Oh hi.
It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
Yeah. This summer has been….interesting.
Lots of thinking and introspection and also lots of apathy about the blog. My most beloved hobby has become the last thing I want to work on. I’ve been bummed about not checking in here more often this summer, but maybe I just needed a breather.
Maybe the breather isn’t really even over yet, but I thought I should at least check in :)
So, here I am.
With a list of things I’ve been loving lately. I’ve posted these lists before (here, here, here, here and here) and I love when other bloggers share their favorites. I always stumble upon awesome new things, so hopefully you will too!
First up has been a GAME CHANGER.
Like, this may be my favorite favorite of all time!
This top coat has literally changed my life. LOL
But seriously, I love to paint my nails and have fun with all the great colors available these days, but as a busy mom who spends lots of time washing dishes, cleaning up, and wiping bottoms, it’s usually not worth it for me to spend time giving myself a manicure that’s just going to chip in a couple of days.
Enter Seche Vite.
This top coat goes on smooth, gives a great shine, dries SUPER FAST, and literally keeps my nails in tip top shape for upwards of a week every time. Last time I got 8 days out of my manicure! The only reason I really had to re-do my nails was the amount of new growth by the cuticle. Not because of any other chips!
Try it.
You’ll love it.
It’s worth every cent and can be found at CVS, Target, Walmart, online, etc.
This book’s arrival could not have been more well timed.
I’ve been struggling with frustration, restlessness, and boredom this summer. Not as in “I don’t have enough to do” boredom, but more a longing for some excitement in my very predictable life. I’ve been frustrated and restless thinking that there’s something more I should be doing. That I’m somehow squandering my time. Missing out on some great purpose I’m supposed to be living out.
I’ve been making mental to-do lists, trying to come up with steps that will get me “somewhere,” and giving myself all kinds of bad advice about what I could be doing better or more than what I’m currently doing.
This book was a refreshing relief to the mental gymnastics I’ve been putting myself through.
Chock full of God’s truth, verse after verse about how I’m already loved, welcomed, accepted, and enough. Over and over again I saw lists of things we as women hear and believe about what we should be doing and how we should be living. And then over and over again, I read biblical TRUTH that dispelled all those lies.
I cannot tell you what an encouragement it was to me.
I wouldn’t have described myself as weary, but this book revitalized my spirit in ways I didn’t even realize I needed it. I highly encourage you to check it out. Elyse and her daughter Jessica have their fingers on the pulse of the gospel and have such a wonderfully authentic way of sharing it in the pages of their books. My other favorite is Give Them Grace, a book they co-wrote about parenting.
I’ve been reading a lot this summer and this book has to be mentioned as another favorite…
Along with Give Them Grace, this book, more than any other, has changed the way I parent. I’ve had a total paradigm shift in my approach to raising my girls.
My default method, usually due to frustration, exhaustion, and the way I was raised, has been fear and punishment.
When I’m not on my game, I tend to threaten punishment in a stern way to incite fear in order to get good behavior and/or obedience.
And it works. The threat of a privilege being revoked, or a timeout being had, will usually get my kids to do what I’m asking them to do. But is this really the best way?
Is this teaching my girls? Is this giving them practice making good choices? Is this compelling them to obey out of love for me and for God?
No.
It’s just not.
It’s behavior modification and really isn’t doing anything for their insides. Their hearts.
And that’s what I’m after. Their hearts.
I want them to learn how to respond to the freedom that they will face throughout their lives. Freedom to make any choices they want to make. Freedom to chose God or turn away from Him. Freedom to make wise choices or foolish ones.
That kind of wisdom comes from teaching not from fear and punishment. I’ve been encouraged to make every moment a teaching moment rather than a power struggle and it’s made such a difference.
Molding little ones lives is no easy task, and I certainly don’t have it all figured out, but I’ve seen such a cool shift in how things play out since implementing some of the things from this book.
Check it out.
This last favorite has also been a total game changer.
If you are like the majority of women in the world, your thighs touch.
If your thighs don’t touch, I don’t think we can be friends.
Just kidding ;)
But seriously, women of average weight or higher tend to have thighs that see far too much of each other if not safely quarantined to pant legs.
You know the scenario…you buy a cute dress or skirt, slip it on and feel so cute and feminine.
UNTIL you have to walk any distance or it’s over 70* or you are sitting for an extended period of time.
Then, you have to deal with the enemy: CHAFE.
It’s no fun and for a long time I’ve just sucked it up because I couldn’t figure out a discreet way to avoid it.
I tried wearing a pair of workout spandex shorts under my dresses and skirts, but they’d always grab the fabric and end up looking bunchy. Or they’d be too thick and show through whatever I was wearing.
That’s where the Skimmies come in! They are super light weight and silky so they don’t show through or cause any bunchiness! I swear it could be 90* outside and I actually feel COOLER after I put the skimmies on with my dresses!
Thigh chafe be gone!
That’s it for this round of faves…do you have anything you’re especially loving lately?? I’d LOVE to get your recommendations!
