thursday things that make me think

it's a snow day here in denver so we're tucked in tight, wearing pajamas, drinking cocoa, reading and watching t.v. 

i cannot express the loveliness of it all. 

typical thursday mornings find me volunteering at the boys' school so i don't always get to share links with you but today, my friends, is your lucky day!

since deliberately dropping off the social media map a month ago i'm not sure which articles have been exploding in popularity. certainly i've missed out on some humorous things, some informative...but i think i've gained some sanity in return. but that's another post for another time. anyway, although i'm no longer stalking my feeds for content, i'm not lacking in interesting things to share. here are some things that made me think...


this just flat made me laugh out loud and made me think about the conversations i've had with the boys...and the ones to come! gah!  sex is tricky at momastery.


10 awesome benefits to strength training plus a basic dumbbell workout you can do at home. strength training basics at our best bites.


i think selma, and the award-winning song from that film, glory (especially the moving performance of the song during the oscars), has spurred conversation about the progression (or lack thereof) of the civil rights movement. this essay touched me. she writes, "the next time i find myself judging the poor or underemployed, the person with no wheels, the high school drop-out, the inmate, the welfare mom, i'll consider the ways my life never came close to mirroring theirs."  listen to the sound by flowerpatch farmgirl.   


a list of 36 questions that can make you fall in love at the new york times.


oh help me lord! just five ingredients to make my all-time favorite sweet treat?!  triple decker chocolate peanut butter bars at half baked harvest.


rather than seeing others who seem to have it all together and thinking how will i ever attain that it might be better to simply think she is five years ahead of me in her journey. that stops the evil comparison game and provides encouragement to persevere on your own path, no matter what area of life you're trying to improve. creating a simple life doesn't happen overnight at the art of simple.


"i have come to believe that lifelong love often looks extraordinary, yes, but it's because we are faithful to love well in the ordinary minutes of our days".  love looks like 2:07am by sarah bessey.


"he's exactly the way he's supposed to be". i know what causes autism at huffpost.


i've been reading and loving this blog for years! in this post karen outlines the tv shows she's recommended in the past and whether or not she's still enjoying them. (jeremy and i have gotten hooked on more than a few of her suggestions!)  she also writes about three new ones. 3 tv shows you should be watching part viii at the art of doing stuff.



happy thursday, folks! 

thursday thinks that make me think

i realize it's wednesday but, ya know, this is my blog so i can go wild and write a "thinking thursday" post on a non-thursday if i please. 

:-)



have you bought new underwear this year? - this was a must-read for me as it's something i struggle with (hint: it's not really about underwear). this quote in particular spoke to my heart: 

"But—in one of those great paradigms of life—it takes a little work to make time and space for the things that feed our souls, and we have to decide that those things—that we ourselves—are worth the effort."


mother yourself - perhaps i'd do better in the self-care arena if stopped calling it "me time" and started thinking about it as "mothering myself".

"So when you think of it that way, it’s really simple. Take care of yourself the way a mother would. Be tender, be caring, think ahead, and see the whole picture."


burn the candles - a lovely reminder.

"Burn the candles. Not just when people come over. For you, because someone gave them to you. Open the wine and have a glass tonight while you fold laundry. Wear the perfume, the pretty scarf, the whatever that you have tucked in a box, too fancy for you."


kaizen: approach your goals gradually - this concept spoke to me...whatever change it is i'd like to make, the best way to go about it is probably slowly. slow but sure, right? 

"But since habit change should be for the long-haul, it’s worth pursuing methods that produce lasting results."


sell your crap, pay off your debt, do what you love - the tiny house movement calls to me on so many levels!!!!

"There is a massive liberation with this process, a cleansing of the old in preparation for something completely new, a fresh start that so many yearn for."


21 books to read before they hit the big screen in 2015 - i've already read numbers 9, 11, 15, 19, 20 & i cannot lie #5 too. the book i'm most looking forward to reading though is #1. and i want to do so before seeing the oscar-nominated film. 



happy thursday, friends (one day early).

thursday things that make me think

this satire - yup!  i have to admit i sometimes feel this way up at the condo which i clean nearly every single weekend. but i feel the need to clean it because i want it to be nice and welcoming the next time we open the front door. jeremy and i are leaving for mexico next week and i kinda feel this way about all the planning and prep it takes to be away for a week. p.s. i heart the onion.


favorite quote from this piece: "in the midst of raising kids and giving yourself 100% to them, god has not forgotten the things in your hearts". the author mentions the biblical character gideon, whom i studied last fall/winter. she relates how god equipped gideon with ordinary things that helped him do extraordinary things.


