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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254784672017-07-16T20:36:38.149-07:00your wishcake.Thirty-something, happily married, mama of two darling girls, lover of all things chartreuse. Mostly veggie, somewhat thrifty, always crafty.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-25781537710979807822017-02-23T21:37:00.000-08:002017-02-23T21:37:18.964-08:00what I am showing my daughters about motherhood...

I wonder a lot these days about the image of motherhood I am showing my daughters. What is it that they will remember about me? What will they tell their friends, their husbands, their own children? Will they know how much I loved these little years—despite the messiness and the sleepless nights and the tantrums and the extra hard days? Will they think of my joy, or remember too clearly the moments I became angry mom? What will stand out most in their minds?

And the biggest question that is on my heart is this: Does the way I live my life as a wife and mom make them eager for when they get to live out these roles in their own lives?

My older daughter is such a mirror to me. If there's one thing that motherhood has taught me, it's that you never know when you will again have a full night of sleep. (If ever.) If there's another thing that motherhood has taught me, it's that you will never be as humbled as you are in the moment when you're disciplining your child for an attitude that is an exact replica of your own. Over and over again, my daughter shows me the depth of my own weaknesses, my own struggles, my own flaws.

She becomes angry and mean when she has a simple decision in front of her, but she feels overwhelmed. As I walk her through these moments, all I can think of is how much these emotions are so familiar to me because I am the exact same way. If something breaks or our plans change or something disappoints her, she immediately goes to the negative and assumes the worst. As I comfort her and encourage her to stay positive and look for a solution, I feel ashamed that I still can't take my own advice at 32 years of age. When she can't master a new skill immediately, she gets so frustrated and angry with herself. I tell her to not give up and keep trying, yet I know I'm also prone to quitting anything I can't do perfectly right away.

The worst moments are when I see her talking to her dad in a way that is fairly dreadful, but I know exactly where she learned it. When she's upset, she mimics the way I speak to him when I'm upset. She'll also periodically make offhand remarks how hard it must be to be a mom because you have to do so much and take care of everyone and everything. She does often mention how glad she is to have a mom to take care of her, but the other comments make me feel like I'm probably too outspoken about how hard things are some days. She doesn't need to carry those burdens.

What am I doing in my day to day life that shows the good things? Do I intentionally make time to express the joy that comes from being a wife and mother? Am I so lost in the moments of frustration or exhaustion or perpetually-dirty-floors that I forget there are two little girls watching my every move?

When I think back to my own childhood, I remember my mom loving what she did. She was a mom. And a homemaker. But she never made us feel like that wasn't a high calling. She never made us feel like we were a burden, or keeping her from something more fulfilling, or that she was just trying to survive these years until we were older and she had more time to herself. It didn't matter that she'd get mad sometimes, or that things got messy or broken, or that all her time was dedicated to us girls and my dad and our home. There was still a contentment and sense of purpose that always shined through—even on the hard days. And I know that her example of motherhood is what made me put that ambition above anything else in life. I always wanted to be a wife and a mom because of her. Anything else I happened to accomplish was secondary. (And, no, I'm not ashamed to admit that—even in this day and age.)

Being a wife and a mom are what I'm most proud of in the entire world, but I'm so ridiculously far from perfect at either role.

Lately, I just feel like I'm a mess. I struggle with so many things, and even on the days I feel I'm ready to start fresh and have so many good intentions, I still fail. Over and over.

A few people have told me that they can't even imagine me getting mad or yelling at my kids, and I think it's such a testament to how you really never know what someone is struggling with based on how they look or act. I know we all tend to be harder on ourselves, but when I think about my overall attitude and reactions to situations big or small, I'm not always proud. I have days when I feel supernaturally patient, and other days when I'm on such a short fuse that every little thing feels like a trigger. There are too many days when I go to bed after an especially difficult day wondering if this will be what they remember of me. Frustrated, angry mom. Exhausted, tired-of-cleaning mom. Crabby, demanding mom.

I want to show my daughters that motherhood is truly a high calling, the same way my own mom did for me. It's hard, but it's good. I want them to want to be mothers someday. I want them to see motherhood as more than just an afterthought. I want them to know that children aren't a burden, keeping you from doing something greater. That they are my something greater. I want them to know that I tried hard every single day to love them well.

Twenty years from now, I hope their memories of the good things outweigh the memories of when I was a complete and utter mess…imperfect and insecure, with my heart tangled up in knots.

— Further reading: invisibility
Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-22375242371594639362017-02-10T06:30:00.000-08:002017-02-10T06:30:20.422-08:00free kitchen essentials from Grove Collaborative...

It's been a while since I've been able to share an offer from the folks over at Grove Collaborative, and this month I'm happy to share a free kitchen essentials kit—including some goodness from Mrs. Meyer's! I've been using the geranium hand soap since we moved in to our new home, and I love how it smells like springtime. (I'm lucky enough to be enjoying what feels like springtime here in Southern California. February is the one month of the entire year I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Yes, I feel quite spoiled. And reminded why real estate prices are crazypants around here.)

To those of you who are unfamiliar with Grove Collaborative, they're a company that delivers natural cleaning, beauty, home and baby products to your door every month. I've been a customer for what feels like ages now, and I continue ordering from them nearly every month. They consistently send out emails with additional promotions or discounts on products, so I definitely see a value in remaining a customer! They also have excellent customer service, which is always something that makes me happy.

Here is what you'll receive for free (a $25 value) as a new customer with any purchase of $20 or more:

Mrs. Meyer's hand soap

Mrs. Meyer's dish soap

Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges

Grove Collaborative kitchen towel

Free shipping + free 60 day VIP membership

You can choose from a variety of scents before you check out, if geranium isn't your jam. (I personally recommend the basil scent—it's my favorite.) Also, I must say, I have a small collection of those kitchen towels and use them as hand towels in our bathrooms and absolutely adore them. As for the VIP membership, it guarantees free shipping on every order, extra freebies several times a year, and access to special discounts and promotions.

Here's how to snag your free products:

— New customers sign up here. (Please note they do not currently ship to Canada, Hawaii or Alaska!)

— Answer a few questions to help customize your first order with items you may enjoy (this only takes a few seconds).

— Fill your basket with at least $20 of products and the four products mentioned in this post will be completely free (be sure to choose which scents you'd prefer!) and you'll receive free shipping.

— Finish and pay and look forward to your first box o' goodness.

Pssst! Are you already a customer? You can click here to add one Mrs. Meyer's hand soap to your next order, absolutely free.

This offer is good through Sunday, February 12th. Be sure to order this weekend if you want to take advantage of the free products! If you end up trying anything fantastic, let me know, because I love adding new things to my monthly shipments.

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here. As always, I appreciate your support!

Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-45373883219476922232017-02-08T22:00:00.000-08:002017-02-08T22:12:39.084-08:00places I've called home...
Right after Jay and I were married, I moved into the apartment he had rented right before the wedding. To be honest, I don't even remember looking at it beforehand, which I realize now is so out of character for me and shows I really knew nothing about the state of rentals in this part of the country. I'm sure that no matter what, having a place of my own to share with my husband was an odd mix of novelty and luxury—mostly because I'd never lived on my own before being married. I didn't really know what to expect. I remember the first night we were there after being married, and I looked at my purse on the table by the front door. I had the sudden thought of, "Oh, wait. I don't have to leave. I get to stay. I live here."

I was only twenty-one and hardly knew myself, let alone how to keep a home. I remember lamenting the fact we didn't have curtains. I remember making a lot of Hamburger Helper and frozen pizzas. I'm pretty sure we drank a lot of margaritas. I also remember having absolutely nothing to decorate with and absolutely no money to buy anything to decorate with and wondering how it always seemed like other newlyweds had it all figured out and I totally didn't.

The only neighbor we ever talked to was a sweet old woman with several cats and a strong European accent. She would accept our mail while Jay and I were at work and leave tiny notes on our door to let us know when we had a package. She always called me Kim, but I never corrected her because it kind of warmed my heart.

The apartment was a fair size for a one-bedroom, but it was old. The roof leaked, the air conditioner didn't work well, every wall and cabinet was painted with layers of thick, white paint. We had to share a garage with our neighbor, and although the parking was gated and our garage was locked, Jay's car was broken into and all his CDs were stolen. Although the actual apartments were gated, people would always wedge pieces of wood or paper into the gate so that it was never actually secure. Parking was outrageous, and there were times I'd have to drive around the block for a solid 20 minutes before finding a spot. I worked very late or very early, and had to walk in the dark to my car, which was often parked a block away and next to a vacant lot or liquor store. Suffice to say, it was bad news bears.

At a certain point, we were just ready to leave. Our roof leaked continually every time it rained (all over our fancy thrift store couches), our rent was raised twice in a little over a year, the neighborhood wasn't the best. We were making slightly more money after I switched jobs, and that was when we found the duplex.

We were in the duplex for more than eight years, and I still absolutely love that place. It was perfect in so many ways. It was small (still a one-bedroom) but had space for everything we needed. It had big windows, new carpet, granite countertops, and a tiny nook between the back door and our kitchen that made me happy. It was right on a busy street that had constant traffic, but when we were inside it felt safe and cozy and just like home.

I realize only now that we were so, so lucky with our neighbors. There was only one person who lived next to us for a short time that would smoke in his bathroom (we could smell the smoke) and talk loudly on his phone late at night just a few feet from our bedroom window (on speakerphone, nonetheless), but every other neighbor we had was rather quiet and normal and decent. Not to mention that for the majority of the time we lived there, our landlord lived in the duplex next to us. Soon after moving in, I added his number into my phone as Hunky Fireman Landlord, which I realize now was highly inappropriate, but was also highly accurate, so I'm willing to let it slide.

So many big moments happened while we lived in that duplex. We celebrated anniversaries and job changes. We made big purchases and had big arguments. I learned to be a better cook and Jay learned to be a better listener. We brought home our first daughter and survived the first days, weeks, months, and years of parenthood. I became a stay at home mom, Jay switched careers, we celebrated many birthdays and Christmas mornings. We found out we were expecting our second child, and that's when we realized that we had possibly outgrown our beloved rental. I remember crying my eyes out one night, worried that there was no way we could afford a decent two-bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood. Jay started Uber driving a couple nights a week to make extra money. I lost years of my life running around city after city, looking at rental after rental, trying to find something that would work for us.

When I was nearly 9 months pregnant, I found an apartment in our price range that had two large bedrooms and was in what looked to be a friendly neighborhood. We moved in, and during the two weeks before I went into labor, I hastily unpacked boxes and decorated the walls and hung curtains and grew acquainted with our new surroundings.

It wasn't long before we realized why rent was so inexpensive for this particular apartment. Many of the neighbors were loud and often dreadful. Some mornings, we would wake up to see a fresh display of graffiti on the walls of the businesses behind our building. When I'd take the girls to play in a small grassy area near our apartment, we'd have to look out for glass bottles and lighters and dog poop and empty packaging for "medical" marijuana. Our garage lock was cut off in the middle of the day while we were out at lunch one Saturday, and we're grateful to have returned before anything was taken.

Almost daily, I'd hear one neighbor or another screaming at someone. They'd curse loudly at each other and smoke on their porches and I'd have to close the windows and find somewhere to take the girls where I hoped they wouldn't hear it. Front steps would be littered with beer cans and cigarette butts. One neighbor would always stand outside smoking after work, and he'd prefer to do this ritual shirtless. He was always nice, as were his wife and daughter, but when someone's stomach tattoos are staring me in the face day after day, I'm not sure I can act casual anymore.

The biggest struggle was with one specific neighbor, who I could possibly write an entire memoir on, but overall it breaks my heart to dwell on here. She is around my age and struggles with alcohol. When she was sober, it always caught me by surprise because she seemed like a completely different person. Someone I would be friends with, even. She was sweet with the girls and would sometimes bring gifts for Eisley. But the majority of the time, she drank.

