Awesome Blog Shoutout! Week of February 4th

 You know, there are some AWESOME blogs on the web!  I totally love reading them - even the recipe ones.  They so inspire me to be a better mother and blogger.  I just love them.

Here are a few posts that I really really loved last week!

Recipes
1.  I made the Shrimp Chowder from Jess Is More.  It's a crockpot recipe.  Yum, Yum, YUM...even my husband loved it, and that's saying A LOT.  Actually, I deviated from the recipe and allowed it to cook on low overnight.  Oh My Gosh, the flavors were AMAZING, and it was nice and hot and spicy.

It really was delicious, and it didn't take forever to cook - which is a plus for me.

Best of all, the kids can help with this.  I cut up all the stuff, but they can put it in the crockpot.  No heat, so SCORE!

2.  Chockababy had some awesome Vegan chocolate cupcakes going on in her part of the blogosphere!  I loved these because my boy is allergic to cows milk, and eggs - so another SCORE!

3.  For Valentines Day, Family Food Finds had some heart cake pops that were really super cute!

Crafts
I haven't been at this too long, but I am sure craft posts are very popular around Valentines day.  Let me tell you that these shoutout days are the only time you will see awesome crafts on this blog, cause I am...ummm....the anti-crafty.

1.  First, let's head over to There's Magic Out There for the very COOL Potato printed valentines day cards.  So clever!  Best of all, the kids can help - and the materials - you already have in your home.  You really don't have to go out and spend a bunch of money on stuff.  LOVE THAT!

2.  These are really super cute from Diary of a Working Mom.  Love that blog!  If anybody knows where you get the heart punches, please comment and let me know.

3.  Uber creativity from Family Focus Blog.  Awesome inexpensive but cute Valentines Day craft ideas!

The kids and I are going to have a blast making some of this for Daddy!

Blog Posts
 1.  This one I love...love...love from Green Child Magazine.  If we just touched, held, carried our children (in a sling) more, I think this world would be a better place.  LOVE IT!

2.  This post from The Parent Place made me exhale.  It's impossible to know how difficult it is to be a Mom - unless you are one.

My challenge for you this week is to take the time to visit these posts and these blogs.  Trust me, you will enjoy it - so it won't be work.

L

Wool and Bamboo Squishiness

Since becoming a cloth diapering mommy - about 4 years ago - I have really come to know the many benefits of wool and bamboo.  I love them so much, I could just swaddle myself in it!

Not only is it sustainable and 100% natural - they are both antibacterial and anti fungal.  If I leave my cotton diapies in the pail too long, they will begin to mold.  Not the case with my 100% bamboo diapers.  Plus they are so easy to take care of.

Bamboo is much more absorbent than cotton, so less layers are needed to get higher absorbency.  So, that makes for what?  Trimmer diapies!  Yes, you still get a cute little fluffy butt - but not as big as a fluffy butt!

Wool, is absolutely amazing.  So easy to take care of, and with lanolin, makes any diaper bullet proof.

Cloth diapering aside, wool and bamboo make excellent choices for pants, shirts, long under ware, blankets and the like.  The high absorbency properties and breathability makes the person wearing it cool in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter.  They are durable and can stand up to the most active rough and tumble play!

It's awesome!  Really.

Check out these hand dyed pants I made from bamboo and wool! 

The Merino wool pants are on the left (natural with a special green trim).  The bamboo and wool pants are on the right (bamboo with a Merino wool upper).

These pants were made from the Apple Dumpling Gear pattern.

L

January 28th Blog Shoutout Day!

Being a new blogger, I have read many many blogs and many many tweets looking for articles/recipes/crafts that support the "coming together" of families.  These are articles that advocate bringing your children closer together/spending more time with them - or recipes that are easy enough that you could cook together - even with younger children.

You'll hear me say this over and over again - but a healthy happy family life is central to everything.  If your family is sick - all aspects of your life will not work - whether it be work or play.  If you are having problems with your spouse, don't you think it will affect your work?  Of course it will.

So, here are some excellent articles for Mom and Dad and, crafts and recipes for even the smallest of little hands!

Articles
Here is an excellent article from Hip Homeschool Moms eliminating the myth "I don't have the patience to homeschool".  It speaks to the way we view children in our society.  Loving this article.  It's worth reading - even if you don't homeschool.

Recipes
Jungle Trail Mix from Living in the (mom)ent 

Nutella Donuts from Crazy Adventures in Parenting   

Crafts
 The Do-It-Yourself Inspiration board by There's Magic Out There

Tell me what you think of these.  Do you like them?   Please tell me, cause I do want to know!

L

Thank you Crazy Adventures in Parenting for the Good looking picture!  YUM!