Monthly Archives: January 2014
you could use them on their own for ornaments or gift toppers too.
Oh how I love those two pictures of Stanley under the stars!! He is so adorable! These are fantastic! I have a stash of popsicle sticks just calling out for a fun and easy craft! Thanks for sharing! Love this simple garland idea! I may try a similar one in white, wood and mint for our little one’s nursery. Thanks for the inspiration! What a fun idea! And that Stanley! Too cute! I <3 Stanley. They look good over the blackboard, and even better with Stanley beside them. LOVE this craft!! Nice that you can gather a gang at the craft house to play! And Stanley – what a sweet pup! Dawn I just searched your blog and found your story on how you got Stanley. What a great Christmas gift! Loved the video. He is SO cute!! I’m glad Waffle likes him too. Love this simple project. It’s so colourful. Where did Stanley come from? He’s adorable. I missed a few posts and will go back and see. lol Wonderful project! Great pictures! Fun post! :+) No freakin’ way!!!! This is the coolest thing!!! LOVE all of it…especially Stanley!! π They turned out so cute! Glad I got to help. i had to get out of the house today. so between loads of Craft House laundry i stopped in at some of my favorite antique shops in town. i did a little shopping but mostly just took pictures of things i liked.i need to get these letters if i ever sneak over and load up that giant chippy painted marquee sign in the middle of the night.this mirror was tempting… i mean i do love flamingos… but i did not bring it home. Β πthis record player may have come home with me if it didn’t have a redonkulous price on it. when you are shopping do you ever announce prices out loud when you are shocked? even if you are alone? or is that just me? i caught myself doing it several times today…. oops. i am a dork.darn.the sweater picture was the first one i took today. it wasn’t big enough for me or i might have snagged it. it is quirky. you know that would be like $125 at Urban Outfitters right now. but it is HANDMADE at the thrift shop. think how warm & cozy it would be?! Β the door worked! if i lived alone i would buy these glasses. but if i brought them to my home… they would get broken. Β the end.don’t you wish that our cleaning products still came in cool tins with neat fonts like this Floor Mop wax? and also… when was the last time you thought about the store Mongomery Ward?“Learn One Thing Every Day”remember my huge red & white brand foods sign? Β i had never seen anything with that label until today! pretty cool!Dad…. i came so close to buying this for you. it is an ashtray but i thought you could use it for change or something. it just seemed like something you would appreciate. and then i remembered how much stuff you have from both the grandmas… so i left it there. Β πthis big craftsman toolbox was “mint condish” except for 1974 DENNY scratched in under the handle which i think made it 1000 times cooler than before.check out the turquoise, orange and purple table cloth? looks like it should be at Anthropologie!honestly can’t believe i left the spoon rest?! i will most likely go back for it. it is just so perfectly kansas.i love vintage illustrations… Β and chippy turquoise paint.so after all those pretty things… i came home with these. a dot chenille bedspread, some vintage sheets, a few pretty tea towels, a crossed stitched tablecloth,Β a metal cooler and another globe. (it could be possible that i have enough globes by now but when it is $4??? how can i not add to the collection?!)Β what did you do today? and what are you making for dinner? we are having soft tacos. and i just make a big salad with the toppings and no tortilla. $4 globe?! What a steal! I’ve been looking for one and all the thrift stores around here are selling them for $25 or more. I could get a new one (although not as cool as an old one) for that price. Way to go! ooooo….i need Nevada! I have that same flamingo mirror! It was a gift from my husbands grandma. It had been hanging in her house for many years! I haven’t found the perfect place for it, right now it is stored on top of my kitchen cabinets!
Hi Meg. I love looking at these pictures. We have no place around here that has cool old stuff like that. I love your style and colors! But no matter how much I love it and want it, I aways seem to pick beige. Help me! I’m trapped in a beige box! Maybe I’ll start by painting something. Love the bedspread! Thanks for sharing all the fun pictures. I almost feel like I went on the trip – except I didn’t come home with anything. My husband thanks you that I didn’t spend any money : )
I must tell you about an acquaintance who’s family owned a Red and White grocery. I had never heard of the brand until she told me about it and apparently has a large collection of items carrying that label, like kitchen items, spice containers, advertising signs, etc. Hmmm, I might have to google this history of those stores. . . Go back and get that sweater and I’ll buy it from you! π Hi Meg! I loved looking at all of your fun finds. We were blessed to be invited over to dinner at my twin sister’s house tonight. The cousins played and it was nice to get out of the house! (We’ve been snowed/iced in for days) You would be fun to go antiquing with π I love those embroidered tea towels so dang hard I can’t even appropriately express it. HOW did you not get that tablecloth? Was it $80 dollars??? Ps – Another benefit of driving to SL…
oh my gosh, that made me laugh when you mentioned announcing prices out loud when you’re shocked!!! haha Yep, done that!!! antique heaven! i thought i lived in a cool place for antiquing (new england) but i want to visit you! HA! It was REDONKULOUS! I saw it while we were shopping during our craft house stay. And no, you are not the only one who may have said the price out loud in shock. π I absolutley love your posts and beautiful photos, Meg! I just had to comment on the box of Shiny Brite ornaments; I had never heard of them, but I recently finished reading a novel in which the main character collected those specific ornaments. Happy Thursday to you! I absolutley love your posts and beautiful photos, Meg! I just had to comment on the box of Shiny Brite ornaments; I recently finished reading a novel in which the main character collected those specific ornaments. Happy Thursday to you! Can you tell me the city/ names of these FANTABULOUS stores??!! I’ve recently relocated from Portland, OR back to Kansas City and I’d love to do a Winter trip out to these stores for some colorful trinket cheer!!! such beautiful things! Loved this post! Made me want to go shopping! I LOVE old stuff too. I would love to shop in Kansas, the prices seem so much more resonable than here in Illinois. I’ve been holding myself back from going to my favorite haunts until we move. I keep telling myself that I will be able to get things that will “fit” the new house. Oh what my little (Lexington Livin’) heart would give for that Kentucky plate. Proud to have it end up in Kansas! I wouldn’t be upset if you wanted me to pay you for it π So fun! When you take pictures do you ask first or just click away? I’m about half & half & when I’m feeling really chicken I hold my phone inconspicuously (so I think) & sneak a few shots…. You’re not seriously saying that you didn’t take those chickens home. MEGAN.