She'd knock on our door at all hours and want to talk. She didn't have boundaries, and that combined with the drinking ended up being more than I could bear at one point. I have so many stories that are bizarre and frustrating (and sometimes scary) from the past year and a half of being her neighbor, but this doesn't seem to be the place to share those things in detail. But it did reach a point where she was pounding on our door late at night and my anxiety was higher than I think it has ever been in my entire life. I didn't feel safe in my own home. I was furious over what my daughters had witnessed due to her lifestyle (we couldn't leave the apartment without passing her door and there were countless times when she came to our door completely belligerent when the girls were present). I was crying and shaking and told Jay that I just couldn't do it anymore. I didn't know where we were going to go, but we couldn't stay there. That's when he said that maybe it was time for us to think about buying.

Five months later, we found our home. It feels like a miracle, and maybe it is. It was the only place we even considered putting an offer on, and it was so perfect that we thought there would be no chance we'd actually get it. But we did. We got it.

It's beautiful. It's a townhome, so it has two stories and feels like an actual house. It has a fireplace, an attached two-car garage, room for a washer and dryer (for the first time in my adult life!), laminate floors, a dishwasher, two big bedrooms, a front area for the girls to play with room for a garden, and is in a quiet (quiet!), gated community. I'll share more later, but the main point is that it was completely and utterly worth the wait. We haven't lived here long, but I love it more every single day. Living here feels like such a gift. A complete answer to prayer. I keep having moments where I can't believe we're actually living here. It's a little surreal being somewhere that I think we'd be happy staying for a long time.

So, here we are now. Happily so.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-10250483843595615022017-01-19T06:52:00.000-08:002017-01-19T06:52:27.573-08:00necessary craftiness (DIY felt bows)...
I haven't had time to actually sit down and make something in ages. Which sometimes drives me crazy, because creating and writing and taking photos is very therapeutic and centering for me. I know there will be time for it all in the future at some point (possibly the near future, now that my youngest is starting to sleep better at night—knock on wood times a million).

Honestly, there are days when there is no time for anything aside from the must-dos. And sometimes I think about that saying that goes: You make time for the things you love. Heck, there are dozens of things I love that I can't make time for regularly. (There are even times I go way too many days without showering, but maybe I shouldn't admit that to the internet. Ah, mom life. Someone needs some dry shampoo up in here.)

But I digress.

I would like to revise the above saying to the following: You make time for the stuff you love most, especially your children and eating a hot breakfast every morning and reading books that make your soul happy and having an empty sink at the end of the day. Then sometimes you magically create time like some sort of wizard to do the things you love and have no actual time for. For me, these things include: reading magazines the month I receive them, crafting and creating, painting my nails, drinking a cup of coffee before it goes cold, time away with my husband, time away by myself, sitting down to focus on writing something more than a few small paragraphs.

For the past couple months, I've been in the midst of a rather intense organizing and simplifying of our apartment and the things inside, and I decided to pull out a box of felt I had tucked away in our closet—determined to find a way to actually make something out of it. I found a ridiculously simple tutorial for making felt hair bows and spent a couple evenings making a bunch of them.
Ah, yes. Sweet, crafting satisfaction.

I recommend trying out this tutorial from Craftiness is Not Optional (this blogger has other free tutorials on her site that I love)! All you need is a printer to print out the pattern, a hot glue gun, some felt (I've ordered most of mine from Wool Felt Central), and whatever you'd like to glue your finished bow to (so far, I've used simple hair clips and some headband elastic). I think these bows turn out beautifully and end up making you feel like you've made something quite impressive, even though they're ridiculously simple and fool-proof.

These sorts of projects are my favorite these days. And I'm always reminded of how much joy it brings me to create something. A lot of people are talking about things that give you life these days, and lately I'm much more aware of the things that give me energy and inspiration and joy. Creating is one of those things for me, and this year I'm determined to make it happen more often.

— Further reading: pretty little (crocheted!) hair bowsKerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-74627936330209780922017-01-12T14:36:00.001-08:002017-01-12T14:39:24.594-08:00a small list of good things...
+ One of my goals this month is to drink more water and to switch from coffee to tea. Overall, I do pretty well not drinking anything other than water at home during the day. I don't allow myself to buy soda because I know myself well enough to realize I'd be drinking it every single day. (Other things I don't let myself buy: sour cream and onion potato chips, Oreos, and white cheddar popcorn. True Story.) But I'm trying to increase my water intake because everywhere you turn there's someone telling me all the benefits of drinking more water. I decided to switch from coffee to tea because my one cup of morning coffee doesn't even perk me up (and I only drink coffee with creamer, thank you very much). I figured I would try caffeinated tea to cut back on my sugar intake, at least. I purchased some english breakfast tea from Aldi, which is actually pretty good without any sweetener, but I thought I'd ask all of you: What is your favorite caffeinated tea? I've never been a consistent tea drinker, so I am eager for recommendations.

+ We've had so much rain here lately! It's glorious. Well, as long as I'm not driving in it. Or carrying a toddler, my purse and three bags of groceries in it. Or contacting our apartment's management company to fix leaking windows because of it. But overall, rainy days make me all kinds of happy.

+ The Healthy Moms Podcast recently came out with a fantastic episode called Deep Nutrition and the Four Pillars of Health. You don't have to be super crunchy for this podcast to appeal to you, and this specific episode is perfect for anyone looking to make some changes during the year ahead. It's a little lengthy, but completely worth the listen.

+ I've recently reached the most magical place in life, my friends. I've been waking up fully rested every morning between 5 and 6AM. Some of this may have to do with Cora being a better sleeper these days (although she rarely sleeps the whole night without making a peep), but even on nights when I wake up a few times, I still wake up—dare I say it—naturally before 6AM. This has never happened consistently, even when I'd try to go to bed super early. Honestly, it feels like such a gift because all I want these days is to have a small portion of each morning by myself, in the quiet, reading or writing or (let's face it) checking my phone. Of course, there's only one catch...you have to be okay with going to bed before 9:00PM most nights. And you know what? At this point in life, it's totally worth it. Amen.

+ I recently purchased an adorable little wall hanging from my friend Morgan's Etsy shop: Little Lovelies. Her shop is pretty much the sweetest thing around, and you must stop by.

+ I'm currently working through a variety of different books, which always puts me in a happy place. I purchased Present Over Perfect to read on our iPad and have been having weekly FaceTime check-ins with a friend who is also reading it (this book totally speaks to my heart these days), I checked out Paris for One from the library (I'm not completely head over heels, but would you believe I've never read any Jojo Moyes until now?) and am starting to read Simplicity Parenting for the second time (I can't recommend this book enough). It feels good to always have something to pick up. This year I'm attempting to master the art of reading more than one book at a time...

— Further reading: more small lists of good things

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-78899343269783421732017-01-04T14:46:00.000-08:002017-01-04T14:46:12.797-08:00Walmart Beauty Box: Winter 2016 (a review!)...

I feel like it is much more exciting to receive this box when I know I'll be photographing the items inside and sharing the contents with you here on the blog, so I think I'll go ahead and continue these posts as long as I'm getting these boxes! Plus, this is the only subscription box I receive, so it always feels like a tiny holiday in my mailbox when it arrives. Even when I'm not head-over-heels for the items inside, it still feels like a treat!

Here are the details for what was included in the winter version of this seasonal subscription box (I think there are still two versions—so you may have received something different!):

Curel Hydratherapy Moisturizer — I haven't tried this moisturizer, and I'm not sure I will go to the effort to use it right after showering (which is how you're supposed to use it). I don't have very dry skin overall, so I don't often use moisturizers aside from my facial moisturizer.

Neutrogena Hand Cream — I gave this to Jay, because I just don't think I'll use it. I already have a bunch of hand cream and/or lotion samples on hand, so although this one seems to work very well (I like that it's clear and unscented), I thought I'd pass it along to the husband for his travel bag.

TRESemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo — This was perfect timing, because I ran out of dry shampoo and then this arrived on my doorstep! (Or mailbox.) I've used this dry shampoo many times, and although it's not my favorite, it still works very well and I like the price point.

Burt's Bees Lotion — I've received a sample of this same lotion in a couple boxes of baby samples, and it smells just wonderful. I like to keep these in my diaper bag and in a drawer of the changing table, so I'm happy to have more of this lotion, for sure!

Dove Body Wash — I feel like there have been Dove samples in nearly every single box I've received, but I can't complain—it's truly my favorite body wash! I like using these samples because you actually get quite a few uses out of them. I'm eager to try this one. It smells heavenly.

A couple foil packets of shampoo/conditioner and few coupons were also inside the box this month.

Last month's box was a winner for me, but this month's lacked a little bit. I was a little disappointed because there were three items that were moisturizers (my least favorite sample to receive, because I don't use it often) and there were no full-size products included. I'll still continue my subscription because nearly everything I've received ends up being used at some point, and like I said before, they're just fun to look forward to getting in the mail.

If you want to sign up for your own subscription, you can visit the website here. Each box is only $5 and they ship once every season. And as always, I pay for each of these boxes myself and this in no way a sponsored post—but this is such a fun, inexpensive subscription box overall, and I totally recommend trying it out a few times yourself!

Did you get this month's box? I'm always curious about the different versions and what other people receive.

— Further reading: Walmart Beauty Box—Fall 2016

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-46400257138420473962017-01-03T06:45:00.000-08:002017-01-03T06:45:57.240-08:00my one word...It's been ages since I've taken part in this annual tradition, but this year seemed like the perfect time to begin again. I love the idea of choosing one word or phrase to carry with you throughout the year ahead, to provide some focus on things you hope to accomplish, explore or improve upon. In some ways, it feels a little superstitious or fluffy (I'm pretty sure if I asked my husband what his word is for the year ahead, he'd give me a blank stare and ask me suspiciously, "Is this some sort of internet thing?" To which I would reply, "Yes, yes it is. You know me well. Now pick a word or I will pick one that you want nothing to do with."). But when you know the year ahead is going to be filled with change and growth in some very specific ways, I rather like the idea of choosing a word to offer extra focus.

My word for the year ahead is nourish.

There was a different word that I rather like the sound of and I thought would be a perfect fit, but then "nourish" popped into my head and ended up being the only one I could possibly use. Words make me happy, and I love when the sound of a word perfectly captures the meaning. I love when the definition can spill over into many different parts of my life. I love when the synonyms resonate with me just as well: nurture, foster, hold, sustain, cherish.

When I think of this word, a great deal of it has to do with the obvious nourishment of my body—being sure to provide myself (as well as my children and husband) with good food and other things to keep me (and them) healthy and strong. My focus this year will be on finding ways to incorporate foods into our diet that are healthy, homemade, whole. (All the while realizing that making a batch of my husband's favorite cookie bars are sometimes exactly what our bodies need.) I'm eager to focus on health in a way that has little to do with my physical appearance, thinking more about wellness and keeping my body strong and (wait for it...) nourished. This morning I ended up joining a new healthy-living course, created by one of my favorite bloggers, and I'm eager to begin. (Today is the last day to sign up, and if you want to use my affiliate link, here it is!)

But, of course, nourishment isn't just limited to the physical. A great deal of my focus is going to be on things that have nothing to do with physical health and wellness. I've been thinking about what I need to do to nourish myself spiritually (intentional daily prayer, reading and memorizing scripture, becoming well-versed in apologetics), to nourish the relationships most important to me (my husband, my children, my family, my closest friends), to nourish my own well-being (reading good books, finding time to write, making time to create).

I'm eager to take this word with me as I enter 2017, because it fits perfectly with my current ambitions. It keeps my world small. It sharpens my focus on the things that matter most. After all is said and done, success may not be obvious to those outside of my small circle—perhaps not even outside of my own self. But that may be just another aspect that appeals to me, to be completely honest.

I'll be sure to write a bit here during the year as I go along, but feel free to share your own word for the year within the comments. I love hearing about the words other people choose and why they choose them!Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-30899918064611160622016-12-31T07:00:00.000-08:002016-12-31T07:00:04.135-08:00my favorite fiction reads of 2016...

