Link Likes 6.15.13

Tags

accents, books for kids, comfortable in your own skin, feel at home, funny words, having joy, perfectionism, preschoolers

The hubs and I went to bed and woke up in a house without kids in it. Weird. The girls had their first sleepover with my parents, “Marmy” and “Pa”! Hooray for living by family again! (not just for the babysitting perks)

We had our first unbroken night of sleep in almost four years and it. was. spectacular.

Speaking of spectacular, here are some pretty great things that popped up on the interwebs. Enjoy!

Battling Perfectionism @ The Hippie Housewife

How to Feel At Home In Your House and Your Skin @ A Holy Experience

Those Yankees Sure Sound Funny (or maybe it’s the other way around?)

Best books of the year for kids under five!

P.S. A HUGE Happy Father’s Day to my amazing Baby Daddy (our girls couldn’t have it any better!), my fantastic Daddy-o and to my wonderful Dad-in-law. You guys are the greatest!

Quote of the Week #19

Tags

food pyramid, healthy kids, mom fail, not a vegetable, pizza, quote of the week

“I love pizza! It’s my favorite vegetable.” –Teagan Cox, My Daughter.

This is the kid on whom all my dreams of being the mom whose kids ate steamed bok choy were placed. The mom whose kids just couldn’t get enough beet salad. Well, at least they like broccoli, so there’s that. Oy.

Happy Friday, folks!

Passive Aggressive Shoe Solution

Tags

bushel, kthnx, passive aggressive, remove shoes at the door, shoe sign

I like our new place. I really do! It’s just that it has wall-to-wall white-ish-beige carpet. I only had a minor panic attack when I thought about scrubbing for hours on my hands and knees. *shudder*

It seemed a nice sign/basket combo would do the trick, so to work I went. $3 later (I haggled the Hobby Lobby manager for a deal on a used bushel basket), we were ready for guests and I didn’t have to feel like a crazy person running around un-shoeing people and handing them coasters.

Here’s the how:

1) Slapped a coat of my favorite homemade chalk paint on an old canvas

2) Painted the edge of the canvas frame Seafoam Blue

3) Realized that “Seafoam Blue” looked like “1980′s Nike High Tops” next to the black chalkboard paint

4) Realized I didn’t have any more chalkboard paint to cover the high tops

5) Hot-glued some scrap fabric around the edge

6) Called it a day.

Here you go. The pictures are nothing to write home about. I have an iPod and two photobombing kids, so you get what you get. Have a great evening all my fellow Passive Aggressive Cleaning Ladies (and Gents)!

What’s New This Week 6.10.13

Tags

air review, books, boot camp, bored kids, case of the mondays, copy cat, creativity, easy spanish rice, found objects, funny kids, how to soak beans, laundry, mad scientist, mary oliver, music, nature art, nature table, nick drake, page cxvi, potty training, recipes, social psychology, taking away toys, weekend

Monday, Monday. I still have mixed feelings about this day, but due mostly to my own weirdness about getting things “right”–I WILL do all 5,000 pounds of laundry today! It WON’T sit in a basket waiting to be folded until next Monday. Oh, maybe one day…

For now,  I’ll work on Mt. Smelly Socks (for the love, how can two little girls have such sweaty little feet?!), correct the kiddos a little less and hug them a little more, smooch my hubby and thank God for it all.

Listening

• Air Review
• Nick Drake
• Page CXVI (On repeat)

Reading

• New and Selected Poems, Volume One by Mary Oliver

Learning/Experimenting

• I’m experimenting on our kids again. We don’t have a ton of toys, but darn if those things don’t seem to multiply on their own. The books, art supplies, and kitchen knives are still readily available, but today the girls each picked out a favorite animal and most everything else has gone into storage to be doled out at special times. If we see an improvement in some behaviors we’ve noticed lately, they’ll probably just stay in the closet or head out for good I’ll share the notes I take on my cute little test subjects. Please don’t call Child Services on me.

