Friday, March 8, 2013

{this moment}


{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo few photos capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



 
We have a crawler!!
just a few days shy of eight months old

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Beautiful Mess

When I write, I try to focus on the good. The happy, wonderful, enchanted times are pulled out of my day to day life, and brought here to share and remember. I feel it is my way of finding the beauty in things. But recently, I have been trying to look at beauty with a broader vision. Just because something does not look like what you think it should look like does not mean it is not beautiful.
It might just mean you are not looking at it the right way.

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~Confucius

This is me after being up half the night with a sick baby, no make up, hair not fixed.
Not a situation that I would normally consider beautiful.

"Our hearts are drunk with a beauty our eyes could never see."
~George W. Russell


But look a little closer and you might find the beauty of it all.

"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection." ~Conrad Hall


It is a beautiful thing. The love and bond between mother and babe.
The "we can make it, together" mentality that disproves the very idea of impossible.
I have read that so much of motherhood is basic survival. I am sure that is true.
But it is during these times that we forge the bonds that make up a family.

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think one of the most important things I have learned as a mama (and re-learn all the time), is to do the very best you can with both the good times and the bad times, for as long as they endure. 
This makes the good stay longer and the bad go by faster.









Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wonderfull (Full of Wonder) Wednesday


Looking for the wonder in everyday life! 
I'd love for you to join me on this journey. 
If you find wonder along the way, please leave a link in the comments,
so others can share in your wonder 

Snow again....
but the wonder it brings to our windows!
A Rufous-sided Towhee


If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."
Rachel Carson





Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Stamping Fun at Eco-Kids Tuesday


Bunny has been having lot of fun with stamping lately,
so I thought I would try out this fun idea I saw on Pinterest.


We cut the bottoms off a couple of stocks... Or is it bunches? Stocks?
We cut the bottoms off some celery, and dipped them into paint to stamp.


They came out looking like roses!


Bunny had lots of fun with it and covered multiple pieces of paper with multiple colored stamps.


I am thinking we will make more as Mother's Days cards come May.



Welcome to this week's Eco Kids Tuesday!!


This week I am choosing features through the eyes of my almost three year little girl, Bunny!!!
What links would she love?!?


My Bunny loves all things horses!  She would LOVE this horse rein shared by Ziezo!



An Idea on Tuesday shared these adorable pirates and mermaids,
which are another favorite thing of Bunny's!





   Mama Rosemary shared her Cinnamon Day with her preschoolers!
Bunny loves scented playdough!




Thanks to ALL of you for sharing such wonderful ideas!  If you were featured please feel free to grab a button for your blog.  And please keep linking up great all your Eco-Kid ideas!


Like Mama~Like Daughter
Like Mama~Like Daughter


Now on to the party!!!  I hope that you'll share some great family-friendly posts that are also friendly for the environment. Some ideas include:
  • Nature Activities
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Crafts made with re-purposed or recycled materials
  • Sewing and DIY home projects
  • Science Experiments
  • Posts on environmental issues for kids or families
  • Non-toxic living
  • Homeopathic Remedies
Eco-Kids Tuesdays is co-hosted by Organic Aspirations and Like Mama~Like Daughter this means that anything you link-up shows up on both blogs!

Feel free to link up several of your posts.

There are only a few rules:

Please follow both co-hostess' blogs, and visit some of the other posts and give them some encouragement!  Please stick to posts and photos not giveaways or items for sale.

By linking up, you are agreeing that Organic Aspirations or Like Mama~Like Daughter can feature your photos next week with a link back to your site.  

Please link back to my site using this button (once I get it fixed !!) OR simply text linking within your post!

Like Mama~Like Daughter

Like Mama~Like Daughter




Monday, March 4, 2013

My March Mail Mandate



 Spring 2010 

March brings with it that blessed season... SPRING!!! My heart is so full of excitement for spring, I am quite sure it will burst at any moment. Oh the flowers, and the green grass and leaves and everything, and the puddles for jumping, and the birds chirping.

Spring 2011



Winter, this year, has not been so bleak for me as it has in the past. I have made an extra effort to get outside as much as possible and I believe that has helped tremendously. But still, I tire of the naked hills and the grey... everything. Spring fever has caused me to de-clutter almost my entire house, as well as reading, writing, some small crafting projects, and lots of baking (new gluten free recipes are so much fun... I would love it if anyone has any to share).