I’ve been looking for a reasonably priced globe in decent shape since Craft Weekend last May. Still on the hunt. I have two but I use them for school with the kids. Whenever I see a globe, it reminds me of Stephany and her lights she makes out of them. Crock pot roast beef, potatos and baby carrots for supper last night. Comfort food for those cold Minnesota days. You’ve inspired me to take a day off to go antiquing! I couldn’t be more excited. Tonight’s dinner is meatloaf, mashed potatoes and veggies. Thanks for taking us along. I haven’t found very many antique shops near me, especially not with such cool stuff or reasonable prices. I love the Schmidt’s tin-that’s my maiden name. I am feeling the need to do some antiques “window shopping”. May hit up a local antique market this weekend. For supper here we had turkey meatball gyros. They’re relatively healthy and the whole family likes them-score! I think of Montgomery Ward often. Their family’s old Summer home on Lac LaBelle in Oconomowoc, WI is on the way to my grandparent’s house. It’s absolutely amazing and was just on the market!
A $4 globe??? They’re often like $40 around here (well, that’s at flea markets. I’ve never ever seen one at a thrift store). Good thing you snagged it! π Kansas has some amazing prices! Every last bit of what you found is awesome! Kansas is officially on my bucket list. π can I just say how jealous I am of your Kansas thrifting?! you can NOT find a globe in Oregon for less than about $30- seriously. whenever I’v found one for less in the last 6 yrs I’ve bought it. I have 3…I think the least I’ve spent on them was $25!
1974 Denny. Love. It. Kansas thrifting is the best!!
Oh, how I want to come thrift in your neck of the woods!! The dot chenelle bedspread is the BEST! We had the exact same dinner tonight and I did the exact same thing w/my portion. I love tacos do much better as a salad! Yum! Awesome finds… I would love to find a doll house like that one… Had that same one growing up….. Glad you had a good day thrifting… I just love you to pieces, Meg! Love all the vintage stuff I did what you did today! Drove out to Ramona to sniff the orange groves, and hunt for treasures. I scored 3 globes, a gum machine, a cool old metal vanity bench, a typewriter, an old window frame, and some old salt shakers. I’m certain that I paid waaaaay more than I would have shopping in Kansas. I need to get back there!
Such a fun photo tour… and you can never have too many globes and I would die if I found one for $4.00 I grab them when I can find them but globes are rare and expensive in Atlanta. i need to come to Kansas!!!
http://www.montgomerypark.com/vision.html Today I took my remaining Christmas money to the thrift store – a favorite hobby of mine. I found a great wooden desk chair on wheels that I love, for my daughter’s desk. My son said it is the ugliest chair, looks like it’s from the 60’s. This made me laugh. But she loves it. And it has to sit in MY dining room…… I think of Montgomery Ward pretty often because I live close to this building:
You have an amazing ‘eye’ for the really ‘goodmakethatGREAT’ stuff…you should tell us what town these amazing shops are in so the rest of us can go window shopping and declare prices out loud and travel down memory lane and just be inspired….I too LOVE GLORIOUS JUNKE!!! My mom has that flamingo mirror and I used to hate it, but now, I have dibs on it for whenever she decided to part with it! And yes! I always say the ridiculous prices out loud! P.S. I want all of the pretty little things you listed above! That globe – $4 – woah amazing! π That is all so cool, I see several things I would love to have- wish I was there to go get them, may have to make a trip, it is my old hometown and I miss it! That dollhouse is exactly, EXACTLY like the one I had as a kid. I’ve been wanting to find one for when my niece is older. please, please, PLEASE go back and get those chickens, and then send them to me. PLEASE! Today I spent an hour on the treadmill. 30 minutes doing intervals, and 30 minutes walking. It felt glorious. I am doing a 7 day cleanse so keeping it aerobic this week. For dinner is sweet and sour chicken! All the antique/thrift store finds you share makes me want to plan a trip to Kansas just for that! So many fun things! Got to have a brunch date with my man. Always love that! I’m extra tired today. Already looking forward to bedtime and it’s only 3:30pm. π
all your comments on the One Word post were fun to read! i am very much enjoying the quiet house with the kids back at school. i found lots of new recipes to try…. and of course i want to share with you too! 2. Β No Bake Banana Oat Energy Bars 3. Β Chicken with Roasted Butternut Squash & Green Beans 4. Β Thai Peanut Chicken Salad 5. Β Tuscan Chicken Soup 6. Β Southwest Chicken Chili Mac 7. Β Broccoli Crack
i found these through Pinterest of course! i will be putting them to use over the next two weeks in our evening meal plans. i have already made the broccoli many times and i eat SO MUCH because it is sooooo good!