jeremy and i were just discussing our need for a trip to estes park, colorado when i saw this blog post. she mentioned things to do that we, as locals, didn't know about! i think this would be a great family vacation destination or, for us, maybe a day or overnight trip. she doesn't mention the main street in estes, though, which i consider a must do. it's touristy and crowded but you can't go to estes park without buying salt water taffy and fudge! and if it gets a bit crowded you can always find a shady spot along the river (within walking distance from main street) to eat that delicious sweet treat.


what being a bff means in your 30's - yes!!


fave quote from this essay: "and crumbs on the counter. forever. for the love, ALWAYS the crumbs". ha! so true!! i would add "crumbs on the counter AND THE FLOOR". i'm actually considering getting a dog for the sole purpose of licking the crumbs off the floor. carpe tomorrow is such a great motto!


gorgeous photos! bird's eye views of cities. i think vietnam is my fave? hard to choose.


i think that's all i got for today, folks! sending love to you today!

thursday things that made me think

a few little nuggets this week...


this made me think amen!!. at harrison's, and soon to be graham's, school the first grade class got one 10-15 minute recess. my boy is allowed to use fidget toys in the classroom during the day and i'm so thankful for that. one thing harrison's teacher did so well this past year was building in "brain breaks" where the kids could get up, move around, dance, shake, wiggle & squirm. i'm thankful for that too! i have to admit, though, when i read this i wasn't just focused on school...i was thinking about what i can do better at home to get us all up and moving more.


i loved the idea of making a simple outdoor reading tent from this post.


ten health benefits of coconut oil.


no doubt my boys would send me a letter similar to this one. on the drive home from the mountains last weekend i kept them entertained for an hour with the diarrhea song. good lord they loved it! never heard the diarrhea song? here it is. you're welcome. or i'm sorry.


if, like me, you are looking for a list of great read-aloud books for boys, here is one.


i plan to make this concoction for the boys. and i'm sure i'll have fun playing with it too.

thursday things that made me think

it's been quite some time since i've posted links. here are some things i think are worth sharing...


the idea of raising my kids with a minimalist mindset is dreamy to me. often times i think i should declare a moratorium on presents (toys) in favor of receiving an experience (a class, a membership to the zoo, etc).

i've seen this video posted on facebook a couple times. solar roads, playgrounds, parking lots? makes sense to me!

it was interesting to read this article about the habits of those who don't worry. i pretty much do the exact opposite of them. i'm working on it!

the spd foundation emailed out a link to this washington post article which features dr. lucy jane miller, founder of STAR center. so much more acceptance and understanding needs to evolve with regard to sensory processing disorder, it's affect on children and families and how occupational therapy really does make a difference.

my favorite cookie recipe! they are completely grain free (only uses almond flour and coconut flour) and refined-sugar free (only uses honey and coconut sugar) and they are gooooooood! if you're new to buying almond and coconut flour, look in the bulk bins at your grocery store where it's often 1/2 the cost of pre-packaged. coconut sugar can be found in the baking aisle right next to the regular sugars.
 
for locals: here is 5280 magazine's list of "supersecret restaurants, vistas, hikes, attractions, and quirky, only-in-Colorado experiences you probably don't know about—but should"


happy thursday, friends!

thursday things that make me think - the spring break is over edition

i'm gonna be honest...i almost forgot it was thursday.

yesterday seemed like a monday.

it was a manic day at the white house.

or perhaps is was a manic depressive day. harrison was manic. i was depressed. ha!

i'll tell you all about it soon.



so here are the things that made me think this week:


i loved this blog post that provides recipes for home-made, all natural, non-toxic cleaning supplies. she even offers a handy printable!

this had me cracking up! 16 children's books retold for adults. (warning: bad language) #'s 6, 15 & 16 are my favorites, with a very special shout out to #1, the very hungry caterpillar, which really did make me laugh out loud. so true!

i very much love this parenting manifesto by dr. brene brown. i have not yet read daring greatly (i'm still in the process of reading her earlier books) but am looking forward to it. the parts that touched me the most were about wanting to take away my kiddos pain but will, instead, sit with them and help them feel it. that is exactly what we are trying to do with harrison and, frankly, what we should all do with all our kids. also she mentions not always doing things perfectly but allowing her kids to see her just being real...good stuff.

i believe my friend rachel shared this on facebook - a great post on ways to reduce anxiety in our kids, especially as they are in new situations. #8 has been one of the biggest ones for harrison. as an example, when we visited our ENT's office for the first time to assess whether he needed tonsil surgery the doctor was very friendly and kind but she kept tickling harrison. her intention was sweet - to connect with him. but tickles are a threat to my son and each time she reached toward him he curled further and further away from her. scenarios like that are tricky. i wish everyone who interacts with my son could read this before they interact with him.

lastly, the movie noah is making some big waves. haha, no pun intended. i very much enjoyed this article that analyzes the worldview with which the film was written and directed. (thank you to my friends steve and jon who shared it on facebook). as i wrote to a friend this morning - it only makes sense that we can't understand something unless we can see it through the lens with which it was created. i think christians would be less up in arms if they simply understood that the film is not a depiction on the biblical noah. and, frankly, they'd look less stupid too.

