Gidget Goes Home » life is beautiful

Lately… {on simplifying in the New Year}

gidget — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:45:14 +0000

We’ve been struggling a lot with Gigi the last couple of months. Mainly through the hustle, bustle and excitement of the holidays, but even since then, we’ve been seeing some behavioral and anger issues in her that we want to start working though now, so as to hopefully prevent the development of a pattern in her personality.

Of course, even more importantly, in the long run we want to get to her heart, but practically we have some serious issues to work through right now.

Among seeking wise counsel, looking to the Word and how the Lord deals with us and we can model that with our kids, and reading elsewhere, we’ve been seeking some serious simplification. I might say that that is probably our main goal for the new year… simplifying life.

I recently read the book Simplicity Parenting with some other moms from Gigi’s preschool. We are going to continue working through some of its suggestions and meet again next month to discuss it more, because it has been that monumental for all of us.

I hope to elaborate here on what we’ve been doing sometime in the future, but for now, I just wanted to get something written down to commemorate the journey we’ve begun. Between significantly paring down our toy collection and establishing more rhythm, we’ve been making some serious changes around here to try to make life easier and more enjoyable amidst the craziness that is a family of five.

I’d love to hear from any of you who have read the book, or even if you haven’t– what have been some of the simplifying changes you’ve made that have impacted your family the most?

Oh, we’re also working our way through Tsh’s ebook One Bite at a Time, as another encouraging resource for simplification.

*affiliate links included in this post. thank you.*

Lately… {on simplifying in the New Year} is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

10 on 10: December

gidget — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:09:13 +0000

I missed last month but I was glad to see my iPhone reminder pop up today telling me to break out the “real” camera and start capturing some of the simple, beautiful moments of the everyday.

I’m linking up with A Bit of Sunshine… Click below to view more 10 on 10 posts!

10 on 10: December is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

{this moment}

gidget — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:09:17 +0000

SouleMama‘s {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

{this moment} is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

10 on 10: October 2011

gidget — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:18:52 +0000

Here are a few of the everyday glimpses of beauty in my day today!

Hallee’s first nap in her big-girl crib in Gigi’s room!

Gigi spent all morning pretending to work in a face-painting shop.

Hallee enjoyed a morning swing.

Quite possibly my favorite lunch {onion bagel + cream cheese + heirloom tomato + lemon-pepper}.

We walked to the park to meet a friend.

Free-spirited swinging.

Sunflowers from our CSA.

Brody after nap, watching me cook.

Making some ranch dressing.

A little Do-Re-Mi with Daddy before bed.

I’m linking up with A Bit of Sunshine… Click below to view more 10 on 10 posts!

10 on 10: October 2011 is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

{this moment} ~ Great-Grandma Edition

gidget — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:59:37 +0000

SouleMama‘s {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo {3?} – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

{this moment} ~ Great-Grandma Edition is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

The years are short, but the days are indeed long.

gidget — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:18:17 +0000

Sometimes I find myself reading frantically simply because I want to finish a book.

I have a tendency to read several books at once and there are so many more books I want to read that I seem to be just trying to get through.

That’s how life feels right now, too. I’ve got so many needs to fill (including but definitely not limited to my own) and so much I’m looking forward to in the future (not changing diapers?)– that I’m often living just to get through.

Survival mode. That’s where I’m finding myself these days.

I know it’s just a phase. But I’m longing, I’m trying, to soak in the days instead of counting down the minutes until everyone’s needs are met and the day is done.

Sometimes all I want to do is snuggle my little baby before she starts crawling away (time is flying by), but wait! I can’t because the Four Year Old just tried to “help” the One Year Old do something and instead he smacked his head on the floor and now is wailing. {sigh}

We constantly muse about (in retrospect) how easy one baby was…. but quite frankly it was also, in a sense, boring compared to this crazy, full life we have now. So we quickly utter words of gratitude in those moments, for where we are in this journey of family and life, right now.

Praise the Lord for our mostly quiet afternoons around here. The days when I get to take a breather and have a few minutes of rest are indeed blessed. If we’re home, as we are most days in the afternoon, I’m usually able to get both babies napping and Gigi occupied in her room for Quiet Play Time for at least an hour.

I’m thankful to have a moment when I can stop and reflect on the day, recover from the craziness of the morning and gear up for the late afternoon (and the potential likely 5 o’clock meltdown).

And when I need to eat my feelings, these sure help.

The years are short, but the days are indeed long. is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

10 on 10: September 2011

gidget — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:06:20 +0000

It’s that time again! I’m linking up with everyone at A Bit of Sunshine and capturing a few glimpses of the beauty of everyday life.