Spring 2012



It was during a muffin making extravaganza that I was struck by this idea. On a whim I decided to box up and mail some muffins to a friend. It turns out, I really enjoyed it and Bunny was all about it too. We wrote a little poem/song to sing while we were working:


I like baking cakes for birthdays
I like making pies for Thanksgiving
I like baking cookies at Christmas
And maybe even brownies New Years Eve

I like baking custard in the Spring time
And chocolate zucchini bread at Summer's end
But baby there ain't nothin' better than making muffins,
Better than making muffins for a friend.

See what I mean about spring fever? I am a bit crazy these days. It gets even better when you understand that it HAS to be sang with a British accent. Actually I was in full British accent almost all day. To the point where Bunny looked up and asked me if I was her mom... "Yes, dear. of course I am your mother. I just have a funny voice. Long live the queen!" We then listened to the entire Mary Poppins soundtrack on Spotify and danced through the house like the Indians on Peter Pan (that is what I have to tell her to get her to dance with me)


Once we finally collapsed onto the couch for some snuggles and nursing, I had time to think about how nice it was to actually send mail to people. And also how nice it is to get mail. Real mail, I mean. Like an actual letter or card or thoughtful little gift like stickers for Bunny. Email and facebook have their place for sure. But they do not compare to real mail. Perhaps a love of mail runs in my veins. My Poppaw and my great grandfather were both postmasters in their day. But more likely, mail is just awesome. I feel like most people would love it if they sat down and thought about it. Which was what I was doing when I realized it.

So I have come up with a challenge for myself. My March Mail Mandate. Every week in March, I will mail out at least one thing to one person. At least one thing a week. It can be just a little note, or it could be a package of goodies. Just mail something to someone every week. I am excited to see how it goes. I think it will be a lovely way to pass the time whilst waiting for spring. Who knows, I might start doing this every winter, maybe all winter. But for now it is only for the month of March.

I am inviting you all joined me in this challenge. I intend to post about it each week and would like to hear what you are mailing out as well. And if anyone ever wants to send some mail our way, we would love to hear from you!

The Whites
107 Cherry Ridge Road
Weston, WV 26452


This week I am getting a package ready to mail out a hand made necklace I am donating to an auction to help fund an adoption <3

  On our way to the mailbox... almost spring 2013
 



Saturday, March 2, 2013

An Enchanted Childhood Playschool ~ February 25th - March 1st ~ If You Give a Pig a Pancake

A vacation day, sick kiddos, a birthday.. another "not so normal" week that seems to be the norm lately!

Some fun with free painting! 
I gave the children Q-tips, basic brushes, round sponge brushes and a paper plate palette of paint !
(Say that three times fast!)








We also read If You Give a Pig a Pancake and then make papper plate pig masks!



I love "looking out the window" pictures!





Next week: Dr Seuss!!

Be sure to check "Our Favorites" book-widget on the right.  You will find our weekly books there!
If you click through to Amazon and purchase a book, I will earn a commission.
I haven't received any money yet, but there is always hope!


Each week I joined several linky parties!  What a fun way to share and learn! 
The Children's Bookshelf,  Monday's Kid Corner, Hey Mom, Look What I Did!, Montessori Monday, Made by Little Hands, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, Little Wonders' Days,  Mom's Monday Mingle,  Hip Homeschool Hop, Tuesday Tots, (tot school tuesday), The Tuesday Baby Link-Up, Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Teach Me Tuesday, TOO Cute Tuesday, Open Call Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Waldorf Wednesday, It's Playtime, Mom's Library, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Super Link Party, Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday' Adorned From Above, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts,  Kid's Co-Op, Link and Learn, Thrifty Thursday,  Hearts for Home,  needle and thREAD, Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers,  Natural Living Link-Up, For the Kids Friday, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Read. Explore. Learn., Creative Learning on Friday,  Preschool and Kindergarten Corner, Friday's Nature Table, Creative Friday, Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party,  Do Something Crafty, Tot School Gathering Place,  Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, sharing creative, ideas {all weekend}, Show and Share Saturday, The Sunday Showcase, The Preschool Prekinder Nook, Fun Sparks, The Sunday Parenting Party

And each week I co-host two such parties:  The All Year Round Blog Carnival and Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up!

Friday, March 1, 2013

{this moment}

 
{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




Pigtails in looped braids, reading a Little House on the Prairie book from my childhood, in the playroom window seat... bliss!