Cooking

• Easy Spanish Rice (the white boy/mom way)
• Tons O’ Beans (get the most bang–and least gas–for your buck)
• I Cannot Make a Menu Plan to Save My Life Right Now.
• #losingHEBislikelosingacompass #ileftmystomachinTX #caucasianwithamexicanaddiction
• Might Even Go Paleo for a Minute

Creating

• Plenty of “nature art”. I keep finding faces made with the rocks, shells, flowers, leaves, etc in our Nature Tray (a thrifted printer’s tray full of found treasures) and out just about anywhere. Leave them to their own devices and magic can happen!

Doing

• Never say never. This weekend, we’re attempting potty training boot camp (running around the kitchen with a naked baby…she’ll love it!)

Enjoying

• The silly copy cat games our girls are playing with each other these days. Giggles and funny faces abound.

P.S. By “kitchen knives”, I meant “kitchen knives”…but they’re not readily available just yet. Just keeping your brain in shape, people. You can thank me and the creators of crossword puzzles later.

Link Likes 6.8.13

Tags

canning, creativity, happiness, hipster, homeschooling, homesteading, kids, knitting, milestones, parents, SAHM, simplicity, slow living, suburbia, urban farming

Another Saturday already! Today we’re having our 7th Housewarming. We’ve been busy for the last five years We’re christening this new adventure with dear friends and filling our home with dreams for our time here. Now, bring on the potluck!

Where does life have you right now? It might be more of an adventure than you think…

Hugs to you, lovelies!

14 year olds are fun!

The Milestones That Matter Most @ Huffignton Post

Suburbia Needs Jesus, Too by Andrea Palpant Dilley

 

Happy Hipster Homesteading? @ alternet.org

What’s New This Week 6.3.13

Tags

ann voskamp, beach, budgeting on an irregular income, buena vista social club, dr. sears, freelance budgeting, homemade almond meal, homemade almond milk, music, nesting, one thousand gifts, playtime, reading, recipes, shoes off sign, sweet potato meatloaf, the baby book, the lumineers

Ahhhh. We, the Coxes, just enjoyed our first full dip in the Atlantic Ocean and it. was. mahvelous. The salt on my skin and the scent of sunscreen is keeping my mind at the beach (which is lovely since I’m here, in front of a computer, on the phone with our internet provider). It’s a beautiful way to kick off a week and it’s been a long time coming!

What’s good in your week right now?

Here’s what else we’re up to around here:

Listening

• The Lumineers
• Buena Vista Social Club (I owe a great thanks to my former roommate–and now forever sister-in-law, Lauren for introducing my ears to this pleasure).
  
• One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (I’ve wanted to read this for over a year now. When I found the audiobook at the library, I knew it was meant to be. SO good!

Reading

• The Baby Book by Dr. Sears (lots of reading on the list for postpartum doula training. Phew!)

Learning

• How To Budget On An Irregular Income! I’ll post my notes once we have our system down

Cooking

• Homemade Almond Milk (cheap, delicious, and you get almond meal out tof it!)
• Alot of gluten-free pasta as of late.
• Sweet Potato Meatloaf
• Deviled eggs
• Strawberry, Greek Yogurt and Honey Shakes

Creating

• A sign to gently ask friends to take off their shoes…we have white carpet. I don’t feel bad about asking at all. Another post to come.

Doing

• Settling into the new digs. For me, this means putting something in “just the right spot”. And then moving it to a new perfect place. Get off me, I’m nesting.

Enjoying

• The sea breeze tangling the ever-lightening hair of two precious girls, free pedicures and fun exercise courtesy of the beach!

 

Link Likes 6.2.13

Tags

american, christian, finding your calling, parenting, SAHM, star trek, strep throat, toothbrushes

Happy June, friends!

Today, I bring you thoughts to ponder and a tip to remember. Enjoy!

Your Calling Is CLoser Than You Think @ Relevant Magazine

Parenting Is Super Confusing @ Huffington Post

Christian Subculture and the SAHM @ the beginning of wisdom

Free tip time: Throw away your toothbrush after you get over a virus. Strep just got us again…watch your bristles, Brush. I’m coming for ya.