I'm pretty sure I read more in the past year than I have during any year in the past decade. One thing I recently discovered about myself is that always having a book to pick up is so, so good for both my head and my heart.

This year, I ended up diving into a new favorite genre (give me all the psychological thrillers, please and thank you), discovering my new favorite parenting book (which you can find here) and falling head over heels for audiobooks (which I wrote about here), and absolutely loving a weekly podcast all about what people are reading and should read next (something I never thought would appeal to me).

Yes, it's been a good year of bookish things for me.

Instead of going through all the books I read and loved during the past year, I decided to instead come up with a list of my nine favorite novels and share them here. This has been a fantastic year of finding really good fiction, which has something that is rarely the case for me. For years, I've been obsessed with reading memoirs or other nonfiction titles, and I never really wanted to put in the effort it took to find fiction that I really enjoyed. After this past year, I'm taking more chances on books that are wildly popular, learning it's totally okay to quit a book I don't love, and also taking note of authors and genres that almost never let me down. Now that I know reading is an essential part of my own self-care (that may sound ridiculous, but it's true) I'm making a point to always be reading something. And it feels good to now have a better idea of what is a good fit.

So, on with my list! (It bears mentioning that I'm pulling some of my commentary from notes I'd written on these books immediately after reading them and sharing them on social media. I apologize for any redundancy! Time is of the essence, or something fancy like that.)

The Road by Cormac McCarthy — This book is one I don't think I would normally be drawn to, but had heard it mentioned on a podcast a couple times. When I randomly saw it at the library, I ended up checking it out, not really knowing much about it at all. (I mostly like diving right into fiction without reading a thorough synopsis or review.) This post-apocolypitc story, centered around a father and his son, is both devastating and beautiful. From what I understand, it's either a book you love or absolutely hate, and I loved it. The writing is poetic and haunting—there's no other way to describe it. Every time I picked up the book, it was like I could lose myself in this other world. It left me with so much to think about when it comes to the depth of a parent's love and need to protect their child, even in the most unthinkable circumstances.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh — I picked this one up at a used book sale because it was less than $1 and I thought the cover was pretty. (Plus, the New York Times Bestseller mentions always get me!) Apparently people love this book and I can't believe I hadn't heard of it before picking it up. It is truly a beautiful story. The main character is a woman who ages out of the foster care system, and it made me think a lot about all the unseen and unknown children who face the same fate. My parents began foster care for infants when I was a teenager, and our family was blessed with my two youngest sisters through adoption as a result. This book had me feeling all the big feelings, which was definitely a good thing, I think.

What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross — This is another book I randomly picked up without knowing anything about it, and I was so pleasantly surprised. That, my fellow readers, is one of the best feelings ever. This book tells the story of an average woman who randomly kidnaps a baby from a store (major trigger warnings for those who have struggled with infertility; this book seems to handle the subject in a very raw, honest way). I wish I'd had hours to read this book in one sitting—it was that captivating. One of my favorite styles of writing is when chapters offer narration from a variety of different characters. Although there are many "voices" within this novel, the author does in in a way that made the story so balanced and complete and amazing.

The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey — I heard a bit of buzz about this book before picking it up, but I didn't know much about the actual story. The cover made me super curious and eager to give it a try, and it certainly didn't disappoint! I don't want to say much about the plot because I think it's best to go into it knowing very little and letting each twist and turn surprise you along the way. It's somewhat of a post-apocalyptic thriller, but the characters and presentation of the story felt very unique to me. It had so much heart, given the subject matter. I absolutely loved it and gave up some serious sleep in order to read more of it each day (which is saying something, because sleep is my beloved).

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz — This may be my favorite thriller/suspense novel I read in the past year. I believe I was led to this book from a podcast recommendation, but I'm also a sucker for a well-designed cover. This story kept me guessing the entire time and I actually gasped out loud at the end of two different chapters, which I kind of love. Again, I don't want to say too much about this one because this sort of book is best read without knowing too much about the plot (in my own experience, at least!). But it's incredibly well written, and if you enjoy a good thriller, you'll adore this one.

The Book of You by Claire Kendal — So, first of all, I don't necessary recommend this book to one and all. Mostly because exactly halfway through, they brought in some pretty graphic (and disturbing) sexual content. There was no indication of anything reaching that level up until then, so it really threw me for a loop. (Perhaps I should have expected it in a book about a stalker?) That sort of graphic content is, shall we say, not my jam, but at that point I was too invested in the story and wanted to finish the book. I skimmed the portions that were making my soul weep and did end up finishing the book and felt it was very good overall, and very creatively written. Just be sure you go in prepared with some light reading afterward to cleanse your mental and emotional palate. Think Berenstain Bears or Goodnight Moon. Or the back of a cereal box. Something with cartoons and happiness.

The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens — I definitely cried my eyes out over this book in the best way. I don't remember the last time I had such an emotional response to a book, but this author has such a way with pulling a reader right into the story and creating such memorable characters. (One of her other novels, The Girls, is a must-read. One of the most captivating stories I have ever read.) This book is an incredibly moving tale of survival and family, broken hearts and redemption. Beautiful, beautiful.

My Mother's Secret by J. L. Witterick — This book is based on a true story, but is still a work of fiction, so I'm putting it on the list! As a girl, I devoured any sort of historical fiction and was particularly fascinated by stories of children during the holocaust. (The Devil's Arithmetic and Number the Stars are two that I remember having such an emotional response to. Come to think of it, those are two I'd love to reread in the coming year!) This book was recommended to me by my older sister, who is pretty much my book whisperer. (She never steers me wrong. Everyone should have someone like this in their life.) This story is a fairly quick read, but the story will stay with you forever. It is completely beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.

The Girls by Emma Cline — This is probably the most popular book I picked up this past year, which probably explains why it took me months and months to finally get a copy from the library. (There were more than 100 people ahead of me when I requested it!) This book is a fictional story based on the Manson cult and murders (different names and characters, but still clearly the same story). It definitely lived up to the hype for me, which was nice! There's a fair amount of sexual content and violence, which aren't my favorite (I skimmed the chapter about the actual crime because I'm pretty sensitive), but this novel was very beautifully-written and rather fascinating. The author is incredibly talented and I'm eager to read more of her work.

Are there any books you read in 2016 that you can't stop recommending? If so, I want to hear about them. I need some new books to add to my must-read list for the upcoming year!

— Further reading: the best (celebrity) memoirs I've read

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.
Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-79531424685326865452016-12-29T12:52:00.000-08:002016-12-29T12:52:49.850-08:00things I learned in 2016...The space between Christmas and the New Year is a favorite of mine. I know some people struggle though the post-holiday fog and don't particularly enjoy this time of year, but as for me? It's my favorite. The possibility of the year ahead...the contemplation of the year behind me. I just love it.

I tend to be the person who wants to decorate for Christmas immediately after finishing my turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, just so I can savor the season as long as possible. (And as much as people complain about Christmas decorations coming out earlier and earlier every year, it seems like I hear even more people wondering how it all came and went so quickly after all is said and done.) Because I try to make the entire month of December festive and Christmassy, it means that I'm usually more than happy to un-decorate and get things back to their usual state very soon after the 25th. Because one of my children has been struggling with some sort of delightful tummy bug recently, we've been landlocked (or apartment-locked) for a large portion of the past week. Which means I've been scrambling for projects to complete as my eldest is cozy and nauseous on the couch, watching more episodes of Wild Kratts than would be recommended by her pediatrician.

(Let the record show: I have no regrets.)

As both girls are magically napping this afternoon, the idea of this post floated into my headspace and I felt I should sit down to actually write something before the inspiration has left (or children wake from their slumber).

This past year has been a good one. One with little sleep (thanks to my youngest) and little chasing of my own dreams and ambitions (aside from the everyday mothering and wife-ing and keeping the apartment in one piece). However, I can't really complain. As difficult and overwhelming and repetitive as life can be during this season of life, I'm completely and utterly grateful for it.

As I look back on the past year, a few things stand out.

I feel like I'm finally comfortable in my own skin. Throughout the past decade, I've written here and there about my struggles with perfectionism and body image. It has been a long (long, long) process, but I can honestly say that it is every bit worth any effort I had to make in order to completely change my way of thinking. I'm now only left with regret over how many years of of my twenties were wasted, thinking I had to reach a goal weight, thinking I was always a work-in-progress, thinking I was defined by my physical appearance, thinking imperfections were something I had to apologize for. I no longer care what the scale says. (Coincidentally, I no longer use the scale.) And although it's been odd to see the first real signs of aging, now that I'm a couple years into my thirties, I don't hate it. I definitely find it bizarre to see gray hair and permanent wrinkles etched into the shape of my face, but aging is not something I fear. The shape of my body is not something I resent. This past year has only solidified these feelings, an there's no other word to describe it than freedom. I feel free.

Learning at home does not need to look the same as learning in a classroom. I think that many homeschoolers struggle with this one when they're starting out. Even I have, despite being homeschooled myself for so many years. But the past year of teaching Eisley at home has served to show me that during these young years there is no need to sit at a desk (or kitchen table) for a large portion of the day, learning only from workbooks and projects and perfectly curated lesson plans. I've learned (and continue to learn) how my daughter learns best, and I'm able to essentially create a tailor-made school environment for her. It's kind of an amazing thing. At this point, I have a much clearer idea of how we will go into her first grade year, and I'm incredibly excited for all we have yet to learn together.

These early years of motherhood are not wasted years. This sounds like an obvious one, but there is an overwhelming number of voices I hear constantly, and they are all saying how every woman needs to be actively chasing after her own ambitions during every season of life. If not? Poor her. A talent unused is a talent wasted, after all. You make time for the things you love, after all. It's all about the hustle, it's about continuous growth, it's about productivity and dreaming big. And in the right situation, for some women, those are rather marvelous things. But those sort of words and phrases do nothing to encourage me. They only heap guilt, stress, and worry upon my already exhausted shoulders. The best things I've read this year are from women saying, "Hey, guess what? You want to know the honest truth? Here it is: Nobody can do it all. Nobody can have it all. No woman out there has the perfect balance, the perfect schedule, or is living her perfect life. Ok? Now go get some sleep, because sometimes that's the most important thing in the entire world." This past year, I've struggled with watching other women achieve dreams that are so similar to those I've had for myself. Those I am simply not able to pour myself into enough to make them happen. I've struggled, but then I've given myself this pep talk over and over: "You are doing great things. Really. Even if nobody can see them. You are doing great things." And in my heart of hearts, I know this is true. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Disconnecting from the internet is sometimes the best thing in the world. I miss writing, but I don't feel the same way about the internet or social media as I did in my early twenties. I used to live and breathe Twitter, I used to read a huge number of blogs, I relished in the community and constancy of it all. But I find that mostly it exhausts me these days. So much of it feels like extra noise I simply can't handle with everything else going on, and in between all the really good stuff is so much unnecessary stuff. This month, I decided to stop social media all together, with the exception of one that I don't keep open to anyone and everyone. But as for this blog...I can't say goodbye. To be honest, I worry sometimes about having lost my "voice" because I so rarely have time to write. But this past year has made me want to revisit the storytelling aspect of blogging. I want to rediscover that.

Simplicity is my love language. When it comes down to it, I just want less. I want to own less stuff and buy less stuff, for my kids to grow up without feeling entitled to a room full of their own stuff. I want to be content with the things I already have, and for my wish-lists to be much shorter. I want less excess, less guilt, less busyness for the sake of being busy. I crave simplicity and a quiet, calm life. Every time I commit myself to do something toward this goal, it is like a weight is lifted, and it only makes me want to do more to simplify my life.

There are so many other things I could share, but—as is always the case—my time is limited, and if I don't post this now, it'll end up gathering dust with all the other drafts I've started and never finished.

So, until next time, my friends.Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-91899167368777541122016-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:002016-12-04T06:39:04.191-08:00our first Surprise Ride box (and how to get yours free!)...