Thanks so much for sharing the recipes! I’m always looking for healthy recipes that aren’t to complicated. First off I am a huge fan of your blog! I live in SW Missouri so I can relate to your posts about weather and the countryside! I made the Broccoli Crack and the No Bake Banana Oat Energy Bars today. Both turned out awesome! The Broccoli Crack was a bit salty for my taste but I ate almost half of it at lunch! My kids LOVE the energy bars (I might have snuck in a little extra stevia :)) “Broccoli crack” huh? I dunno…seems sooo far away from Julie’s version of crack,haha. π this post reminds me how nice it would be if i would make time to do a month long meal planβ¦.sometimes, those work great, if you can make them with your calendar in mind. Love these meal ideas! love your blog:-) I’ve found using an app on my phone works great for meal planning. I use the Paprika one. I can download recipes directly off the Internet or I’ve added my own to it over time. This way when I decide on a recipe when planning my meals I can add the ingredients needed with the push of a button. If you get the app for both your iPhone and ipad (if you have them) then they will interface with each other. No I am not payed to promote this app but yes, it’s my fave app out of any I have on my phone! LOL Mmm your recipes look delicious AND nutritious – great way to start the New Year! http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html Check out this show on CBS on Sat morning 11am Eastern – Lucky Dog. Brandon McMillian helps shelter dogs to kick bad habits, including barking, before they go live with their new families. I know Stanley(is that still his name?) isn’t a shelter dog but his techniques might work with your puppy. Good luck. Meg – I have the BEST recipe for you, and your vegetable-hating kids will love it! My kids can’t get enough of it, and it sounds like they are a lot like yours. Anyway, all you have to do is take a bag of shredded carrots (or shred your own if you aren’t as lazy as I am), toss them with 1-2 tbsps olive oil, and spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 until crispy (about 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of your carrots). Sprinkle with salt. These taste like shoestring potato chips! The only trick is that you have to watch them at the end, they go from almost cooked to burned pretty quickly. But the burned bits aren’t too bad, either! My kids, 15, 13 and 6, actually ask me to make these. Meg, I am excited that you are sharing your recipe finds! Thank you for the inspiration,in so MANY ways. You are a delight, I am grateful God put you in my cyber “path” a couple of years ago. I love you recipe sharing!!! Please continue to do it!! Try cauliflower roasted too! It’s delicious! Thank you for posting the recipes. I love getting new ideas for meals especially healthy ones! i feel ify about meal plans. it seems like something that could get to be seen as more work. i would just ALWAYS have your fridge loaded with fresh food and go with it. roasted anything works for me. and never shop in the center isles of the grocery store!! only the perimeter.
My bestie and I were just discussing how badly we need easy clean family friendly meals. Thanks so much for posting!!! Can’t wait to be on this journey with you! My house is just starting to become noisy again – my husband and daughter have been away for 10 days at Scout Jamboree in New Zealand. She came back last night and he comes back tonight with our son who has been at his grandparents. Only 4 weeks till they go back to school. Thanks for the zucchini recipe link – I have a glut of these and cucumbers in my garden at present. http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/4032-roasted-broccoli-with-optional-garlic# In case you are interested in the CI link…Roasting broccoli like that is my absolute fav. I found that exact same method in a Cook’s Illustrated magazine almost 6 years ago and it has been my all-time go-to for broccoli ever since. Is is delicious!!! I was so looking forward to some quiet tomorrow morning and then… they canceled school. It’s cold but we don’t have any snow here in Atlanta but oh well… maybe Wednesday! I love a good meal plan too! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your quiet time and back to routine! I love meal planning. I have been doing it religiously for about 2 years now. I can fee my family of 5 for two weeks on $250. I only go back to the store for milk,bread, and apples. We eat a ton of apples. My husband laughed at me the other day because the majority of our groceries are produce. I cut up fresh fruit and veggies for our sides. It helps that we all eat like birds, especially our three daughters. so i asked you on the first if you had picked a word for the year. i have always peeked in on what people wrote down. this year it was just… natural. so… my word i picked for 2014 is healthy. i said “you will probably roll your eyes” Β because i am guessing you may be sick of me talking about health & exercise. i have come a long way yet i feel so far from where i could be. i AM talking about getting rid of things in my diet that are just plain wrong. βDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesusβ Philippians 4:6-7 i want to BE healthy. so that is that. it will be a great year of new foods mixed with the good old fashioned ones from before. new workouts while still getting in the running with my girls. βRemember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.β 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 this means weekly meal plans… even though the thought of doing it makes me want to crawl into bed and pull the shades. ββEverything is permissible for meβ β but not everything is beneficial. βEverything is permissible for meβ β but I will not be mastered by anythingβ¦ Therefore, Honor God with your bodyβ 1 Corinthians 6:12, 20 and HOPEFULLY i can figure out a way to bring the kids along with me. i know that everyone at my house would benefit from removing processed foods in our diet. God gave me ONE body. Β (i think the same for you too… Β ha ha ha) “Or didnβt you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Donβt you see that you canβt live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
healthy from the inside out… 2014…. Β boom.
what is YOUR word? Β how are you going to make it work?