Quote of the Week #18 and 27 Other Things

Tags

bikes, birthday, cake, good husbands, grocery costs, hangnails, healthy carrot cake, jillian michaels, library, lizards, ocd, old lady, old souls, organic fruit, phobias, quote of the week, saving money on cooling costs, sound of music, talons

“Mamma’s going to be 80!”-Teagan telling her Daddy how old I’m turning today.

I guess she’s picking up on Mamma’s “old soul”, but I’m actually only 27 (or will be as of 8:05 PM as noted by Dr. Balmookoot Balgobin at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts on that warm summer night in ’86).

So to ring in this new year of life, I’ve decided to share with you, dear reader, 27 pieces of prized information. From my old soul to yours, here are 27 thoughts I’ve had since my eyes opened today:

1. I need to put the oatmeal cake in the oven.

2. Why does 27 sound more than just one year older than 26?

3. What causes hangnails?

4. I need to cut my fingernails today. We’re getting into talon territory over here.

5. Do other people find thar they need to trim their nails with the same level of surprise that I do? (“They’re back…AGAIN!”)

6. I wonder if there are people who schedule such things?

7. It freaks me out to no end to see a woman (or a man) with nails so long that they curl under…holding babies.

8. I actually have a lot of hang ups when it comes to finger and toe nails…maybe I should talk to someone about that?

9. How are my kids already more tan than I am? I’m the one taking them to the beach!

10. I hope the girls don’t knock into/jump on/pull on/swing from/inadvertently roundhouse kick me today. (Jillian Michaels and her “Shredding” have made me especially susceptible to pain right now)

11. I could really go for some Mexican food right now.

12. My husband is the sweetest! He put new tires on my bike last night!

13. Teagan and Kylie look ridiculously adorable in those tiny bike helmets. Like bobble head dolls with soulful eyes.

14. Getting to share my love if libraries with those little girls is one of the highlights of my weeks. (I thought about how I’ll get to pull them in their new bike trailer today)

15. Why would someone buy a stroller for their dog? They walk from birth…and it’s a $&@!?#% dog. (This made me think of the classic Will Farrell dog training SNL short. Classic.)

16. I wonder if Teagan is old enough to appreciate The Sound of Music yet?

17. Counter-clockwise. That’s the way our fans should run in the summer, right?

18. How did I develop a fear of lizards?

19. Did I really just use a 4′ bike trailer flag to try to shoo one out of the patio?

20. Then, when that didn’t deter the little bugger, did I really throw my kids’ Melissa & Doug art easel accessories at it? (Don’t worry, I don’t aim to kill. I set the paint cups to stun).

21. How fast would I be committed to an institution if mind-reading devices existed?

22. I am one super-lucky lady.

23. I could really go for a perfectly ripened, organic Honey Crisp apple.

24. I will never pay that much for an apple.

25. I need to add apple juice to my shopping list.

26. What will I be doing when I’m 37?

27. Who decided that you’re not supposed to make your own birthday cake? It sounds like a conspiracy to me.

Happy Friday, everyone! We made it!

Finished Project! It is SO finished!

Tags

burlap, chalkboard, chalkboard paint, cork, homemade, makeover, projects, shabby chic, trash to treasure

If you’ve kept up with this blog, you’ll find that I have loads of good intentions when it comes to recipes and projects. If you know me (and my three and two year olds), you know that many of these intentions get lost in a pile of dirty dishes or on the way to the library…or Costco.

With that said, today’s reveal is made that much more exciting for me. I’m a third-generation dumpster diver/side-of-the-road-rescuer. I’ve found some gems. Some have been put back out by the road or given away because I hadn’t touched them and it was time to move again or I just lost my vision for them.