EDIT: The referral links and referral page on the Surprise Ride website currently seem to be down, but while I'm checking into this, feel free to visit Money Saving Mom, which has a link for a free box that seems to be working just fine!

We recently received our first Surprise Ride box for Eisley, and I was so impressed that I had to bust out the fancy camera for some photos (and share the goodness here, of course!). I was able to get our first box for free, thanks to using a referral from another blogger, and you can also get yours for free if you use my link at the bottom of the post. I was honestly just planning to get the free box, then cancel my subscription, but due to the fact that Eisley learned so much from the whole experience and absolutely loved the projects, I am hoping to add it into our homeschooling budget every month. I'm sold!

Each of the Surprise Ride boxes are aimed at kids age 5+ and are filled with items around one specific theme. It could be anything ranging from science to geography to art to history. Each box includes a full-size book, two projects to complete, a snack, and a few little extras. Here's a look into what we received in November, which had the theme of Polar Bears:

Magic Tree House: Polar Bears Past Bedtime book

Freeze-dried ice cream sandwich

Polar Bear Habitat project

Polar Bear Paw coaster project

Rubber bracelet

Snowflake water game

Hot chocolate with a polar bear stirrer

Everything arrived in a way that was so fun for Eisley to open and explore. Aside from the items I mentioned before, there was also a fact booklet on polar bears filled with information that was interesting for even me to read and discuss with Eisley! Here's a closer look at some of the projects and other items Eisley loved most:

Eisley has loved this series since we discovered them earlier this year (and she can now read them all on her own!), so we were both excited to receive this book. While they're not the most well-written books, they're such fun early chapter books and are a great introduction to many things a child may never think to read about on their own. Very fun!

This project was very fun for Eisley, and I love that they included everything you needed to make the coaster—down to the miniature bottle of tacky glue! There were pompoms leftover, which we will totally use for something else in the future, I'm sure.

Eisley says her favorite part of the box was the snack (no surprise there!). This freeze-dried ice cream sandwich was totally bizarre and delicious. It was fun getting to try something she would normally never eat!

The second project had her create a polar bear habitat using water beads, which she absolutely loved. For some reason we've never used water beads before and now I'm totally regretting it, because those things buy me a solid 30 minutes (or more) of creative play for this child. I love that you can reuse water beads, because this is something that she will get so much use out of over and over. That's a mom win, I'd say!

If you're interested in Surprise Ride and would like to snag your first box for free then click here to sign up! You'll only pay shipping, which is less than $6. If you don't want to receive any boxes after the first one, just be sure to shoot them an email before the 15th of the month to avoid being billed again. Future boxes cost $29.95 (including shipping), but remember to share your referral link if you love what you received, and if someone signs up using your link you'll get $10 off your next box.

Honestly, even if you end up cancelling after the first month, I think it's more than worth it to get your first box for free—you could even wrap it up to use as a Christmas gift, or save the activities for your child to do over the holidays with you, grandparents, or other family members they don't often get to spend time with.

Have your children received one of these before? Are there any subscription boxes for kids that you absolutely adore? I know there are so many out there, so it's nice to weed through them all by hearing what actual mamas think.

Affiliate links included in this post. If you order through my referral links, I will receive $10 to use toward my next order. Thank you for your support (and for helping to stretch our homeschooling budget!). View my disclosure policy here.
Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-48606363557331475022016-11-30T14:46:00.001-08:002016-11-30T14:46:19.174-08:00a small list of good things...

+ Decorating for Christmas has felt very therapeutic this year. It's been a couple years since we put up a tree of our own (due to traveling over the holidays) and I've loved having it light up our apartment since the day after Thanksgiving. Granted, Cora is removing ornaments about as quickly as we can re-hang them, so that has been delightful for my perfectionism. (Motherhood does a good job at lowering expectations of things like home decor. But the above shelves are safely out of reach, hallelujah and good night.)

+ This month we received our first Surprise Ride box for Eisley, and it was so fun to get something like that in the mail. Inside we found two creative projects for her to complete, a chapter book she adored, a snack, and several little extras. The whole thing is educational, which is a plus for my mama self. We haven't done a subscription box since our Citrus Lane days (a company which is now defunct, sadly) and I'd love to continue getting this one to add to our homeschool routine each month! I'll post a full review later this week, but if anyone is interested in checking it out, click here and you can get your first box free, just pay shipping (this is how we were able to get our first box). Even if you cancel, it's more that worth it to get the free one, I say. You can even tuck it under the tree as a Christmas gift!

+ I recently discovered how to cook bacon in the oven and it has changed my life. 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes on a foil-lined cookie sheet and BOOM. It's done. Without any hassle or grease splatters on the stove or your favorite cardigan. Has everyone else been doing this forever? I don't even care. Just give me bacon every dang day. (After many years of being mostly vegetarian at home, I've been buying meat again and have no regrets. It's possible I'm eating too much bacon, however.)

+ This week I've started sleep training Cora because it's been 16 months of multiple nighttime wakings and I'm pretty close to losing my mind. I'm taking a very gentle approach, but it's going well so far. The dream is to have both girls in their room together as soon as humanly possible. And for me to feel human again as soon as humanly possible. Say a prayer and send cookies!

+ I'm currently reading Simplicity Parenting and, oh, is this book exactly what I need right now. This year I've thought a lot about how to simplify our lives (both in the things we do and with the things we have) and it's so reassuring to read all this research on how having less and doing less can greatly benefit a child (not to mention the parents). I definitely recommend this book to any parent trying to figure out how to navigate these things in the over-scheduled, materialistic culture we currently find ourselves in.

+ I love December. And thinking about the year that is coming to an end, as well as the one that is just around the corner. It's really the best.

— Further reading: more small lists of good things

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-65081495503765521922016-10-21T13:47:00.000-07:002016-10-21T13:47:13.346-07:00how I listen to audiobooks (and six recent favorites)...
For the past year, audiobooks have become one of my favorite things. I am still a bit of a podcast junkie, but once I've depleted my weekly queue, I often fill the void with my latest audiobook. (As shown in the photo above, my current listen is The Lifegiving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson. It makes me want to buy a bunch of candles and listen to Celtic music and invite people over for a homemade dinner. I love it.)

It's rather fantastic how many ways you are able to listen to audiobooks for free these days, and I thought I'd share my recommendations, as well as a short list of books I've listened to recently and personally loved.

Here are the three ways I've listened to audiobooks for free:

Overdrive — This free app connects to my local library account and lets me browse a seemingly endless number of titles. They offer both eBooks and audiobooks, but I only use this app for the audiobooks because I'm an old, old woman and reading books on my phone makes me crabby. There is no limit on check-outs, and each title is yours to listen to for two weeks. The only drawback is that there is often a wait for more popular titles. (You can put books on hold, similar to when you want to read a physical book from the library that is wildly popular.) This app has a huge selection of titles, so if something is available on audiobook, odds are you should have no trouble finding it here. You're able to download each title you check-out to your device, so listening without using data is easy peasy.

Hoopla — I started using this free digital service through the app on my phone much more recently. Although I can also use it for free using my library account, I figured I had all my bases covered with Overdrive and thought it was basically the same thing. I wasn't interested in using it until a librarian convinced me by telling me that although it has a more limited range of titles, there is no wait time for the audiobooks you select and it also has music and movies. Yes, I was sold. The one drawback is that you are limited to 6 titles on any given month (you can mix-and-match audiobooks, full-length music albums and movies). If you have kids, I highly recommend using this as a great way to listen to audiobooks because their selection is fantastic. They have an unbelievable selection of kids titles! (We are currently working our way through the Ramona series.) Hoopla is my go-to app for audiobooks these days. Oh! And you are able to download any items you check-out to your device, so you don't have to worry about using any data while listening.

Audible — I did a 30-day free trial of this popular service because they were offering a free audiobook for signing up. (Right now you can snag two free audiobooks with the same trial offer. You get to keep the books even if you cancel, which is rather nice!) After the initial 30-days, I canceled the trial because I'm able to get most of what I want to listen to rather quickly at this point between the two above apps, and the $14.95/month price was just too high for me, even though it includes one free audiobook each month.

I thought I'd share a list of six titles I have recently listened to and totally recommend. To be honest, I have started and quit an equal number of audiobooks (I used to hate quitting physical books or audiobooks, but at this point in life I've given myself permission and it's rather freeing.). In any case, here is a short list of audiobooks I completely adored:

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng — It took me a while to get through this one, only because it's such a beautifully intricate story that isn't something to rush through. I'm not sure I've savored a book this much in a long, long while. I'd heard a lot of buzz about this book and I'm so glad I finally gave it a listen. Coming of age, the struggles within a family, a bit of mystery, the lessons we learn...this book covers it all in a beautiful (sometimes heartbreaking) way.

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica — This author can do no wrong by me. She writes a great physiological thriller, and this one didn't disappoint! I love how this book weaves the stories of two characters together so perfectly and unexpectedly. I know many people couldn't stand Gone Girl or Girl on a Train, but if you enjoyed those titles (like me!) odds are you'd love any of Mary Kubica's books.

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica — This would have to be my second favorite book from this author (my first being The Good Girl) and I can't recommend this one enough to any fan of this genre. The story goes back and forth between two characters: an ordinary woman and the homeless girl with a baby that she has a chance encounter with one day. It's one I'm so glad I listened to on audio, because it is so well done! I love hearing a story unfold piece by piece in this way.

A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold — This book is the memoir written by the mother of Dylan Klebold, who was one of the shooters at Columbine High School. This is one of the most honest, heartbreaking and life-changing books I've ever read (or listened to). It's also one I recommend to everyone—especially those of you who are parents. The author is deeply invested in raising awareness about mental illness and depression in children, teens and young adults, and the things she shares are so important for every one of us to hear. It's a very heart-wrenching memoir, but so worth taking the time to read. If you haven't yet read it, please do.

The Widow by Fiona Barton — This is another fantastic psychological thriller that I enjoyed so much. It is another that is told from several viewpoints as the chapters go on (which tends to be my favorite writing style these days). The widow in the book recently lost her husband, who was suspected of a terrible crime many years before. There are many twists and turns as the story shifts from the widow's story to the husband's story to a journalist's story and so on. (It does involve a missing child, so if that is a trigger at all, you may want to avoid this one.)

A Thousand Miles to Freedom by Eunsun Kim — This is one of those books you listen to and realize what a luxury it is to be doing a sinkful of crusty dishes with two screamy children trying to get your attention. Any complaint I have is such a first world problem when I hear stories like the ones the author shares. She grew up in North Korea and began her escape when she was just eleven years old. She isn't much older than I am, and just thinking about all she endured during her earliest years is almost inconceivable. It's a book I hope I'll always remember.

And now it's time for you to let me know of any and all audiobook recommendations you may have. I'd love to add some to my list! Especially those with British or Australian narrators, because that makes me all kinds of happy.

— Further reading: the best celebrity memoirs I've read

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here. Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-79268853073477815632016-10-18T07:00:00.000-07:002016-10-18T07:28:43.831-07:00Mrs. Meyer's fall freebie...

I'm definitely that person who believes October is about pumpkins and apples and scarves and cinnamon and baked goods and possibly eating several homemade muffins each and every day. I believe the cool kids call this being "basic" or some such nonsense, but I'm over wanting to be a cool kid, so just give me all the pumpkin spice candles and let me live my truth and eat my carbs.

In the spirit of autumnal goodness, I wanted to share an offer from Grove Collaborative that may make your October complete, which features two seasonal scents: Mum and Apple Cider. I've used Mrs. Meyer's dish soap pretty consistently for the past year (the basil scent is my happy place) and love when I have the chance to help others get some without paying full price—or, you know, any price whatsoever. I'm also mildly obsessed with the Grove Collaborative kitchen towels (also included in this offer) which I actually use as hand towels in our bathroom. So simple, durable and quite pretty!

Here's how you can snag a bundle of Mrs. Meyer's products for completely free and receive free shipping on your first $20 order! (When I first signed up, it was a bundle very similar to this that enticed me so. I'm all about the free soap, let me tell you this.)