your health journey is inspiring. i’m in the throws of having babies so my body is all over the place, but healthy is a lifestyle. while i’m going for ‘healthy,’ my word this year is “still.” or maybe “settled.” our lives are very up-in-the-air and UNsettled. but my heart and mind and spirit and emotions can be settled by the grace of God. I can be still and know that He is God even when circumstances are a whirlwind. Thanks for prompting me to think about this. cheers to 2014. Healthy is a good word for the year. I have a tip for you to get your kiddos to eat salad….put fresh strawberries on romaine & add some toasted pecans & poppy seed dressing. My son hates lettuce but he’ll eat a salad with fruit. Another good one is mandarin oranges (canned) & toasted almonds & dried cranberries. Good luck with getting them to eat healthier. it’s the 10th and yesterday I finally found my wordsβ¦ never was good at editing. Leaning In. Leaning into what I love doing, friendship, the Word and God. The list colud go on. I tend to pull back and hold back a lot! No, this year I am going to have a posture change and lean in. Healthy is a grest word. Hope you get your kids to come along! Hey Meg, Have you read the book “Made to Crave?” Its so along the lines of what you’re saying in this post. And I know what you mean about trying to get everyone on board. Soups? Salads? Vegetables? Change is hard…even harder for the little ones when we’ve not always done it that way. But persevere! Their bodies will thank them:) Good for you! I made this same decision almost 2 years ago. It took me almost a year to lose the weight I wanted and I have NEVER felt so good! I’ll admit that the holidays were AWFUL this year. We’re talking 8 lbs horrible, but I’m back on track and working to get that corrected. I know your frustration with meal planning and trying to get your family on track. I came to the conclusion that while I wanted to certainly feed my family a healthier meal, they didn’t need to be on the same low calorie, low carb, low sugar diet I was on. Soooo… that meant that most all nights while my family’s meal was cooking I was making something ELSE for myself. Many, many, many nights it was a HUGE salad loaded with all sorts of fresh goodness, but when it wasn’t I tried to keep it in the same category as my family’s meal. If they had spaghetti with meat sauce, I’d make peas and pasta with shrimp or chicken. If they had tacos, I’d have a mock taco salad with grilled chicken or shrimp, black beans, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and a lot of salsa. I actually have YOU to thank for introducing me to myfitnesspal.com because it is TRULY my secret to my success!!! Sooooo… THANK YOU!!!! It’s been an AWESOME journey and one that I will walk for the rest of my life. I wish you the best in YOUR journey. π http://cassadas.blogspot.com/2013/11/lunch-and-snacks.html. and now my kids are so much more aware of “sugar” and if things are healthy or not. the biggest thing for me has been to TEACH as we go…we look up foods and write them down – what is in them (vitamins, etc) and what they do for you (boost immune system, etc). they love that! i want to raise 6 kids that will become 6 healthy adults! hi! i’m not sure i’ve ever commented…but i’ve always read π i just have to encourage you that you CAN do this…and your kids CAN do this!! i was so the same as you 18 months or so ago. and now? i’ve been “paleo” (only because it’s the only way my stomach issues have cleared up) and my kids LIKE salad and NEVER eat cereal for breakfast and are FINE with that. we did small, small steps at a time with the kids. i think this post describes it best:
Meg you are awesome for your honesty. In this struggle you are clearly not alone. Reading your post was like reading my own mind. Thanks girl. That’s awesome! I too am on a similar journey.. it can be so overwhelming on where to start and how to totally make over the way we eat. You may already know about the blog “100 days of Real Food” It really helped me alot! She has a place to start for new people to read and has lots of great ideas,recipes,videos..ect. some of her recipes are BLECK! but it gave me a sense of direction. One thing we started with was healthy smoothies in the morning and adding one veggie with our meal every day.. a small step but for us it was helpful. I know for me I would get online and look up these blogs and be like..what?where do I even start..so overwhelming. Good luck to you and yours! Here’s to a healthy mind and body in 2014~ My word is Home. I’m about to write all my feelings about it. I’ve been praying on it. Home. It’s going to be a great year.
I read your blog everyday! I’m on this journey with you…so you have company. I found this blog helpful about nutrition and healthy eating, I use it when I teach classes about nutrition for children. I promise you it will challenge what everyone tells you about how to approach food with children. She will not condemn you…but offer insights about how we teach our children to take care of themselves. http://itsnotaboutnutrition.squarespace.com/home/ I hope you find her blog helpful. It makes me sad to think that ANYONE would think to scold you in any way for trying to improve and make your family more healthy, wether or not their habits are “of your own making”. Hooray for you! How awesome that yo’ve got a goal and a direction. My word(s) for the year will be “meek and mild”. I need to work on being more patient with my family. period. Heaven help me. Healthy 2014 – great word. Check out The Daniel Plan. Our church has been doing it and our pastor, Rick Warren with Drs. Daniel Amen & Mark Hyman just came out with the book, The Daniel Plan. The five healthy habits for your life are faith, food, focus, fitness, & friends. Clean eating for 2014 – I’m right there with you! I did not actually think about choosing a word, but I did choose to make changes in my lifestyle, much the same as you. My kids are grown and gone and we were really pretty good about eating right and being active while they were at home, but it just got so easy not to when they were gone. I am starting slow. I decided to make one change a week. I started last week with drinking more water. This week we are only eating items cooked at home – no fast food. Good luck! I preach all the time that this is the only body that God gave you. You should respect him by respecting it. I started my journey last August, but still have so far to go. Fruits and veggies have never been a problem for my kids. I just by better snacks now. There are still frozen waffles, and chips in my house. We are human after all, and sometimes you just need some sour cream and onion! Good Luck! I really like this post, Megan. Thank you for your honesty. Moving away from processed foods is a challenge for me too, but over the past few years, I have made strides and want to continue to do so. We can do this! I love to exercise. It’s the whole nutrition piece of the puzzle that I need to work on. 2014 is going to be great! My word is GOAL as in fitness, financial, creative, spiritual goals. To finally reach my goal weight, workout consistently, spend time in prayer with God, manage debt, and create the life I want to live. Hope to see you at some races in the future in Wichita. My word of the year is HAPPY ! I choose to be happy and stop worrying about stuff, stop letting other people’s behaviour bring me down – just choose to be happy. Anyways – on the diet thing, Paleo is really a great way to go. I have been eating Paleo for about 3 months now – not including December, which was a disaster !!! However, now I am bringing the family along with me – they don’t mind, I have to say my boys are pretty good about eating veggies and to be honest they have surprised me with what they are prepared to eat. Last night I made a chicken and basil meatloaf and roasted cauliflower and I fully expected them to refuse to eat it but they wolfed it down and asked for more. Maybe you could just try stuff prepared in a different way, it takes time and can feel soul destroying when they don’t eat it, but when they do, it feels great. Good luck on your journey.