{a big sister and a big yawn}

{a morning surprise}

{a delicious breakfast: Croque Madams and Blueberry Maple Oatmeal Smoothies- seriously, these smoothies are SO good– thick, nutty, creamy, fruity}

{diapers drying in the sun}

{a baby who has turned into a little boy}

{guacamole for lunch}

{first face painting experience– our annual trip to the local Greek Festival}

{beautiful stained glass}

{Jesus with a li’l reminder- one of the beautiful mosaics in the Greek Orthodox church}

10 on 10: September 2011 is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

I Gave Him Love

gidget — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:02:05 +0000

One of the sweetest gifts a mama can get has to be praise for her children, hearing them do unto others as someone has done to them, giving the grace that they themselves have been given.

Since the end of last year (probably due to all the changes in our family– moving, new baby coming, etc), my big girl began to struggle in a way she never had before… when I dropped her off at preschool there were tears and fear and not-wanting-mommy-to-leave.

Her loving teachers would guide her into the room, and I would leave– with her crying, a ripping-off-of-the-bandaid if you will, not wanting to linger and drag it out. Because I knew within minutes of me leaving she would be fine.

This became a problem at Sunday School, too, which was again, something we had never seen from Gigi in her four years of church-going. But there she received love and redirection as well, and most days she ended up staying and having a fun time with her friends.

Today, we came full circle.

When I picked her up, her teacher was eager to speak with me. I feared that this meant she hadn’t had a good day (nothing like expecting the worst, huh?). But it turned out her teacher wanted to tell me about the amazing day she’d had.

A new preschool friend, Finn, was having a sad day, missing his mom. Gigi, the old pro, was extra sweet to him, reassuring him throughout the day and showing him the love he needed.

Finn, don’t be sad, the mommies will be here after nap. Do you want to come sit by me?

It was her “share day” which means in addition to bringing snack, Gigi also got to bring something to share with her class. She chose the princess book/map set that her cousin Riley’s family gave her. She was extra teacher-like as her friends sat in the circle waiting to get to see her special toy. She offered them all a “princess” figurine to put on the map. And when Finn said he didn’t like princesses, she pressed on.

That’s okay, you can have an animal! Come closer to the map with me, Finn.

Her teacher’s heart was warmed, knowing how Gigi had struggled herself somedays, and now seeing her pay forward the love she had received that helped her stick it out.

Before drop-off I always ask her if she can try to be a good friend, and today I got to see a glimpse of the fruit of that training. I told her how happy it made me that she was showing her friend the love of Jesus. And her heart seemed to swell at knowing that she had done just that.

Her daddy called to say hi, and she told him, I was a good friend. Finn was sad and I gave him love.

And in seeing the sweetness in my girl amidst many challenging hours and days of mothering… she gave me love, too.

I Gave Him Love is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

Around Town…

gidget — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:22:09 +0000

While I’ve been away from this space, I’ve been elsewhere a bit…

I recorded a podcast with Tsh from Simple Mom which was really fun. You can get the details and listen over on Home Fries. This was a bit surreal when I thought about how three years ago when I started blogging I never would have guessed that Tsh, who was one of the first bloggers I read, would be my friend and boss. I’m so blessed to be a part of SLM!

I’ve been posting away at Simple Organic, and this week I posted a fun video tutorial on making a fabric yo-yo, one of my favorite little things to make.

I finally posted the magazine clipping from when I was mentioned in Coastal Living Magazine on the Surf Mamas blog. That was another surreal little treat.

I wish I had more time for Pinterest! I seriously love it and when I find myself there for a few minutes at a time I always find inspring things. I’ve already tried a couple of recipes I found there and I have a project for our home to make this week hopefully.

Hallee and I went down to San Diego to meet up with Megan from SortaCrunchy for dinner (pictured above) while she was here for BlogHer. What a treat. Megan is someone I could chat with for hours. I loved getting to meet her in person!

My days are challenging at times but I’m so thankful for my three treasures.

Around Town… is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!

10 on 10: August

gidget — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:43:49 +0000

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but the 10th of the month always seems to zip on by, so this time I set an alarm on my phone to remind myself. When I headed over to Rebekah’s blog and read about how the project started, I knew it was meant for me. Lord knows I need some reminders of beauty amidst my challenging days…

I started the Ten on Ten project back in January of 2008. My amazing family had just given me my very own SLR for my 28th birthday. I had given birth to my second son (sixteen months after my first) and out of desperation to combat a horrible bought of post pardum depression I longed for a project to help me find beauty even when my world was so exhausting and hard with two little ones running around.

We mostly had a day at home today except for an open house at Gigi’s preschool– her new school year starts tomorrow!

Guess I better set my alarm for next month!

10 on 10: August is a post from: Gidget Goes Home
Please visit my other blog, Simple Organic.
Gidget Recommends {a few of my favorite eBooks}:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
Healthy Snacks to Go: 20 Real Food Recipes
Simple Blogging: Grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Thanks for reading!