I've shared deals similar to this one in the past (and these seasonal scents tend to sell out quickly!) so to keep things easy peasy, here's what you need to do to get this bundle for free:

— New customers sign up here. (Please note they do not currently ship to Canada, Hawaii or Alaska!)

— Answer a few questions to help customize your first order with items you may enjoy (which you are able to adjust as much as you'd like!).

— Fill your basket with at least $20 worth of products, and the Mrs. Meyer's products will be completely free, as well as shipping on your entire first order.

— Finish and pay and go eat a muffin.

Pssst! Current customers can click here to get this bundle for 50% off!

Rest assured, you aren't locked into any subscription and aren't required to purchase anything beyond your first order. Just be sure to update your account before your next monthly order ships (they'll always be sure to send you an email before this happens). I only planned on using Grove Collaborative for my initial order, but I've continued using them (even when I don't have referral credits!) because they have such great prices, products, and customer service.

This deal is valid through Sunday, October 23rd at 6pm PT. So, go ahead! Order some goodness for yourself and enjoy it very much and maybe even thank my children for taking magically synchronized naps that allowed me to both write this post and clean the entire kitchen. (Hallelujah!)

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here. Images provided by Grove Collaborative.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-75207948271354529552016-10-17T06:33:00.000-07:002016-10-17T06:59:33.567-07:00a small list of good things...

+ This morning, I woke up to the sound of pouring rain. It's such an odd thing, living here in Southern California, when I literally can't remember the last time it has poured like this. (How is that even possible?) I was able to wake up early this morning and listen to the rain outside while writing this post and enjoying a cup of coffee in the semidarkness. (I refuse to turn on any lights when I'm up this early—it's already a dang miracle when walking through our creaky apartment doesn't alert my firstborn that I am awake and seemingly ready to offer breakfast and conversation.)

+ To add to my growing list of things I love about Aldi, I recently discovered their organic marinara comes in the cutest Mason jars that can very easily be reused. After removing the label (you can read about how I do this in this post) I realized there are even measurements in the side of the glass. This sauce is already priced very low for an organic product (around $1.50 per jar) but I'm now also a little too excited about reusing the jars, as well. It's the little things, folks.

+ I recently discovered two podcasts that I'm loving. The first one is the At Home podcast, which is hosted by six women who talk all things homeschooling, faith and motherhood. I recommend the following episodes: The Early Years, Socialization, and The Cultivated Mother. I also highly recommend listening to their episode on Feminism, which I was nervous to listen to (based on my own personal beliefs and opinions) but ended up being a complete breath of fresh air and unlike anything I've heard on the subject as of late. The second podcast I can't get enough of is The Homeschool Sisters Podcast. The two episodes I recommend listening to first are: I Want a Milkshake: When Dad Works a Lot (my husband's new job has unexpectedly brought a fair amount of travel, so this was rather timely) and You Don't Have to Do it All: Getting Started with Homeschooling.

+ We recently survived nearly two weeks of one child or the other being sick, which definitely messed with our much-loved and much-needed routine, and I'm very eager to get back into our usual groove this week. I've been writing a post in my head on the importance of rhythm and routine in my life, so we will see when I'm able to actually post these thoughts here. (Soon, I hope!)

+ This September, I bit the bullet and asked another mama I knew from our local library's story time about her homeschool co-op. I knew she was homeschooling her daughter and son, and I had to work up the courage to ask her whether she is a part of a co-op (which is a feat for me, because I'm not that social with people I don't already know on a personal level, and I get crazy first-date-level jitters trying to strike up a substantial conversation with other moms). I'm so glad I put on my big girl pants and finally talked with her about it, because as of September we have been a part of the most wonderful weekly co-op, and it has been one of the best parts of our school year so far. As they say, it's so important to find your tribe when you're doing something that is somewhat off the beaten path, and these women (and their children) are becoming just that.

+ Next month we should be able to move forward with house hunting, and for that I am grateful. The perfect place will come at the perfect time. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

— Further reading: more small lists of good thingsKerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-90225748440541384752016-10-09T14:12:00.001-07:002016-10-09T14:12:43.025-07:00a few scattered thoughts...

There are a few things I miss. I miss taking photos and having time to sit on the computer, tinkering around with edits and cropping until I felt like an image was just as I meant it to be. I miss when going to bed at night meant sleep, rest, peace. I miss being able to just sit and do nothing without my mind telling me I should be doing something (because there are always so many somethings to do). I miss when I was a little girl, and there was always someone to take care of me and to know my every need. I miss going to the library without chasing a toddler through the aisles or telling my five year old that no matter how many times she asks, we are not getting graphic novels that are meant for middle schoolers, so stop adding them to our stack of books and acting surprised when I say no. I miss running. I miss when my husband and I were young, falling in love and completely and entirely ridiculous. I miss putting my thoughts down in writing on an almost daily basis.

Still, missing these things doesn't mean I'd change a thing about my life right now. Which is odd, or maybe not.

....................................................................................................................................

I think a lot about my desire to live simply. This past week was a rough one, with my husband out of town for an entire week and one or both kids sick for at least half of those days. We were faced with a bit of cabin fever, to say the least, and this weekend I did what I tend to do when I need to feel more at peace: I decluttered and organized. A while ago, I listened to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up on audiobook, and I'd been meaning to use some of the author's principals when going through our apartment. Because the dream is still to buy a place of our own as soon as we find something that feels just right (and magically fits our budget), cleaning and decluttering in anticipation of a possible move is always on my mind. I finally went through all my clothes and a couple closets. I went through the girls' toys. I ended up with six bags of items to donate, which is always such a bizarre experience.

How do I always have so much that we don't use or need? I tend to do this a couple times a year, and every time I'm amazed by how much I can easily say goodbye to. We aren't over-buyers, so I don't even know how it happens. But when it comes down to it, I really want to dedicate myself to less, less, less. I always feel freer after decluttering and organizing. I always feel a physical relief when we have less.

When it comes to the girls, Cora is too young to notice anything is gone, and I've always encouraged Eisley to be involved with donating clothes or toys she no longer has a need for. Because I've always involved her, perhaps it has made it easier for her to accept when things are no longer there. Often times, she'll be the one to tell me she'd like to donate something so another child can play with it. And wouldn't you know, since I did this most recent clean-up, she's been playing with several toys that she had seemingly forgotten all about. Her dollhouse, her favorite baby doll, a collection of Polly Pockets. It's like they're all new again, now that she isn't overwhelmed with too many options of things to play with.

Our culture tries to make us feel bad for having less, but I'm constantly reminded of how much I thrive (and our children thrive) when we aren't overwhelmed with stuff.

....................................................................................................................................

When October arrives, I want to bake muffins every single day. I want to read the entire Little House series and watch Felicity and You've Got Mail. I want to eat roasted veggies at every meal—yes, even breakfast. I want to wear boots (even though it's still flip-flop weather) and cardigans (even though the temperatures hit the 90s too many times already this month). I want to be that person who collects leaves from the park and decorates her home with them. I want a cozy front porch to cover with pumpkins, and a friendly, red front door with a beautiful wreath hanging outside.

This time of year, I miss my childhood home even more than ever. It makes me realize that one of these Octobers, we desperately need to plan a trip "home" so we can be somewhere that truly feels like autumn.

....................................................................................................................................

I'm grateful for many things these days. For the moments when I'm running around with my daughters and we're all laughing and it feels just perfect. For the times when married life surprises me in the best way, even ten years in. For the times I look at myself and can honestly say with confidence that I'm so at peace with the shape of my body—the body that helped bring two sweet babies into the world, the body that has carried me through 32 years of life, the body that has mostly forgiven me for thinking it wasn't perfect enough or thin enough for too many years. For the days I feel like I'm actually doing a pretty good job at this mom thing. For the days I feel so much joy and fulfillment in my life as just a mom.

A little over a year into welcoming my second daughter into our family, our routine is starting to feel less hectic. I still don't sleep well (and my level of joy after sleeping four hours straight without Cora waking me up borders on embarrassing) but I'm doing better at handling it.

And on we go, day after day. It's hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by, and how close we are to beginning yet another.
Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-15417406807667800682016-10-07T14:00:00.000-07:002016-10-07T14:03:13.900-07:00Walmart Beauty Box: Fall 2016 (a review!)...

Both girls are napping (hallelujah and amen) so I thought I'd type, type, type away as quickly as I am able in order to share the contents of the most recent Walmart Beauty Box! This is the only subscription box I receive, so it's always a good mail day when it arrives. And this month it seemed like they outdid themselves with the assortment and quality of items inside. I'd say it more than made up for last season's offerings!

Here are the details for what was included in the fall version of this seasonal subscription box:

Biore charcoal pore strip — This sample gave me flashbacks to my teen years when these things were all the rage and my sisters and I were a little obsessed with them. I'm fairly sure I haven't used one in well over fifteen years, so I may be a little too eager to use this one later this week.

Cetaphil moisturizing body cream — I'm always a fan of lotion samples to throw in my diaper bag (or makeup bag, or random kitchen drawer, or Jay's travel bag...).

Dove body wash — I've used Dove body wash for years, and am definitely a fan. I hadn't tried this scent until now and goodness gracious it smells like heaven. Sweet cream and peony? Yes, please.

Village Naturals Therapy mineral bath soak — I may save this so Jay can have a magical, Chandler-like bath experience after his next marathon. I'm sure he will thank me.

Ecotools makeup brush cleansing cloth — I am definitely not fancy when it comes to makeup or makeup brushes, but perhaps my $3 powder brush could use some cleaning. Who really knows?

Clean and Clear face mask — I haven't used a face mask in ages, so I can't wait to try this one! And the fact that it is apparently a "60 second shower mask" makes it right up my alley. (Most of my showers are crazy quick these days. Mom life!)

Batiste dry shampoo — I've heard people rave about this dry shampoo for years and was eager to try it for myself! So far, I've used it a couple times and was a little bothered by the fact that I could smell it on my hair for a long time after applying it. Do you use this product? Is this typical? It worked well, so I'm willing to overlook the scent, but it did seem a little odd.

Nature's Bounty gummy vitamins — I've received samples of these vitamins before and they're actually quite delicious. I'm currently taking prenatal vitamins because I'm still breastfeeding Cora, but I'd consider buying these in the future. Part of me feels awkward taking gummy vitamins as a grown woman, but another part of me rather enjoys the idea.

Hello whitening toothpaste — First of all: the packaging for this toothpaste is just adorable. Yes, things like this make me all kinds of happy. I've been using Tom's of Maine toothpaste for a while now, but am eager to try this brand! I like that a natural product like this was included in the box this season.

A few coupons were also inside the box this month, but none that I think I will personally use.

Last month's box was a little disappointing, so I was hoping this box would be a good one. I'm quite happy to say that this may actually be my favorite one so far! I was going to cancel if there were any repeat items this time around (or mostly things I wouldn't use), but I think I'll continue my subscription and hope this trend continues.

If you want to sign up for your own subscription, you can visit the website here! Each box is only $5 and they ship four times each year. This post isn't sponsored in any way, and I pay for each of these boxes myself. I just like to share a good thing when I find it!

Did you get this month's box? Are you as smitten with it as I was? Do share!

— Further reading: Walmart Beauty Box—Summer 2016

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-36390557939779107752016-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:002016-07-21T06:00:28.672-07:00things that make me love doing dishes (and a freebie!)...When we moved from our beloved duplex to our current apartment, I went from having a dishwasher to essentially becoming a human dishwasher. I now do a sink full of dishes at least three times a day (sometimes four, if I feel like getting ahead of the game and/or feeling like a domestic goddess). Some days, it feels like an endless cycle, but overall it's not that dreadful. Having a dishwasher now feels like a luxury and not a necessity, but perhaps you should ask me if my feelings have changed if we ever have five children. (You should know I only mentioned the five children thing to freak out my husband, should he ever actually read my blog. Of course, with five children, at least a few of them would become our dishwashing minions, so...)