meg, I loVVVVVVVVVe your blog. You are so real and i just love you for it:) You have to check out this woman’s blog about being ketoadapted and other info….it has been life changing for me and now I’m trying to get my kids and hubby aboard:)
That’s a good one, and one I strive to do often. I have been into smoothies and I got a fancy new blender for Christmas, so I have no excuse not to get lots of nutrients in my body! I don’t care about losing weight or getting into a certain size dress. I just want to care for my body better. I already have multiple health issues and I’m not doing myself any favors. I hope I can make some good changes and get into better habits now while I’m still young! My word seems sort of simple and lame, but it’s “Go.” I have a tendency to hesitate and wait-to-see and research and gimme-a-minute and save-it-for-later. 2013 was my worst year for this so far. I didn’t choose a word last year, but it sort of seemed like it was “Sit.” So, in 2014, at every pause, I picture myself shouting into my own face, “GO!” It’s funny, I’ve seen this ‘one word’ thing for a few years now & never really gave it a second thought. Like you, I could never even think of a word that would ‘fit’ for me. This year as I saw people’s blogs and their one word, the word ‘healthy’ also came to mind for me. I’m going to be starting a new ‘diet’ (for lack of a better word). We eat somewhat healthy already. I’ve been working on cutting out a LOT of processed stuff, GMO’s, eating organic, not junk etc etc etc. My kids have been pretty good about it…esp when I SHOW them videos/examples of what the crap is that’s in the food that their friends take to school. Trust me, it will gross them out! But I want focus even more on getting healthier. Having Crohn’s makes me just want to curl up in my bed & not think about it but I want to be more active in cutting out the extra sugar & other stuff that creeps in to my diet (and my waistline!) Good luck!!! I loved this post, Meg. My husband and I just had this discussion about a week ago and we are starting out SLOW here, too. I’m not sure what my word for this year will be…I need to ponder that some more! Great word. I especially love the scripture to support your word. 1 corth. 6:19-20 Powerful
I love your word and your post! I am trying similar ideas with my family this year as well…baby steps is all I can say! The word I picked for myself this year is “dwell”. I would like this to encompass every aspect of my life…from my physical home (cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering, decorating) to eating (meal planning, trying new recipes) to parenting (practicing grace, scripture memorization, bible reading time) to marriage (encouraging and supporting my husband) to myself (exercise, devotions, a possible part-time at-home job). I know some of these things are things I have already tried (and failed…some more than once) and some may sound very basic but I feel as though I left 2013 frustrated and worn out and I need to give these things my all this year. I really need to put my focus into these areas. I lost my purpose last year and I am bound and determined to regain it this year…all by the grace of God! My word for the year is Brave. Time to take some chance and make some changes. Have you ever heard of this website? http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/ This is the first year I decided to choose a word too! I’ve never done resolutions really. My word is intentional. I haven’t liked who I’ve been the last 4-6 months. I decided that I need to be intentional with my time this year. I’m trying to undo some unhealthy eating for my kids too. So hard once they start getting picky. Praying your word is life changing! Good for you! When I started staying home with my oldest fie years ago, I started to eliminate processed food from our diets to save money and be healthier. I just did a little at a time and tried things out. Not to say we never have processed foods, but most of what we eat it homemade. It’s healthy, yummy, and cheap. Though my kids have grown up with it, they still are not always the biggest fans of some of the healthy meals we make, but it’s good for all of us so I still make the healthy stuff. I haven’t thought about my word a lot, but if I were to pick it might be “intentional”. Like everyone, there are lots of things I’d like to do and I feel like if I am more intentional about how I spend my time and energy, in my interactions with others I will get done the things I really want to do. I had not thought of choosing a 1st of the year word and I like that better than new year’s resolution. It didn’t take long to decide on one: DAILY. It is so easy for me to put things off ’til “tomorrow.” But my word is not just about procrastination, but about focusing on today; focusing on being more accountable for the daily things in my life: reading my Bible, healthy meals π diabetic husband and now I’m pre-diabetic, so the healthy influence has been an ongoing thing. Now, exercise…..that needs to be added to the ‘more often’ list, if not the DAILY list. I used to journal daily and may try a little journaling to help my accountability….review my day and my daily accomplishments. Thanks! Have a great year.
π But if I actually DO pick a word, will you watercolor it with gradient greens and polka dots for me? Because that is just rad.
Hi Meg- I want to first say “thank you” for your blog! I love to follow you and all of your adventures. You are inspirational and “real”! I just started the new year with almost the same resolution. We are cutting out processed foods in our house. I don’t have kids, so that does make it easier for me. We are five days in and I can’t tell you how good we feel! No sugar, either! I am reading In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan, and also following http://www.100daysofrealfood.com for guidelines. I read 7 by Jen Hatmaker and that’s how I got started on this. Good luck!
My word for 2014 is GROW. I really wanted to pick a verb! I want to grow stronger physically and spiritually. I want to grow mentally, both in intelligence and in imagination. And, my husband and I have dreams of growing our family this year. To accomplish any of this I will need to not only accept, but instigate, changes in my life. This is my first year choosing a word and I am excited about it!! Also, would you please share some of the meals you’ll be planning and the meal-planning techniques/system you’re using? I think that many of us would love to hear more about it! Peace. I allowed myself to be surrounded by way too much negativity, drama, and chaos last year. I became an angry, nasty person from the frustration of it all. I seek to have peace, quiet, joy, and love return to my life this year. That means cutting the cord on toxic friendships, but good riddance! Some people find pleasure is sowing misery wherever they go, but that doesn’t mean I have to stand in their path. I literally had just finished up my blog post on my word and then started going through my reader catching up on blogs when I ran across your post. Perfect timing!! My word this year is CHOOSE. Being healthier is something I’m going to choose to do this year and keep talking about your journey to being more healthy. We’re all in this together and glad you love us enough to share your life with us!!! http://sammaspot.blogspot.com/2014/01/this-little-word-of-mine.html
Meg, you are an inspiration!
