)  This may be the truth:

...but there's nothing like sharing the day with folks over 2.83 years old to brighten the mood ;)

Marie and I on a college-days road trip to Maryland. 

4. THE LAKE

Ok, so I live in Ohio. Approximately 772 miles away from Little Sebago Lake, Maine. ::sigh:: But it is still one of the greatest things about summer. And you'd better be enjoying it, you Mainer family you! 

This is Nana with Jake at the lake some years ago.
Sweet sweet serenit.

5. WEEDING.

Oh wait, not. Weeding is pretty much awful. And I'm pretty bad at getting it all done. HOW-ever, the wonder-ful-ness of making jams and pepper mustard...is also lots of work. BUT the awesome-ness of EATING all of the bounty, even months later due to the wonders of canning science. THAT is one of my favorite things :0)

This lady has a kneeler AND gloves.
Let me tell you, that is WAY more glamorous than I'll ever get.
There is much more dirt and sweat and sweat involved in my garden.

Tied Up with String: Five Favorites {Vol. 1}

Finally linking it up with Hallie over at Moxie Wife for her Five Favorites fun, so when you're done here,
head over there to see what other folks are lovin' today! :D

1. These flip flops. The brand is Okabashi. 

They are MADE in the USA! They are flip flops WITH AN ARCH. ...and (best part?),
they cost me $10 at Wal-Mart! I don't usually
shop at Wal-Mart, because it's just too huge and crowded and...everything there is made in China anyways, right? BUT...I found these!
And since I have to have something to put on my feet quickly when Leo or Daniel is running into the road or terrorizing a goat, or falling on his head...voila. Mine are dark brown with gold straps. 

2. I found this soap at World Market, which is a really fun 

(AKA dangerous if you're trying to follow a budget) 

store that sells things from all over the world (kind of like Pier 1). 

Anyways, this one is RHUBARB scented. It is delightful. 

And, let's face it, with all of the farm animals and boy-babies 

around here, I have to wash these hands A LOT. 

As I've said before, motherhood is 70% about #2.

As Leo put's it, "There's a cow on there!"

3. Since I'm washing my hands so much (because
there's also that little side job I do as a visiting
nurse...SO MUCH hand-washing in my life!),
and because I already have dry skin, enter stage
left this wonderful stuff. It's light, non-greasy,
and wonderfully effective at easing the dry cracked
horrible-ness of winter/nurse/mom hands.
Warning: it contains lanolin, which according to
my Aunt Janet, can cause you to start bleeting. ;)

4. I really enjoy this blog. Grace over at Camp Patton light-hearted-ly

blogs about life with her 3 under 3 as the wife of  a OB-GYN 

doctor in his residency (nice term for 'let's work the guy for 60+ 

hours/week for a few years at the high-pressure physically 

and mentally demanding job of caring for women in childbirth 

before we let him say that he's *officially* a doctor')

--and you thought you had it rough! It is a delightful read,

especially when she quotes her 2 year old or her husband,
and always makes me smile. 

Grace and her littles

5. I read this quote here and then also somewhere else I can't remember,

so I made it my Facebook status, hoping that I wouldn't forget it so quickly.
I'm putting it on here so that I read it again :0).
I guess I just cannot be reminded too often to let go and let God.
"Must you continue to be your own cross? No matter which way God leads you, you change everything into bitterness by constantly brooding over everything. For the love of God, replace all this self-scrutiny with a pure and simple glance at God's goodness." --St. Jeanne de Chantal