In any case, in a strange turn of events, dish washing has become a very odd form of "me time"—which I'm sure would make many-a-woman cringe in this day and age. But, hey! I've come to terms with the fact that most days I just won't have any time to myself. For now, at least. Until our youngest is sleeping well enough at night for me to consistently wake up early every morning, I have to relish any and all moments throughout the day when I am somewhat alone and able to indulge in something I enjoy.

Because of this, I've come up with three ways to trick myself into looking forward to doing dishes:

1. I listen to a bunch of podcasts, and love saving my favorites until I have a sink of pans to scrub. My current two favorites are ones I'm sure I've mentioned before: The Popcast (witty banter and pop culture goodness) and What Should I Read Next (I've found so many great book recommendations on this one).

2. I always try to have at least a couple audiobooks to listen to when I'm fresh out of new podcast episodes. I've mentioned the Overdrive app before, but if you haven't used it before, you must do so immediately. You connect your library card to the app, then you can listen to audiobooks (and also borrow ebooks) for 100% free. I also recently downloaded Hoopla, which is very similar and equally awesome.

3. Buying dish soap that smells like heaven kind of makes my life complete (and a sink full of dishes easier to wash). I used to buy the cheapest thing I could find at the grocery store, but since I started ordering from Grove Collaborative, I decided that ordering dish soap that made me happy could be one of those little indulgences in life that I could totally rationalize. Two of my favorites are Method's clementine scent, as well as Mrs. Meyer's honeysuckle scent.

This month, I was able to order some new products Grove Collaborative recently started carrying. I hadn't heard of the Caldrea brand before now, but goodness do they smell incredible and look beautiful sitting on my kitchen counter. I chose the tangelo palm frond scent, which is fancy for orangey-summertime-goodness. Part of me would be okay with using the countertop spray as perfume, but that may be frowned upon. (Unfortunately.)

This week, I'm teaming up with the lovely folks at Grove Collaborative to offer new customers their own set of products to make your own dish washing adventures a little more enjoyable!

Through Sunday, July 24th at 6PM, new customers will receive the following items free with any order of $20 or more:

Free Caldrea countertop spray

Free Caldrea dish soap

Free Grove Collaborative dish brush

Free shipping

And any current customers will receive a free Grove Collaborative dish brush with their next order—just click here to add it to your cart.

As always, supplies are limited, so be sure to order soon if you want to receive this freebie (worth over $30). Here's how to sign up:

1. Sign up for Grove Collaborative here and you will receive the Caldrea offer for free!

2. Answer 4 quick questions about your home that Grove Collaborative will then use to customize your products—this takes under 30 seconds!

3. Once you've answered the questions, you can finalize your basket of products to suit your household needs by adding or removing items.

4. To receive this offer, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products and scents you love and receive in your first box.

5. You made it! Click Finish + Pay and place your order.

You don't have to order anything beyond the first $20 order, and you're free to cancel any time after your initial order. If you continue to use Grove Collaborative, they will send you an email each month before anything ships, so you can either empty your basket and skip that month's shipment, or add anything you happen to need to your order (from beauty products to baby diapers to cleaning products galore). I've used them for quite some time and have been very, very happy with the service, prices and referral program!

Let me know if you end up ordering, and what you think! Here's to many happy dishwashing evenings all-around! (Until it hits 90+ degrees later this week. Hold me close, young Tony Danza.)

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-54327699142014666602016-07-12T07:12:00.000-07:002016-07-12T07:12:07.485-07:00maybe I've always been a homeschool mom...

Every time I think about homeschooling Eisley this autumn for her kindergarten year, I feel a little more excited that I think I should be. Shouldn't there be a bit of fear or insecurity or second-guessing the entire thing? Shouldn't there be more worry about whether or not I'm making the right choice—about whether or not she'll have enough friends, socialization, educational challenges? Because truly, I don't generally worry about any of that. And perhaps that's the greatest indication that the choice we're making is the best choice after all.

I technically homeschooled Eisley for preschool this past year, but there have been times I've thought that maybe I can't say that officially. She didn't have desk time (or, you know, kitchen table time) five days a week, and I don't have a drawer overflowing with her completed art projects. However, the more reading and research I do on teaching young children and the benefits of homeschooling, the more I'm realizing that I've essentially been homeschooling her in one way or another for her entire life. School isn't necessarily let's-sit-down-and-do-this-workbook or recite-for-me-the-ABCs or it's-time-for-sight-word-flash-cards. The biggest things my daughter has learned in the past four years (almost five, come to think of it) have been the result of intentionally making learning a part of daily life—whether or not we were sitting at the kitchen table with a workbook or not.

We read several times a day (I read about to her before rest time and bedtime, and she reads to herself throughout the day), we work on math skills and phonics at the library or in the kitchen or while driving to the grocery store, I'm able to address social issues and character qualities based on whatever we are faced with on any given day, she writes thank-you notes with help, we look at maps, she helps me measure ingredients while baking a special treat, she runs around the apartment measuring things with a measuring tape, we do puzzles and games and, yes, workbooks.

I purposely kept things simple for her preschool year for a few reasons—the main one being that I knew adding a baby to our daily routine last year was going to be a challenge, and I didn't feel like checking off a bunch of boxes for school every weekday would be beneficial to anyone (and honestly, I didn't need another checklist in my life). What I did end up doing was making a list of goals for her preschool year. I wanted her to learn to read, to count to 100, to work on bible memorization, to work on character qualities, to write upper and lowercase letters and be able to write a sentence, and a couple other things. Everything else aside from those would be icing.

And even with all the madness of the past year—even with moving, having a baby, dealing with stress and sleepless nights and struggles with defiance—I was almost shocked this summer when I revisited this list and realized we had accomplished 100% our goals. Not by a rigid schedule, but mostly making learning an active part of our life at home. Of our life anywhere we happen to be.

It's crossed my mind a lot during the last year, how I've kind of always been a homeschool mom. I've always had a teaching mentality, regardless of what I'm doing with my daughters or where we happen to be—something I'm confident I learned from my own mom, who was always teaching my sisters and I, even when we were in public and private schools throughout our younger childhood.

For the past school year, the best moment was when Eisley learned to read. She has known letter sounds for years now, and we were beginning to work on sight words when one day it just clicked. This spring, she picked up a book we hadn't read in ages and surprised me by reading the entire thing—needing help with only a few words. I knew reading was just around the corner for her, but seeing her just do it without prompting from me was incredible. Being there for that moment was the best. And since that day, her vocabulary and comprehension and ability to read a book with gusto (yes, this is important to me, too) have all continued to improve at an incredible rate. Which made me realize that there are times a child can learn to read—possibly the most important, landmark skill of childhood—without being "taught" to read. We've been laying the groundwork for years, but it's not as though I did any curriculum specifically to teach her this skill. Hour upon hour of reading aloud every single day, and making books a priority and a joy—those things are what taught her to read.

Which is a little odd as a teaching parent, because I feel like I should have somewhere specific to point when explaining how my daughter learned to read in preschool. It's almost as though she taught herself to do it, and all I had to do was read her stories every day. (It feels lazy, when I know it's the exact opposite of laziness.) I read recently that this is the way many children end up learning to read, which I never expected. And after a recent conversation with my mom, I learned that I started reading at age four in the exact same way.

This is not a broad, sweeping statement on every child and every family. One thing I'm sure of is that homeschooling is not for every child and every family—and even if we homeschool during these early years, there's no knowing what the future holds for us. You do what fits. And if homeschooling fits, you then move forward and figure out how each of your children learn best. And you figure out how you teach best. And from what I hear from veteran homeschool parents, you just move and shift and try and fail and succeed and take it one year (or month, or week, or day) at a time.

Which feels a lot like regular parenting, honestly.

I'm obviously brand new to homeschooling as a parent, so I don't claim to speak with much experience or authority, but I did have the benefit of being homeschooled myself from 6th grade through high school, and I am friends with several second-generation homeschoolers. I am very familiar with the arguments for and against homeschooling, and I count myself lucky to know other homeschool graduates—well-rounded, intelligent, socially-adjusted, and college educated women, at that. And many of these women are choosing to homeschool their own children. Which is kind of fantastic.

I'm sure I'll be writing more about this as we begin our first "official" year of homeschooling this fall. (In our state, children don't have to be enrolled in school until age 6, so we have another year of doing school without having to report anything we do. Next year will hold its own set of challenges, for sure!) But for now, I just have to say that I'm so excited. I can't wait to begin a more structured (but still relaxed) school year with Eisley, and to see all she's going to learn. I'm also eager to begin some tot-school activities with Cora as she gets older during the upcoming school year.

But, for now, before I get ahead of myself, I just had to share that it feels good to be confident in this decision. I know that for now, for our family, for me as a mom, for my daughter...that this is the best choice. And actually, an easy one to make.

— Further reading: thoughts on homeschooling (from two years ago)

Kerri W.https://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-1227773756809118612016-07-11T15:20:00.001-07:002016-07-11T15:20:50.208-07:00conversations with Eisley (part nine)...

Eisley (singing her version of a Taylor Swift classic): He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar! The only reason for the chicken on my wishing star!

Eisley (eating a nectarine): These make my eyes juicy.

Eisley (trying to be polite at dinner): I'm not very impressed by these chicken nuggets. But...I like them.

Eisley (enthusiastically helping me clean out the fridge): The is the funnest day in my whole entire history!

Eisley (looking at a library book): I didn't think that super heroes could have blue eyes.
Me: Why not?
Eisley: It's just a little...tacky.

Little girl at library: What is your name again?
Eisley: Eisley.
Little girl at library: Um...I'm going to all you Isaiah. Or Leslie.
Eisley: Okay!

Eisley (clearing her plate after dinner): Thank you for that delicious dinner, mom! I'm all finished!
Me: Finished? Looks like there are still some bites left.
Eisley: I know...that's just for the flies to eat.

Eisley: I wish I could hug the whole entire city! But I can't, because my hands aren't big enough.

— Further reading: More conversations with Eisley hereKerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-46748458611072958802016-07-07T16:33:00.000-07:002016-07-07T16:33:30.987-07:00where we belong...

These days, I think a lot about where we are supposed to be. Where I'm supposed to be. If I'll ever reach a place and be able to look around me and think, "Yes, this is it. This is home, the community around me is my community, this place is where we will plant our roots, this is where we can invest ourselves, this is where we belong. We're finally here."

There are moments I wonder if this is ever something that actually happens in real life. Is it one of those expectations I've completely invented and assumed would happen for me? Something that only happens in books and movies and in the olden days when certain seasons of life seemed much simpler? I think about my own parents, who have moved and lived so many different places during their marriage—and even though they settled down for many years in the home where I spent most of my childhood and teenage years, they ended up selling that home and living many places since that time. (I still get a little weepy over the loss of that home. Cue Miranda Lambert's "House that Built Me" and get me a bottle of wine.)

I know plenty of people who think they're settled, but their lives end up taking them somewhere else altogether.

Maybe we just are where we are at any given moment, and should just...be. Which is a delightful outlook, but also a little bit maddening. I don't know why, but there are times I rebel against the many sentiments that encourage us to simply bloom where you are planted or to realize that home is wherever you are. There are times it's easy to embrace and act upon these sorts of things, but right now it is just difficult for a variety of reasons. I was recently listening to a podcast that I had to turn off because hearing a woman who lives on a beautiful farm out in the country tell me how she had to learn to just love where she was, as imperfect as it was, definitely did not put me in the right mood at that moment.

(Granted, I've never lived on a farm. And know nothing about chickens and gardening and charming old barns. But, still...I'd gladly get my hands dirty on some farm if it meant being free from the absolute madness of what our current apartment situation has been offering us. I'd love to close the windows to drown out the sound of a rooster as opposed to a wildly offensive domestic dispute from a neighboring apartment. Oh, I have stories. So many stories.)

