Silver and Gold is a series where I’m sharing my favorite blogs with you, the old and the new.

This week’s edition of Silver and Gold is all about my fellow contributors over on Simple Organic. I say it all the time, but it seriously such an honor to be on a team with these ladies. Most of them I didn’t find until I started writing for SO and I remember wondering at that time why I hadn’t already been reading these!

• Keeper of the Home

Stephanie’s blog was one of the first places where I learned about the real/nourishing/traditional food movement. She has a wealth of resources for the Christian mama living a natural life. (She also runs a great new blog called Saving Naturally which is all about saving money while eating/living naturally!)

• Kitchen Stewardship

Katie’s blog goes in depth into the real food movement. I’ve learned so much from her. If you’re looking to make-over your eating lifestyle, she’s got baby steps to get you going and puts an insane amount of research into everything she writes. I have an exciting giveaway coming up featuring something written by Katie!

• Progressive Pioneer

This mama, Amy, just welcomed home a new baby! Her blog showcases her passion for natural living and she’s got lots of great ideas, tutorials, recipes, etc. Such a goldmine! Plus, she has beautiful artwork on her blog painted by her husband. I love blogs with hand-drawn logos!

• SortaCrunchy

Megan is not only a natural-living mom but also a beautiful writer– she inspires me in both areas! She’s a big breastfeeding advocate, loves the Lord, and is very open and honest with her readers which I love.

• Vintage Chica

Eren takes beautiful photos, has great style and there’s lots of inspiration to be found on her blog, with many tutorial/DIY posts and lots of great ideas and recipes.

and I can’t forget our fearless leader, Katie who is a fabulous editor and writes the majority of the posts over at Simple Organic. She writes great articles and keeps the blog running smoothly. Oh! And she and her husband are raising money for a future adoption, too! <3

Do you have a favorite blog to share in the comments today?

Hey friends. I just wanted to let you all know that I’m gradually going to be adding some recommendations to my sidebar. Some are paid-for sponsorships/ads; some are not. Any clickin’ you feel like doing will be greatly appreciated by me, and by my sponsors.

The only way they will be there is if they are promoting something I truly love though, you can count on that. And I’ll be sure to tell you all about each of them as we go.

If you are interested in sponsorship, you can email me.

For now, any proceeds that come from blogging (as well as my etsy shop and “our” coffee shop) are still going towards financing our adoption of this flippin’ adorable little guy. Seriously, I think he is the cutest thing ever. Thank you again, for all your support, prayers, and just for being here.

xo

For more information, you can view my updated disclosure policy.

You all know how much I love ice cream, especially homemade!

Well, today, I’m over at Pure and Noble, where I’m so honored to be guest posting for sweet Brooke. Find me over there, talking about my love of ice cream and sharing some beautiful helado-inspiration… more than just what gets eaten with a spoon.

I do realize that August is over half gone, but nonetheless I do have a verse to share…

Last week, I accidentally took a week off from blogging. For me, writing is like exercising– the more days I skip (assuming I exercised every day {wink, wink}), the harder it is to go back. I planned to do a “digital fast” on Wednesday, with no facebook, blogging, reading blogs, etc. Instead, I prayed for Daisy and for a friend of a friend’s father who has Lyme disease, and also for fresh vision for my own writing. It was good! And after that, well, I just ended up taking a few more days off. So, here I am, back and ready to finally share August’s verse with you.

I am really trying, in the Lord’s strength to be less of a time-waster these days. I’ve been studying Titus and Proverbs 31 lately and this verse really stood out to me as one I needed to be trying to live out in my life. I really believe the Provers 31 wife is an example of the kind of godly wife I’m asking God to make me into (it’s a process, as Nancy Leigh DeMoss says), and I think this is a good starting place for me.

If I had a dollar for every minute lost to “eating the bread of idleness…” yikes. I’d be living in a cottage by the beach off that income.

I work well with deadlines. As a literature student and a teacher, everything I did was based on a timeline, with due dates and a strict syllabus/calendar. I think one of the hardest things about my job as a homemaker is that the work is ongoing. You all know how it is… just when I get through all the laundry, the basket in my closet is almost full again. Same thing with the dishes, with picking up and straightening the house.

And as much as I love blogging, I’ve wasting away many precious minutes online. That’s not to say that I’m going to cut myself off from the blogosphere, but every now and then I just need a fresh reminder of keeping a balance, and using my time (online) wisely. Sometimes, hopping from blog to blog or actually getting caught up in my reader is a great way to unwind and chill out. I just need to make sure I have some priorities in place.

One priority is exercising my own writing skills, along with sharing inspiration and encouragement with those of you that grace my blog with your reading time {again, thank you}. It’s a vision I feel like the Lord has put in my heart, and confirmed over and over, that no matter how many readers I have, there is a purpose behind my blog and what I’m doing. I don’t count my work on my blog as idle work, if I’m being wise with my time with it and not letting it overtake everything else.

In one of Carolyn Mahaney’s messages on Titus, she said something that really spoke to me:

“There is time to do everything God is calling me to do.”