This one, though; this memo board found beside a dog groomer, foam panels warped and swelled with moisture and neglect, every. single. strip. of. hot. glue. matted with dog hair (had I been allergic, I would have turned back then), this was special. It was a sight and it smelled a little, but doggone it! I have a minivan with folding seats and a hereditary stubbornness destined to create trash-to-treasure greatness! At least that was how I felt when I picked it up. In February. Or was is January? Whatever. Here she is:

BEFORE:

(I had already kicked out the panels at this point. I felt like a Law and Order: SVU star kicking in a door to save the innocent beauty trapped behind layers of soggy fur)

AFTER: (the picture sucks, but you get the idea)

 

HOW:

1) I headed to home depot for this:

2) and painted it with a few layers of homemade chalk paint

3) then nailed those bad boys into place.

4) covered the top four panels in cork and burlap (thanks for helping, Mom!)

5) got Hubby, Dad and Mom to help screw it into the wall…this thing is here to stay!

It’s done. Now onto the next one! Consider this post an encouragement to finish those projects if it’s something you really see potential in. Lawd knows if I can do it, you can do it!

Quote of the Week #17, Link Likes 5.18.13 and a General Catching Up

Tags

beach, cereal, challenges in motherhood, family, florida, friends, genuine, joy, kids, leaders, moving, ocean city church, parenting, potluck, ryan gosling, saying goodbye, swagger wagon, texas, toms shoes

Well, friends. We did it. We moved to Florida. We hugged the necks of the Texas friends we’ve come to love; the ones who unloaded the few possessions we arrived in Austin with, the ones who babies mine have grown with for the last two years, the ones who pondered and prayed with us about some big questions, the ones who fed us, clothed us (I got nothin but love for my TOMS people), celebrated with us, threw us surprise parties, sat the heck out of our babies (does anyone get what I just said?), helped us buy The Swagger Wagon, the ones who welcomed us with arms more open than we could have ever dreamed, the ones whose lives we were made a part of. Yes. We said goodbye to those amazing folks. Some we’ll see again. Others, maybe never. For all, though, we are forever grateful and honored to know you!

I. will. nottttttt. cryyyyyyyyyy.

Where was I? Oh yes, we’re in Florida. For the last two weeks we’ve reunited with dear family and friends who’ve supported and loved us from afar for the past two years. A special shout out to my family and Gerald Teano, who moved us into our new place…like multiple BOSSES. Seriously, we even have things hanging on our walls! New Cox Family record. We are inhaling deeply the scent of the Atlantic; taking in the once again familiar sights of palm trees, people walking around in their socially-accepted underwear; returning to our beloved Ocean City Church. I’m watching everyone outside of the glow of my Scotch-Irish halo be kissed by the sun a bit more everyday. I’m not bitter. (although, Kylie mistaking a Snow White sticker for me the other day may have been pushing it).

We’re here, we have no idea what’s going on…and loving it. Our lives are intersecting with old and new friends. We’re finally meeting the spouses and babies that popped onto the scene in our absence. Things are good! It’s still a bit surreal. I’m having to learn road names again, where the best health food and thrift stores are now, and how to uncreepily invite our fellow gated community neighbors to a stranger’s house for a potluck. #firstworldslashwhitegirlproblems So, ya, we’re good.

Gabriel, Cox Family Head, brings us our Quote of the Week: “Even the dumpsters smell good”. If you were starting to feel sorry for us as we just left the “Live Music Capital of the World”, fret not. Now we live in a land where even the giant containers of rotting trash can make you feel like a kid on summer vacation. Beat that, Anywhere Else!

And to wrap this puppy up, here’s some mental chewing gum for you (this one’s for all the Mammas and the Pappas out there). See you around!

3 Mistakes We Make Leading Kids @ Growing Leaders

When You Feel Trapped by Motherhood @ Mothering

Being an Awesome Parent Even if You Don’t Have a Yard…or “Play Silks” @ Clean.

One Thing You’re Daughter Doesn’t Need You to Say @ Chatting at the Sky

Friendship (and the Glorious Mess That Goes With It) @ A Small Snippet

And this, just because.