As always, it's a very personal thing—and one woman's paradise is somewhere another woman would never be able to thrive. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would look at my situation and completely not understand how it would be hard for someone to feel content and thrive in this beautiful part of the country. Southern California is filled with many beautiful things, but (as I've mentioned before) my heart will always belong in the Northwest, where I grew up. And of course, I know that if we do move back someday, I'll leave a part of my heart here. After all, this is where I found my bravery, where I met and married my husband, where we had both our daughters. This place has been home in some ways, but not in the deeper, more significant way that makes you feel like you truly belong somewhere.

In the past decade, I've learned a few things about where I belong. Or, rather, where I think I belong. Where I want to belong. Where many past versions of myself have felt at peace, experienced comfort, made countless memories.

Here are some things I don't think will ever change: I prefer the country to the city. I prefer the forest to the beach. I have no desire to own a large home, but a comfortably small space of our very own would be a dream come true. My life needs nature, trees, and a place to sit and think without any traffic noise. I want my daughters to live somewhere with a yard, in a safe neighborhood, where we can make our home truly our own. The idea of limiting the size of our family based on the living space we can afford in this part of the country breaks my heart a little bit. And being within driving distance of my parents, in-laws and sisters easily trumps anything our current location has to offer.

Who knows where we will end up five years, ten years, twenty years down the road. Even one year from now, odds are we will be somewhere new. (Hopefully much sooner than that, to be honest.) I just think a lot about this lately, because I can't say that I've ever felt completely settled since I moved here more than a dozen years ago. Every place I've been has been one more step in reaching the elusive someday home. I'm warming more to the idea of settling down here for the time being—as in actually purchasing a home instead of renting. Perhaps if we do end up buying a place of our own here, I'll feel like we are truly home.

I know that more than one place in a lifetime can feel like home, but I look forward to when I can honestly say that we are there. That this is it.

Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-20030713943607476762016-06-22T06:30:00.000-07:002016-06-22T07:06:37.760-07:00Walmart Beauty Box: Summer 2016 (a review!)...

I was pretty dang excited to find this pretty little box in our mail recently, and couldn't wait to open it! I consider it a good day when we receive something other than a stack of marketing mailers sent to people who used to live at our apartment. Seriously, we still get mail for a ton of people, and they apparently spent a lot of their money on cruises, cigarettes and aquarium memberships. It's slightly bothersome.

But I digress.

Here are the details for what was included in the summer version of this seasonal subscription box:

Lady Gaga Fame Perfume — This is a repeat item, which is odd. (I received the same thing in the Spring 2015 box, which I reviewed here.) I'll definitely use it, thought, because wearing actual perfume makes me feel like a fancy lady. Which I am not.

Incoco nail art strips — There was a time in my life when I thought I could be someone who could wear nail art, but now I know that it's just not my thing. It's okay; I've come to terms with it. I've seen nail strips that are in pretty adorable patterns, and if these were in a pattern that appealed to me I may have tried them, but at this point I think I'll try them on Eisley (even though her nail beds are way smaller than the strips, so it could be a total nightmare trying to apply them...good luck and godspeed to me...).

Goody SlideProof hair elastics — I am positive I received a pack of these in a previous box, but it must have been one that I didn't review here on my blog. We use them all the time, and they work exceptionally well (especially on my mom-style messy buns, as well as Eisley's super-long-hair ponytails) and we will add these new ones to our stash, but it was still a little bummed to see an obvious repeat in this box.

Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime shampoo and conditioner — I always love trying new shampoo and conditioner products, so I'm sure I'll be using these at some point in the next month. They're specifically for colored or highlighted hair and claim to be "fast drying" and include "luxurious pearl essence" and "diamond gloss serum" (their marketing team is putting in some serious hours, you guys). I haven't had my hair color treated or highlighted in ages, but I'll still try these samples!

Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant toothpaste — Another toothpaste sample for Jay's travel bag? Check.

Vaseline Intensive Care lotion — Another lotion sample for the diaper bag? Check.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs — This little sample is labeled "Leg Makeup" which I find hilarious. Are my legs the shade of printer paper, and feature their fair share of imperfections? Yes. Do I really want to start applying makeup to them in order to make them look better? Um, no. What is this madness.

A variety of single-use samples and coupons were also inside the box, but nothing too exciting this time around.

To be honest, this is the first time I've been disappointed by one of these boxes. There isn't one thing I'm genuinely giddy over, and there are two items that will get no use at all. By me, at least. (If you are in the market for leg makeup, you know who to call for a 0.75 oz sample.) The repeat items are disappointing, and it seems like the folks who organize these boxes could have been a bit more creative. Alas! There are worse things than spending such a small amount of money on something like this, only to be a little bummed by what I find inside.

If you want to sign up for this beauty box (they ship four times a year—once every season—and you can cancel any time) you can visit the website here. As a reminder, I don't get anything if you sign up, and these posts aren't sponsored. I pay for all these boxes myself! I've enjoyed all the boxes up until this point, so I think I'll see how the next one is before deciding whether or not to cancel my subscription. At only $5 a box, it's hard to be too critical, but if there's more repeat items (or too many things I'll never use) in next season's box I will probably decide to cancel.

Did you get this month's box? I know there are a couple versions, so I'm always interested to hear what other people received!

— Further reading: Walmart Beauty Box—Spring 2016

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-29692132659854063272016-06-20T06:30:00.000-07:002016-06-20T06:30:16.131-07:00a small list of good things...

+ We are experiencing an out-of-the-blue heat wave around these parts, so this weekend I finally broke down and decided to try my hand at cold brew coffee. I've looked up recipes on Pinterest many, many times, but I always figured I was just too lazy to do anything other than brew a cup of regular coffee every morning. Of course, having finally made cold brew coffee, I now understand how ridiculously easy it is and am wondering where it has been all my life. There are a million recipes out there (I really wish I were kidding) but to save you some time, I used this one. I halved the recipe—both because I couldn't find a container big enough for the full amount, and because I didn't want to waste a bunch of coffee if it ended up tasting awful. (It tasted the opposite of awful. Pretty much heaven.) I think I'll tinker with the ratios of water and coffee, but I'm already in love. And clearly, one must drink cold brew coffee from a mason jar or they're kicked off the internet. (You've been warned.)

+ I love having a good audiobook to listen to here and there throughout the day, and the one I'm currently listening to is fantastic. It's called A Sliver of Light: Three Americans Imprisoned in Iran. It's much longer than I'd anticipated, but the story is riveting and I'm always a sucker for a good memoir. As always, I'm listening to this through the Overdrive app, which connects to my local library (so I'm able to listen to audiobooks for free).

+ I recently realized my favorite maternity dress totally works as a non-maternity dress, and for that I am grateful. It's kind of amazing when something can look great on someone 39 weeks pregnant, and then still look great (and non-maternity-ish) on someone nearly one year postpartum. (Bonus points for the fact that I can houdini myself out of the sleeves in order to breastfeed Cora, even though it's clearly not a nursing-friendly design.) Target does it again!

+ Netflix just informed me via email that a new season of Grey's Anatomy is available and I'm all over that business. Granted, I have no idea when I'll be able to get through all the episodes (binge-watching is a wee bit different when you have two children, one being a wild little non-sleeper at night). But, still. There are few shows that I enjoy watching, and Grey's continues to be one of them—even if I never watch it live and always wait until the entire season is available to stream.

+ A sweet friend recently brought me flowers after I babysat one of her daughters and oh, the joy of a bouquet of flowers! I honestly can't even remember the last time I had fresh flowers on our table. It makes me want to start indulging in a bouquet for myself, even if it's just once a month. Perhaps I shall.

— Further reading: more small lists of good things

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.
Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-40950759526818925932016-06-11T08:25:00.000-07:002016-06-11T08:25:44.031-07:00crazy and peaceful...

My intention most mornings is to wake up early and write. To enjoy a cup of coffee and to spill out some of my thoughts while the house is still quiet, clean, dark. But goodness knows that a bit of extra sleep usually manages to take priority. (I know someday Cora will not wake up so often at night and I will feel like a fully-rested human being instead of a half-crazed zombie woman. Until then, any extra sleep I can get will be fully embraced.) Still, on the mornings I do drag myself out of bed after Cora's last feeding (often around 5AM) and enjoy the silence and time completely to myself, it feels like a gift.

So many things these days feel like gifts.

I'm very aware, more-so this second time around, what an immeasurable privilege it is to be a mother. To be the one who watches this tiny little person grow and learn and explore and reach all these new milestones. To be the one my youngest feverishly tries to crawl onto for no reason at all—just knowing she feels most comfort in that moment while nestled in my lap. To be the one my older daughter craves almost constant attention from and interaction with—offering hilarious quips and endless enthusiasm and rather intense emotions all day long. I suppose I'm more aware of the fact that each of these stages are so fleeting, since I've been through nearly five years of mothering my first child and now nearly a year with my second. I have no compass when it comes to parenting anyone over the age of my own children, but I definitely feel like I'm finally earning my gray hairs (and the wisdom we all hope accompanies their arrival) with all I've experienced during my own journey of motherhood.

Most days, despite the rough moments that scatter themselves in-between the sweet, I am often reminded of how lucky I am. It is such a privilege to be here, to be their mom. Even on the days I feel so exhausted and unqualified and rather like hiding in the bathroom so I can be alone for five minutes.

So, yes, life right now is definitely crazy. But there have been some wonderful changes that came with my husband's new job that have made our new normal very peaceful, in some ways.

At the job he left several months ago, he would be gone twelve hours (most days) during the week. His commute was over an hour—and I knew very much how dreadful that commute was, since I had the same one before I left my job to stay home with Eisley. It was a struggle after we had Cora, because she had a rather early bedtime for a while, and when he'd get home after 6:30, she would often already be in bed—meaning he wouldn't even get to see her at all that day. And making dinner was absolute madness, as I tried to figure out how to find something for a grumpy preschooler and a cranky baby to do while I threw something quick together, praying we would somehow make it through another witching-hour dinnertime. Nights felt more rushed and stressful, for sure.

Now, he can ride his bike to work. His new office is just a few miles away. He leaves later in the morning, and he gets home a full two hours earlier every evening.

This is where I realize all my plans were not the best for our family. As often is the case, I really thought I knew what we needed, where we should go, what would be best for this and that and everything under the sun. God knew what he was doing when he orchestrated the past six months of our lives. (And, clearly, everything before.) This new job has brought peace to the crazy that still often fills our days—and with it, a consistency and security that I know I'd been craving for a long time.
Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-33923512265851846592016-06-06T06:30:00.000-07:002016-06-06T06:30:05.613-07:00my six favorite never-fail muffin recipes...Last week, I made a batch of my absolute favorite blueberry muffins, and as Eisley was waiting for them to cool, she declared, "I love blueberry muffins! BLUEBERRY MUFFINS ARE MY JAM!" And, quite frankly, I loved her a little bit more in that moment. (Due to her passion for baked goods and her use of a phrase I commonly overuse myself.) I realized in that moment that I've discovered so many great muffin recipes over the past year and haven't shared many of them here on the ol' blog. Now seems like a good time to do so! (Even though summer weather is upon us, and soon using the oven will make me want to curl into the fetal position in front of a fan.)

One of my favorite parts of the internet these days is the abundance of food blogs. At this point, I use Pinterest almost exclusively as an online cookbook, finding 90% of my new favorite recipes there, and there alone. (Feel free to follow my food board, if you're into that sort of thing!) Finding new recipes online feels a bit more foolproof than trying something out of a hold-it-in-my-hot-little-hands cookbook. I love finding a blog with beautiful photography, step-by-step details, a little backstory and witty banter within each post, and a bunch of comments with feedback from people who have actually tried the recipe. There have been very few recipes I've tried that weren't hits, to be honest.

In any case, I thought I'd compile a list of my six favorite muffin recipes and share them with you! These recipes are ones I've made over and over again, so I stand behind their deliciousness (and freezability, because goodness knows one always needs muffins in the freezer for a rainy day). There are a couple recipes I've made a few little tweaks to here and there (which makes me feel fancy, which is nice because when it comes to the kitchen, I'm decidedly not), and I'll be sure to note any changes I've made, if any.