http://www.picketfencepaleo.com. She is located in Missouri and loves helping people start their journey! π Meg-my sister became “healthy” about 3 years ago, check out her blogLove this post! This is only my second year doing One Little Word. I chose “Listen”. Blogged about it today, too! I’m going to be sharing quotes, words, reminders, etc. in my instagram feed about Listening (and the little things we all need to HEAR) throughout the year. I’m looking forward to it! Ha! When I read your post on the first I was sure you were going to say AFRICA. π Sigh. We just made sunflower seed cookies at 10 pm. But we ate Cassava leaf (which is ground leaves…healthy, right?) and rice earlier. Oh! And as for the kiddos, I’ll say that as a child, my poor mother tried so hard to help me be healthy – it won’t happen till they decide they want it for themselves. Be a good example and don’t stress over it – one day it will click π I’m with you on the healthy thing. It took my 4 month old’s milk and soy allergy to make me eat better so that I can continue to nurse her. I never really cared whether I ate processed foods or not, but now my whole attitude has changed. Here’s to a happy, healthy 2014! Oh and my word is EMBRACE! Way to go! Last year I decided to strart eating clean and healthy and can’t believe it took me so long! Totally worth it! Soo much energy. I do the 80/20 rule – plan my “cheats” and savor them! Also really enjoyed “Food for Thought” on Netflix. Yay for 2014! Getting the kids to eat better is a process. We have Lways eaten lots of veggies and for my youngest he always struggled with salads and certain veggies. It took him literally several years to stop complaining and just eat what’s on his plate. The biggest advice I have is not to give up. You really have to try something 20 or 30 times to either like it or not. Most parent’s don’t want to do that. Now with my 7 year old I know that when we have dinner he doesn’t need to eat the mushrooms, peppers or onions because he really does not like them. He eat Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, all squashes etc. I’m so proud of him and hopes he keeps it up. Good luck. Love your word Meg! Our little family has decided to be more aware of the things we fuel our body with this year. Thankfully I don’t have a problem with my kids eating veggies or fruits, but they definitely like junk food. So it is still going to be a challenge. My word for this year is “Grace”. Being more aware of how I show grace to others and how God bestows his grace upon us daily. I want to be more aware and thankful. π Happy New Year! I know lots of people are going you links but, I got an email from superhealthykids.com with a 21 day picky eater transformation challenge. It looked like there were some great tips. Their website also has a lot of great kid friendly recipes. Baby steps…you will do it! I love your word for the year. I have a phrase: LIVE TO LOVE (God and others) π This was me last year. It definitely is a process, but it’s worth it. I got a bit off track the last few months, due to stress and a lot of other issues, but I made a promise to myself (and to my family) to get back on track. A really awesome book to read is Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. My word for 2014 is: Simplicity. I suppose it’s a version of “healthy” too. I’m getting rid of the junk and just living with what I need. I want to live simply so that others may simply live. Period. Good luck this year! You rock! I didn’t roll my eyes…so now YOU can’t roll your eyes at me.. my word is JESUS because (as i wrote in a blog post) i am convinced that ALL our resolutions would be successful if we ordered our life the way it was meant to be lived…with JESUS as the center of everything. happy new year sweet friend…here is to true peace, real joy, and a healthy body and soul!
Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing your word for the year and for showing us some verses. These are great reminders of how God wants us to be living. I hope you will post a bit about your new healthy journey. Get your kids involved in a garden. Give them a row and let them plant stuff. Ours always were willing to eat whatever they had planted and tended. And we keep junk food out of the house as much as possible. So if they are hungry for a snack, there is always fruit or veggies as a possibility. I ate like CRAP as a kid and am much better now. It will be tough, but you can do it!
AWESOME! Healthy is a perfect word. My word is Nurture. My focus in 2014 is to nurture and “take care of” areas in my life — physical, mental, spiritual. Still working on my intentions through Ali’s class, which will make it more clear as to how I will make my word “work” in 2014. But in general, my decisions will be made around my word, “will eating or doing X nurture me?” And I hear you on kids. My mom will tell me, “you created them”. Yes, I know. The switch from boxed mac and cheese to Trader Joe’s whole wheat fiber filled pasta has caused an uproar in the kitchen. We are all adjusting, it’s a slow, life long process. One day at a time mama. xoxo I hope you never stop blogging….you are such an encouragement and positive light!!! Healthy 2014! You’ve got this!! Good for you! For my salad haters, I swapped leafy greens for a plate of cruditΓ©s and a little low-fat dip. Offer carrot strips, celery sticks, sliced red bell peppers, jicama sticks, zucchini strips, green beans or cauliflower florets or broccoli florets that have been lightly steamed then “shocked” in ice water. Kids seem to love to dip food in sauces. Good luck! Start by making what you usually get from a box, for example, Mac n cheese…from scratch…. And have the good stuff easy to grab from the fridge! My word is “Substance”–and I am especially applying it to what I eat and drink. I’m making a greater effort to prepare food that is not only healthy (which is already my habit), but that is very satisfying, too. I found myself just eating food that was good for me, but that did not register as a substantial meal that was satisfying. I’m interested in following you and your word this year. I love it! Healthy, its the only way to be! My word is Simplify. Plan and simple. Don’t overthink, don’t overdo, keep it simple and everyone will be happy.
Good luck! Also, there are LOTS of people (myself included) that have provided healthy, whole choices to their kids from day one and have made NO progress in getting their kids to enjoy salad. My kids have had something green in front of them every day for their almost 3- and 5-year-long lives, and they still hate salad. Don’t be hard on yourself. π My word is “Avanti.” I took four semesters of Italian in college and this word is one of the few that have stuck in my brain. “Andiamo avanti” means “we go forward.” And “avanti!” means “come on!” And “Tiriamo avanti” means “we get by.” 2013 in many ways has been simultaneously sad and hopeful for us, and this word is my reminder that from here, we simply move FORWARD. Farewell 2013! Andiamo avanti! Oh, I can relate! I’ve been on the healthy journey big time this past year and still have a way to go. It was so liberating to give up sugar! Which I need to do again now that Christmas is over. I eat the Trim, Healthy Mama way (book sold at Amazon and many other places) and it works for me. I’m actually looking forward to cleaning up my diet again post-Christmas. Can you even imagine looking forward to it? I mean, what a difference from the ME of a year ago! Blessings on your journey. You should check out eatcleanfreak.blogspot.com. Her recipes are really good and no processed foods. Her pizza dough and sauce are awesome. Also the chick fila chicken sandwich is definitely one of my favorites. My child is very picky and she has eaten everything we have tried so far. You would be surprised at what you can get kids to eat. Yes, at first they will complain, but just keep doing it. Their palates will change. My kids like different vegetables, but they will begrudgingly eat whatever I serve them, usually. I also cater to their likes. A lot of my dishes are “put together”, for instance quinoa with veggies is a typical side dish. I don’t mix the veggies in, I just put them on top. That way, I can put chopped bell pepper, celery, carrots, and spinach on one kids plate and bell pepper, broccoli, and onions on the other kids plate. Then my husband and I get all the veggies plus a bit of feta, because we aren’t as picky. My food life was changed forever when I read the book Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes. I HIGHLY suggest it (in double big caps). I seriously thank God for this book, which sounds weird, but it took away so many of my struggles with food – things that had plagued me my whole life, including emotional eating. So, maybe it will do good things for you too?