alright folks. happy thursday to you!

thursday things that make me think - friday edition

i realize it's friday but this week i'm running a day late and, heck, i'm always running a dollar short so here ya go...




i think i want to adopt kid president. not as my son but as my mentor. :-) love his latest video. the whole wide world should watch this every single day.


i think band headshots/promotional photos are hilarious. rarely are they done well. this lineup for the upcoming icthus music festival made me laugh out loud. i think the least annoying photo of the bunch probably belongs to the headliner switchfoot.  most annoying award goes to transform djs - what's with holding a piece of tape and turning your head sideways? kudos to leaders - i have no idea who they are but i like that they're wearing whosoevers t-shirts.


i think this video of glennon doyle melton is so powerful. i love toward the end when she says something along the lines of everything has to fall apart in order for you to find what is indestructible about you.


i think this artist's creative ability to make normally ugly protective headgear down right cool is amazing! my favorite is definitely the aviator helmet.


did you see the march madness rat bracket? the boys and i loved watching this.


i think this is a lovely post.  maybe it’s writing. maybe it’s songwriting. maybe it is managing finances, or growing companies or making kids feel precious and loved...i can’t stop thinking about what would happen if i got over myself and just started sharing what i’ve been given...using your gifts is heroic.


happy weekend to you all!

thursday things that make me think

i have to clarify something from last week's edition of thinking thursday. i'm grateful to my sweet friend rachel ottley who lovingly challenged and voiced her concern regarding my comments about thinking too much...

confession: my therapist did not out and out say "rachel, you think to much".

but that's how i interpreted what he said - i think too much therefore i should stop thinking so much. 

it sounded funny (to me) to write "so, my shrink says i think too much". my attempt at humor i suppose.


what he in fact said and what he confirmed to me again in our session yesterday was that much of his job is actually teaching people how to think - how to live a conscious life. he doesn't have to do that with me. he believes my ability to ponder things deeply is actually an incredible gift. where his concern lies, though, is that people like me often tend to get caught in thoughts, to ruminate, to be too busy thinking about life than actually living life.

as opposed to my negative thoughts which were very out of control, he does NOT think the way i process things (ponder them, write about them) is unhealthy. he simply wants to make sure i stay on top of my thought life, that i am in charge of my thoughts rather than the opposite. i agree with him that i certainly lean in the over-thinking direction and it's good to be aware of that predisposition so that it doesn't lead to consequences such as depression and anxiety (the common side effects of a deep thinker).

thanks for letting me set that straight.

it still sounds sillier to say "my shrink says i think too much".  :-)


so. on to the things that made me think this week...


i think these yoga poses that are said to relieve anxiety might come in handy someday (everyday).

i think this list of must-reads was posted by no less than twenty people in my facebook feed. i've read 18 of them but am feeling challenged to read them all! my very favorite (of the ones i've read) - a prayer for owen meany. i cannot tell you how many times i started and stopped that book. it took me ten years to finally finish it and, by golly, i love, love, LOVED it! i am a big john irving fan.

i think this idea to completely step away from screens for one day each week would be very difficult (hello withdrawal) but very rewarding. i'll let you know if jeremy and i implement this in our family.

i think this 3-ingredient dessert  looks like something jeremy's mom would enjoy. she LOVES chocolate and cherries. and i love an easy recipe!

i think this video about a deep thinking, poetic man who was reunited with his family after 35 years of homelessness is so heartwarming. even though i have been trying to limit my facebook usage lately i cannot deny its beautiful ability to connect people.


happy thursday!

thursday things that made me think

so last week my shrink told me i think too much.

sigh.

and you know what that made me do?

it made me think about how much i think!

my friend chelsea suggested that perhaps i just have too much time on my hands.

and guess what.

i THINK she might be right. ha!

but in all seriousness, it's become painfully obvious to me in recent months that i am different from most people. i do think too much. i believe my therapist is trustworthy when he says i ponder things more deeply than the average person. the ironic thing about that is that all this time, all these years, i didn't think i was thinking enough. i thought everyone else was thinking about things way more than i was. i faulted myself for not taking particular stances or positions or sides on topics like many of my friends did when, truthfully, i was expending more brain energy on thinking about how i wasn't formulating opinions than they were on actually formulating opinions.

welcome to my brain.


so here are my favorite thought-provoking finds from around the web this week...

i think THIS would be a super cute and super easy breakfast, lunch or dinner for st. patty's day!

i think THIS idea to clear out forty bags of house clutter during the forty days of lent is inspiring.

i think i'm probably one of THESE. are you?

and THIS just tore my heart out and made me think about how blissfully unaware i am and how i need to start learning some names!


happy thursday!