Onto the baked goods!

The Best Blueberry Muffins Ever from Yammie's Noshery
Oh, these muffins. They taste as good as they look. When Cora was first born, I did a random Pinterest search for a blueberry muffin recipe in the wee hours of the morn, and this is the one I chose to try. Since then, I've made them quite a few times and can't get enough. They were so quick to whip up, they were loved by everyone in our family, and they turn out beautifully every single time. They are so delicious, they rarely last around here for long. The recipe uses sour cream to make the muffin a bit more dense and moist—similar to poundcake. I've made these with both frozen and fresh blueberries and they turn out perfectly either way. Tip: I have recently been trying to switch to coconut oil for baking, and now use that instead of vegetable oil for this recipe. Still delicious; still eating three in one day. Amen.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins from Little Miss Momma
I first made these muffins a few years ago, and to this day this is my go-to recipe when I have over-ripe bananas. (Actually, there are times I purposely let bananas get all spotty because I have a craving for these muffins. If you ever see terrifying bananas on our counter, odds are I have some baking in my immediate future. Or maybe I started thinking I could be super healthy and eat one banana every day and bought too many bananas at Costco and am filled with regret.) This recipe calls for nuts, but adding nuts to any sort of muffin/cookie/brownie is not my cup of tea, so I usually just throw in a few more chocolate chips and call it a day. Tip: I often freeze half the batch, then thaw them in the fridge whenever we are ready for more.

Healthy Zucchini Muffins from Gimme Some Oven
This year, I realized I needed to find more healthy-ish muffin recipes and decided to search for one that featured zucchini as a main ingredient. My husband gives zucchini the stink-eye, but my older daughter and I kind of love it, and we both love these muffins. (Jay is missing out. Someone else needs to tell him this so he will believe it.) These muffins are filled with good things (zucchini, oats, coconut oil) and are sweetened without sugar (this is where you head to Costco and buy real maple syrup). Tip: If you don't have the full amount of zucchini, you can always throw in some grated carrot and this recipe still works just fine. I had to do that once, and kind of wanted to do it on purpose the next time around. Also, I think these are best eaten within a couple days, or frozen right away and thawed whenever you want a few ready to eat.

Coconut Oil Banana Muffins from Deliciously Yum
Since I began my recent coconut oil kick, I naturally had to search for another recipe that calls specifically for that goodness. I love that this recipe doesn't call for a bunch of crazy, random ingredients, because I came across way too many recipes like that during my search, and it made my brain melt. For some reason, I never thought to pair coconut with bananas, but now that I've had these muffins they have given me a serious banana-coconut craving. Tip: Don't be like me and assume that all coconut is unsweetened, only to get home and realize you bought a big ol' bag of sweetened coconut, which means it whispers sweet nothings to you every time you open the cupboard and makes you want to eat a handful every single day. (Bad news bears.)

Oatmeal To-Go Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins from Averie Cooks
These muffins are a bit different, since they don't have any flour and instead use oatmeal as the main ingredient. The idea behind these is essentially to find a way to have oatmeal for breakfast when you're in a rush or want something a bit more convenient than having to actually make a pot of oatmeal. I ate a ton of these when Cora was a newborn, because I always wanted a hot breakfast but hadn't quite mastered the art of mornings (without madness). I loved having these ready in the fridge to eat cold, or to pop in the microwave for 15-ish seconds to heat up. These are incredibly delicious, and with the chocolate chips they definitely feel like a treat. Tip: I use coconut oil for this recipe instead of vegetable oil, and it works well to melt the coconut oil first, then mix into the pumpkin puree (at room temperature) before adding anything else. That way, the coconut oil doesn't clump up when you mix it with the cold ingredients and make you all angry.

Pumpkin Chip Muffins from Taste of Home
This list would not be complete without my childhood favorite! My mom made these every autumn and to this day they give me those warm, fuzzy feelings of home. One look at the recipe and you'll see these are definitely an indulgence (hello, oil and sugar) but honestly, sometimes a muffin should be just that! Plus, this recipe makes a ton of muffins, and one batch is usually able to get me a couple dozen or so mini-muffins and one dozen full-size muffins. They freeze great and are always a hit when I bring them to share with others. This year I'd like to try using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil (or perhaps a 50/50 mix, since the recipe calls for so much) and I'll keep you posted on how that goes! Tip: Instead of cinnamon, I like to use pumpkin pie spice, when I have it on hand.

Now it's your turn to share your favorites! Give me all the muffin recipes. Please and thank you.

— Further reading: lazy lady menu planning (and 8 of my favorite simple dinners)Kerri W.https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-25478467.post-85613858729285839562016-06-03T06:56:00.000-07:002016-06-03T06:56:29.934-07:00our first (chapter book!) read-alouds...Contrary to what may be popular belief, I didn't start reading to Eisley when she was a baby. I always saw myself as the mom who would pull her baby onto her lap, choosing a handful of board books to read, pointing out shapes and colors and letters. I would do it here and there throughout the first year-or-so of her life, but it didn't happen on a regular basis until I stopped breastfeeding Eisley when she was just shy of 18 months. Up until that point, nap time and bedtimes consisted of snuggles and breastfeeding, then right to bed. Once our routine changed, it was the perfect time to add in stories before tucking her in at night. It happened rather naturally, and just like that, it became a treasured part of each day.

Since that time, we always, always read before nap time and bedtime. (I can honestly think of only a few days when we haven't read a book before going to bed, and I'm pretty sure it was due to either traveling or her being sick.) I love that this tradition has become so cherished by Eisley, especially because some of my fondest childhood memories involve being snuggled beside my mom as she read books to my sisters and I. Library hauls, holiday books, tattered favorites. I learned to fall in love with beautiful illustrations and captivating stories at what felt like a very young age.

I'm grateful Eisley has the same love of reading as I do, because although I've done my part in intentionally creating time in our days for reading (and having many books available for Eisley to look at whenever she would like), I understand it is partly a personality thing. She has always been happy to sit still for stories, and I know some children are much less willing! (I sometimes wonder if Cora will be the child doing somersaults through the living room while I read aloud to her when she's older. She seems to be incredibly laid-back, but who knows? Time will tell!)

This is all to say that books mean the world to Eisley. And it has been quite delightful for me to realize that she is the perfect age to start introducing chapter books to our read-aloud repertoire. For a while, I thought it would be ridiculous to read a chapter book—one without any pictures at all on the majority of the pages—to a preschooler, and simply didn't try. But more and more I've been pleasantly surprised when I introduce different challenges or concepts that are beyond my daughter's age range (or, at least, what our modern culture tends to expect preschoolers are capable of).

So, one day I asked myself: Why not try?

I browsed a few book lists I found online, and ultimately ended up checking out Stuart Little on a whim one afternoon at the library. And Eisley absolutely loved it. (I had never read it before then, and found the story completely bizarre and kind of confusing. But she giggled and begged for more chapters every day!) After a while I realized I still preferred our regular picture books for reading before bedtime, opting to add more read-aloud time to our days: while she ate a snack, after we had lunch, during bath time, or while she was coloring or doing some other creative activity. And more often than not, I found she was able to sit still and listen to the story much longer than I would have thought. She fell in love with so many of the characters and would talk about things that happened within the pages of a chapter book long after we finished reading.

I know there are many, many booklists out there (hello, Pinterest!) but I wanted to share the books we've read during her preschool year. (And also let you know the handful that we quit before finishing!)

Stuart Little — As I mentioned earlier in this post, I found this book a little confusing. The story is so random and doesn't really flow...even when it ended, I was looking for another chapter because it was so abrupt and had no clear resolution. I'm surprised it's a children's book that is so beloved, and you may hate me for saying that, but it's been months since we read it and I'll still sit around sometimes and think, "Wait, what exactly was the point of that book? A normal human woman gives birth to a mouse? The mouse acts casual? The mouse falls in love with a tiny girl the size of a mouse?" Anyway, it's the first one we read together and Eisley seemed to love it despite my complete and utter confusion, so it was still a winner! (You never know with these crazy kids.)

Catwings — If you're looking for a chapter book to read aloud and you've only ever read picture books, I think this is the perfect choice. This book has an abundance of beautiful, full-color illustrations, is a very sweet story, is quite enjoyable to read out loud, and the book itself is not very long at all. I remember reading these as a girl and wishing so much that the books were three times as long!

Catwings Return — This book is the perfect continuation of the first story, and we loved it just as much. Again, this one is a quick read and a fairly easy transition from picture book to chapter book.

The Wizard of Oz — Would you believe I never read this book until now? I was trying to find a chapter book that I already owned that would be suitable to read to Eisley, and I saw this on my shelf—a book my mom gave me years ago when I was in the play as a teenager. Eisley and I both adored the story, and I loved how there was so much more within the pages of this book than in the movie. I never realized how much the original differs from the story most of us are familiar with, due to the popularity of the film! I definitely recommend this one. And I'd love to read more of the books in this series.

Ramona the Pest — After picking up this book, I realized we were reading the series out of order, but started anyway just to see if Eisley would enjoy them. She immediately became obsessed with Ramona Geraldine Quimby and hasn't turned back since! In this book, I was a little bothered by Ramona's attitude. (I know it's to be expected from a young child to a point, but Ramona is 5 in this book and some of it was a little excessive. I definitely had to interject some thoughts here and there as we read, but sometimes those are perfect opportunities to reinforce your own expectations!) It was a really fun book to read aloud, and I definitely recommend this series as a fun way to introduce your children to chapter books. As a side note, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the modern illustrations (they aren't the ones I remember from my own childhood!) but as it turns out, they are just perfect. I love the colorful covers with the newer artwork, and Eisley can recognize them from a mile away!

Beezus and Ramona — We immediately began this book after finishing Ramona the Pest, because it was such a hit with Eisley! This book is told from the viewpoint of Beezus, and Ramona is four years old and full of shenanigans. It so beautifully shares the highs and lows of sisterhood and the emotional struggles of adolescence, but somehow manages to do it in a way that can keep the attention of even very young children. Of the books we've read in this series, I think this would have to be my favorite so far.

Ramona and her Father — In this book, Ramona's father loses his job and ends up staying home with his daughters as the mother takes a full-time job to support the family. Because we recently dealt with Jay being laid off from his job, this book seemed timely! This wasn't my favorite of the Ramona books, but it was still worth the read. The chapters seemed much longer than the other two we read, but Eisley still enjoyed it and we're eager to continue with this series during the summer.

As for the books we started but never finished, they include Winnie the Pooh (I've heard this is a wonderful read-aloud, but although we made it through about half of this classic tale, I found the language a bit complicated to read to a preschooler, and she didn't understand much of the wittiness that is meant for someone a wee bit older), Ramona the Brave (they didn't have the version with the newer artwork at the library and, oddly, it made Eisley much less interested because she didn't recognize the illustrations on the cover or inside), Charlotte's Web (we started it and I made the mistake of letting her watch the movie before we finished the book, so she lost interest in us reading the story—lesson learned!), and the Junie B. Jones series (we tried one book but I couldn't handle the main character's dreadful attitude and overall brattiness).

After we finish the Ramona series, I have a few books in mind to pick up next. The Little House series is probably my favorite of all time (I try to read the entire series once every year or two), so as much as I want to read them to her now, I may wait a bit to be sure she appreciates them as much as her mama. I'm thinking we may try another Beverly Cleary favorite (The Mouse and the Motorcycle, perhaps?), Pippi Longstocking, or another in the Catwings series (I just now realized there are more!).

I'd love to hear of any chapter books you've enjoyed reading to your own younger children—or any you remember loving as a child. I'm compiling a list of books to read with Eisley this summer and during her kindergarten year, and would love to hear any recommendations you may have!

— Further reading: princess books (when you need a break from Disney!)

Affiliate links included in this post; view my disclosure policy here.Kerri W.https://email@example.com