salads & kids -> we do a ‘salad bar’, with the lettuces, toppings <meats, cheese, croutons, wontons, walnuts, cheese, fruit, etc) and dressings and let the kids make their own salads. the make-their-own salads seem to go over better. i love your word. some friends and i are doing a 'healthy recipe club' to start our new year. our rules are basic – our hope is that we can help each other with healthy meal planning/recipes. the recipe you share could be as simple as a marinade for chicken that you grill, or the old' can of black bean brownies. if you are interested in joining us, let me know! we are going to do it over email (back to busy life & kids). Great word, Meg! I’m starting The Whole 30 on Wednesday, and I’m actually looking forward to it! My husband and daughters won’t be on that bandwagon with me, but I’m going to do my best to just make ONE meal for each meal and not be a short order cook…we’ll see how that goes! My husband read these articles about some big name NBA players adopting a pretty paleo diet and having excellent success with it…Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and even LeBron eats pretty clean. Maybe Scott and Sean would be more open to eating more healthfully if they read/heard about some high performance athletes doing the same thing with awesome results. This is the page with all of the links to the 3 part series. http://www.cbssports.com/topic/2108906/nba-nutrition?tag_text=NBA%20Nutrition While I’m doing The Whole 30, I might try to do The Food Network’s Picky Eater Project with my girls (7, 5, and 3) and maybe my husband, too. We’ll see! I hope this all goes great for you! Oh, I so get this. The kids fought us tooth and nail over every vegetable we put before them. They ate a few, but not much variety. Now my daughter is grown and married with two daughters of her own. And they eat every vegetable under the sun and LOVE it! My 11yo son is the only one still home and I’ve not done him any favors with the eating habits. So we’re posting a food pyramid on the kitchen wall and we’ll choose from those in the amounts recommended and see where it leads us. I wish you a healthy new year! Awesome, love this. please continue to share about exercising and what you are eating. I love good ideas and recipes.
I think it is awesome that your “word” is healthy. I have never picked a word before but if I did for 2014 it may be “strong”. I desire to be much stronger physically as well as mentally. The last year I have learned to love working out (it started with training for a 1/2 marathon, then a second) and I am consistently going to this boot camp style work out class and doing crazy things like 30 pound kettle bell swings. If you had told me 2 years ago I’d be lifting weights, doing jump squats and sprinting 4 times a week I would have laughed at you. I want to continue this in 2014 and focus on my core and back strength in preparation for hopefully starting a family in 2015. I also want to be strong in mind and spirit and not let the little stuff get me down. I am in a place right now where I need to work a lot while my husband is getting his masters and I need to stop complaining about it! I should feel blessed that I have a motivated husband who wants to get himself to a position where he can support our family and I can hopefully stay home with lots of kiddos. Thanks for this inspiring post, I love all of the scripture and might post some of them around the house. You should take a peek at Jessica Seinfeld’s first book “Do it Delicious” (I think). She uses veggie purees in “normal” food that kids like! For example there’s cauliflower puree in her mac n’ cheese, she makes brownies with beet puree or something like that. It’s healthy but hidden! Written for her own picky pants non-veggie eatin’ kiddos. π Good luck! I think that’s great, Meg. I’m actually having some of the same issues you are, so it’s not tiring at all to hear about it – makes me feel less alone. Several years ago, I started doing a word or a theme or a mantra for the year. This year has been dubbed Fearless 2014 – not letting my fears or preconceived notions get in the way. Crossing things off of my “I’ve always wanted to” list. Being brave. Here’s to 2014 – the best year yet! hi meg… healthy is a great word for the new year… the word i chose is “enough”… i’m reading it a couple of different ways… but healthier in this new year would be a plus for me also… it’s so easy to snack… and not really be accountable… i’d like to work on that too! and i hear ya… there are many nights that my husband and i eat the same thing and each of my girls requests something different from us and from each other… totally my fault for caving but like you said… the unmaking of those habits = hard… best of luck on your healthy journey this year!
there is no denying that life is good. 2014 is already looking like it’s going to be a pretty awesome year. do you pick a word for the year? Β i haven’t officially done it in the past but this year i feel ready. i think i know what mine is…. you will probably roll your eyes. i will tell you tomorrow. and i want you to share yours. π and hey… thanks for reading this little bloggity blog.
I love all of the pictures of your family life! Waffle is so adorable and so is your new puppy! Thank you for a fun and inspiring blog. sharon Love the pics! This is totally off subject thoughβ¦please tell me where you have gotten all the cute scarves with polka dots on them that you are shown wearing (I LOVE them!) What a beautiful year! And thanks for your constant inspiration for all of us to be colorful, fun, healthy, and focused on God. Your ramblings (I mean that in a good way!) about these do not go unnoticed. Thanks and keep it up! I always enjoy the bit of sunshine your blog provides each time I visit. Looking forward to 2014 and more of the same (although even if it weren’t all sunshine I would have to check up on those cute chickens!). Happy New Year!