Time is just another way the Lord provides for me. This month’s verse is a reminder to me that in order to really have that quote fulfilled in my life, I have to do my part, too. I have to force myself into not eating the bread of idleness, but instead making the most of the time I have in my home, with my family, on the computer, in the sewing room, etc.

I’m realizing more and more, as I settle into my “career,” what that looks like for me. So I’m maximizing my mornings, and praying that Brody goes back to 6-8 uninterrupted hours of sleep, which has gone on hiatus since he was sick last week, so that setting my alarm for 6am isn’t quite as daunting. I think I also need to create more of a schedule, a life syllabus if you will, for myself, so that I can stay on track with what I want to accomplish (and with the visions God has given me), and keep my priorities straight as well.

Today I’d love to hear your verse for August, and also your thoughts on prioritizing, time management and not eating the bread of idleness. xo

Silver and Gold is a series where I’m sharing my favorite blogs with you, the old and the new.

It’s been a while, but I do have more favorites to share! I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I go to my reader it’s like visiting with friends. Granted, I don’t personally know many of these friends, but we get to know each other so intimately through blogging a lot of the time. I’m thankful for all the ways I’ve been inspired and encouraged through other bloggers.

Some of these are old and some are new, but here’s a little list of a few more of my current favorites that I’ve been reading a lot of lately…

• Lisa Leonard’s It’s the Little Things

I meat Lisa at BlissDom a couple of years ago, and she is such a sweetheart. In addition to her amazing jewelry, she also takes beautiful photos. Here posts are always inspiring… a quick read, some amazing camera shots and some fun and sweet words.

• Inspired to Action

Looking for some encouragement for your role as a mom? This is the place to be. I’m not sure how I stumbled over, but I always find inspiration and motivation here. Right now I’m working on my mission statement with Kat’s free eBook, and she also has another one called Maximize your Mornings. Good stuff!

• Joy the Baker

Well, my loyal readers, friends and family all know how much I LOVE Joy. I’ve made dozens of her recipes and they are a-mazing. She’s funny, honest, and also takes beautiful photos of food, which I love. Look no further than Joy, if you need a yummy recipe and a smile!

• Recycled Lovelies

This is a really fun blog where the author, Deanna, shares her vintage finds, and lots of repurposing projects. She’s got tutorials, ideas all stemming from a vow to not buy new clothes for a year, something that I’ve been considering myself!

• Tiny Twig Goes Out on a Limb

I found Tiny Twig by way of another blog, and fell in love with the adventure that the anonymous author is trying to live. She is a sweet, creative mommy of two in Indiana and I’m constantly inspired by her drive to live by “creating a spark” wherever she goes.

Head here to read the others I’ve mentioned, and there are still more to come.

Do you have any bloggy friends to share with me?

I’ve been blogging for a while now. I’m approaching my 2-year blogiversary for Gidget Goes Home and have recently hit the three-hundred mark for post count.

That’s a lot of my opinions, my photographs, my words. Thanks for bearing with it all.

I’ll be honest. I sometimes still feel a little like an insecure high schooler in the blogosphere.

Comparing myself to others. Their writing, their humor, their creativity.

Their comments.

My bloggy friend Brooke recently posted on this same topic what could have been my own personal thoughts.

I’ve heard about people closing comments on a post or indefinitely. Sometime it’s to avoid an argument on a somewhat-controversial post. Sometimes it’s simply to direct traffic elsewhere.

Comments can appear to be such a gauge of popularity, and for me, when I receive a comment it really makes my day. It’s a sort of reinforcement that what I’m doing has some value to those on the other side of my computer. {Thank you so much to those of you who have and do comment!!!}

And so, on the other side of the coin, when I don’t receive comments, it can be really disheartening. I wonder if anyone is out there. If google analytics is lying when it tells me that people are visiting my blog.

I know I shouldn’t worry about all this. And most of the time I have no trouble really finding my identity in Christ, not worrying worrying about popularity or any of that, but sometimes insecurity creeps in.

I remind myself that I’m doing this for myself, in part It’s good writing practice, and often therapeutic to write the hard stuff. But I also do it because I love to be able to encourage others. To bring them something yummy or inspiring, to share something I’ve learned/read/researched, to give pretty glimpses into my life through photos and to be a blessing to them when they’re going through something I’ve dealt with. I love the reciprocal nature of the blog community, how we help each other, encourage each other, spur each other on.

I myself don’t comment as much on blogs as I used to. I know there’s a time factor there. I want to soak up as much good stuff from the blogosphere in the limited time I have to read. Reading gets prioritized over commenting. But generally, I’m much more of a commenter than some other readers. Probably in part because I have this insecurity that I don’t want others to feel.

One of my favorite things about guest posting or writing over on Simple Organic is that I know a conversation will ensue after my post ends. It sometimes takes me a few days, but I love personally responding to comments and seeing how others can add to the discussion or offer their viewpoints or experiences.

This post became much longer than I intended to, but I just wanted to get real. Sometimes I wonder if I should keep going…. and then a real life friend mentions that one of my posts really inspired/touched her, or something happens in life and I can’t withold that familiar feeling of oh, I’ve got to blog about that…

The thought has crossed my mind to close comments on this very post. But the truth is, it would really feed my soul to hear from even a couple of you. To know that you’re out there reading. I’d love to have a little delurking today and “meet” one of you who’s never commented. Or if you want to get deep, share with us one of your insecurities and let’s get a little conversation going.

I’ve really put my heart and soul into this little blog. I love writing it, designing it, and mostly connecting with other bloggers and readers.

Thanks for being here and for reading. <3

xo, nicole

Catch me over at Keeper of the Home where I’m talking about the benefits of being a CSA member. Community Supported Agriculture is one of the ways I’ve learned to eat more seasonally (I wrote about it first here a long time ago). I’m very honored to be writing on Stephanie’s blog. She’s very inspiring to me as far as natural living and real food goes, and is also a fellow Simple Organic contributor.

I also wanted to mention that I have been very blessed with the opportunity to have a sponsored post coming up on a topic that is one I love writing about, hopefully that will be up next weekend. Post sponsorship is not something I’ve done before, nor do I think it will be a regular feature here, but this is a very special opportunity for me.

As always, thanks for reading!

I’m off to have coffee with the girls this morning (!!!), but real quick I wanted to direct your attention to none other than Simple Mom, where yours truly is completely honored to have a guest post today about the lessons I’ve learned from adoption.

If you’re visiting from Simple Mom, I hope you’ll take a moment to look around, and thank you so much for reading.

More later!
xo

Silver and Gold is a hopefully-weekly series where I’m sharing my favorite blogs with you, the old and the new.

Today I want to start with another one of the Golds that I’ve been reading for a long time.

Small Notebook.

Small Notebook is written by the lovely Rachel, and is an awesome resource for simple living. She lives in Texas (man, there are so many good blogs coming out of Texas!) and has two darling kiddos. Occasionally her husband even makes an appearance on the blog. A few of the things that have inspired me from Rachel’s blog are her apartment gardening skills, the sweet shared room her kids have (my two will be sharing in the near future) and her frugal lifestyle.

I love what Rachel says about her goals for her home and her blog:

keep our lives simple and focused

nurture our relationships

learn practical skills such as gardening and cooking

make smart decisions for our money

enjoy peace during a hectic day

If you haven’t read Small Notebook before, it’s totally worth a click over!

I recently found this next site, this week’s Silver, by way of Simple Living Media…

FIMBY.

photo by Renee Tougas

FIMBY might sound like a strange name for a blog, until you hear what it stands for: Fun In My Backyard. Author Renee Tougas and her family are Canadians living in Maine (thanks, Renee for correcting me!) and do all sorts of fun things (including a weekly family hike every Saturday!). Renee is a very talented photographer and she also makes her own soap among other handmade things.

I’m not a homeschooler (yet?) but Renee’s blog is a great resource for home education (she also contributes to the blog Simple Homeschool). She describes her family as

writers, designers, artists, gardeners, engineers, homemakers, naturalists, sewists, adventurers, readers, soapmakers, programmers, idealists, photographers, problem solvers, outdoor enthusiasts and followers in the way of Christ.

Head over to FIMBY where you’ll be sure to be inspired.

Silver and Gold is a hopefully-weekly series where I’m sharing my favorite blogs with you, the old and the new.

Inspiration feels like my theme word these days. I’ve been feeling constantly inspired lately. {Speaking of which, have those of you who subscribe in a reader or read on Facebook seen my blog’s little redesign?} Anyways, this week I’m sharing with you two ever-inspiring blogs. Enjoy!

Here’s my gold pick (old fave) this week…

SouleMama.

After Simple Mom, this was one of the first blogs I started reading. SouleMama is written by Amanda Soule, an amazingly unique and crafty mama. She’s written two books (with one more on the way), that I absolutely love, and is a mom of four little ones. Her home (and her blog) is filled with handmade and vintage clothes and treasures, homemade food, a love for the outdoors and art, photography and even a little baseball. Oh, and Amanda single-handedly inspired me to learn to knit, too. I’m still learning but she is a constant inspiration with that, and in general. If you haven’t read her blog before, you’ll be glad to check her out today!

And a new silver favorite, too…

Pure and Noble.

The fun thing about this blog is that it is written by a real-life friend of my real-life friend. A couple of months ago, my friend Stephanie suggested I check out her friend Brooke’s blog, and well, I was hooked. Pure and Noble is full of inspiration– of the design persuasion and also just the sweet thoughts of a Texas mama. In her About Me section, Brooke says, “Looking to life and God to inspire me on a daily basis. Pure and Noble is my outlet to focus on things that are pure, lovely, admirable and worthy of praise. The goal is to share with others and hopefully inspire them.” And inspire them, she does! I’ve already gotten a few good ideas from her and look forward to many more. Be sure to visit Brooke when you have a few minutes!