I have a print just like this of a ton of my insta pics in our living room from a small company based in San Francisco and I love it. It’s like seeing a snap shot of your whole year in one print and it makes me smile every time I walk passed it. I’ve been doing the one word resolution for a few years now and I have to say, I love it. A few years ago the word was “forgiveness” which was probably the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Last year’s word was “Change” and boy did we ever. This year’s word is “Improvement”. Health, body, mind, soul, house, relationships, etc. We’ll see how that goes. I love seeing the other words chosen. Hi Meg, I love your colorful blog and all the smiles, they make me smile, too. π My word is “gravity” as it reminds me how Jesus holds everything together, even when the world seems to be falling apart (and I did see the movie, too…) Happy, happy New Year!! I always love seeing your end of year posts…full of so many happy photos. Also…I miss you. Come visit me.
My word for 2014 is “enough.” My word for this year is FOCUS. I’ve never picked a word for the year, so I’m pretty excited to see how it goes. Good luck! Can’t wait to find out what yours is. Yes! A word for the year instead of a resolution. This is my first year but my word is: Drumroll…. GRATEFUL! Appreciative of benefits received. I’m going to do my best to be grateful for all that I’ve been given. After all, to whom much is given, much is asked. God asks a lot of me because he knows I can handle it. Grateful. Thank you, Meg, for this little bloggity blog! I truly enjoy reading and seeing your beautiful photos! YOU are awesome π Mine is a phrase as well and it is ‘be intentional’. π Excited to hear about your word! I am picking one this year for the first time. I was kind of feeling like I was the last person to pick a word for the year! π But it just feels right this year. I am READY!! Good luck with your word! And HAPPY 2014 to you and your family! Thanks for letting us share your lives – one of my highlights for 2013 was getting to go to Craft Weekend – now almost a YEAR ago!! Wow π Happy 2014!!!!!! You are cute, and a fun mom, and creative, and have a pretty amazeballs scarf collection. (Like how I used your word there?) π I’m thankful for your blog, and the smile it always brings to my face. Happy New Year! Cheers to many more amazing memories to document through this blog and instagram! π
YOU are awesome too!! Hope my 2014 is 1/1000 as good as your 2013!! Best Wishes to you and your family for a fantastic year!! Today it seems like kids live and dress far beyond their years. You’ve done a wonderful job of allowing your kids to be cool but, still age appropriate. It’s so refreshing to see! Many blessings to you and your family in 2014!
The one and only blog I come back to. Happy new year! “help” is my word. happy new year! thanks for sharing all of your wonderful inspiration year round π
Meg, You inspire me in many ways. I am a log time blog “lurker” (is that a word?) (Too tech ignorant to subscribe-just bookmark and instagram follow!) but so enjoy you and your family. Your love for your family is evident in every post. I also enjoy that you acknowledge that life is not perfect. I wish you much love and happiness in the new year! Keep living in “color” –so awesome!
YOU are awesome. Thank you for your blog. I look forward to your posts, your stories, your pictures. You are sunshine on the internet. This world needs more Meg. Thank you and all the best to you and your family in 2014!!! A word for 2014? Huh, never thought of it that way. I need to ponder… You are so cute in your glasses! I think that every time I see a picture of you wearing them. π I picked a word last year, but didn’t really do anything with it. I wasn’t going to pick a word this year, but “peace” keeps coming to mind, so maybe I should pick one after all. I’ve been learning to pray for God to fill me with His peace, and I need lots of reminders. π You seem like the coolest mom with the neatest kids. Happy 2014! Thanks for sharing and for being such an inspiration! Fun pics! Thanks for all the inspiration you gave us in 2013! iI don’t have a word for the year, but instead a phrase…”Do hard things.” It gives courage and a feeling of accomplishment to do the hard things. Happy New Year to you and your family! I love instagram. I was just telling my husband how many pics I take of my kids just because it is on my phone. Here is to a great 2014. My word for 2014 is “enjoy.” You’re welcome for reading your “little bloggity blog”! Thanks for writing your “little bloggity blog”! And thanks muchly for your 2013 photo album. My word for 2014 is eucharisteo |
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Mia - Chocolate a vegetable….If that’s the case, I’m rocking my New Year’s Resolution!
Kerri - You are awesome!! These are all so good! Don’t Stop Believin’ :))
Sasha - New follower, love love love your blog… also, HA HA thanks for a much needed laugh this morning. Thankful for joy in life’s journey!
Katie (@AGracefulGirl) - These made my day!!!!!! π
Flower Patch Farmgirl - I did my motherly duty just yesterday by offering Calvin the following sage advice, “Don’t ever touch a girl’s hair. EVER. It makes us really mad.”
The rest is downhill, baby!
Lindsey - LOVE these! The coffee one was me last night when I went to bed!. “Well, at least I get coffee in the morning!” ha!
Lisa - Oh Meg. As I sat here crying over my husband’s upcoming heart surgery, I opened the tab for your blog. Between the tears I was able to laugh at these cards. Thank you for giving me something to laugh about today.
CathyC - Hilarious! Love it!
jane sims - These are awesome!!! Thanks for sharing.. Have a wonderful day!!
amy jupin - i love these things.
can’t help it.
they speak my love language: sarcasm in any and all forms.
you get it.
that’s why i love you.
Tiffany - At working cracking up – Those dang eecards are priceless.
Kristin - Uno ~ seriously!
Tanya H - So the one about locking the car, is that bigger for a reason? Because it pretty much describes me! LOL! And the sarcasm/text one rocks. I could just sent that to a few of my bff’s and be done. π
Tiffany Gardner - thanks for making me laugh outloud.
Julie - Thanks for the laugh – I liked the chocolate and laundry ones
Cassandra - Haha! I laughed especially hard at the last one & then started singing π
Stephanie - Oh! I laughed at so many of these! But seriously–what kind of person, upon hearing Don’t Stop. Believin’ does not immediately grab an imaginary microphone and turn Into Steve Perry? Who are these people?
Dawn Gross - They’re all great but the Don’t Stop Believin’ one is the best!
Wendy - Ha, I love these card/quotes! They totally crack me up and I have to say, my kids are completely on board with the lucky charms one!