Finding Balance (and Wednesday Wander)

I've been really struggling lately with achieving balance in my life.  My plate is always a little too full and at the end of the day I'm either totally exhausted, or something has been neglected.  It's very hard to raise three kids, keep a house, write a blog and run a shop and do them all well.  So I made a deal with myself.  I'm going to get my priorities in shape - my kids (and husband) come first, my house comes next, and I will only work on my hobbies when I really truly want to work on them.  

If I don't feel like writing a blog, I won't write one.  If I don't want to craft for my shop, I wont.  If it feels like a chore and will drain me instead of energize me, I just won't do it.  I'm going to do my very best to keep things consistent.  I'll try to keep to my weekly post schedule.  But sometimes, I'm just going to miss a day (or maybe two).  But please know - when that happens, it just means that my house is a little extra clean.  My kids have been well snuggled.  There's a hot meal on the table.  These are luxuries that I all too often take for granted.  So many people would love to have all the things that I have - all the things that often wind up on the back burner because I have something to write, or something to sew, or I'm soooo tired from writing and beading that I just have to nap.  I spent 90% of Kids' Day Out this morning just cleaning the kitchen and making up beds.  It felt amazing!  I think I'm going to make it a habit :)

That said, in the interest of consistency - here is this week's Wednesday Wander.  This week we're linking up our Facebook sites!  Please 'like' as many of your fellow blogs as you can and send them a little love.  Lets give each all a nice mid-week boost to get us through to the weekend.  Appreciate you all!

Book Of The Week: Martha Doesn't Say Sorry

 source

Yup, we've completed another week of library books and it's almost time to get fresh batch.  What was our fave this week?  Martha Doesn't Say Sorry by Samantha Berger.  We've been working a lot on parenting techniques in our household and if ever we've met a literary family who practiced the Love and Logic style - this family is one of them.  Martha wrongs her mother.  She wrongs her father.  She wrongs her baby brother.  Do they yell?  Nope.  Do they put her in time out?  Nah.  But they do refuse to play with otters who are naughty.  Soon, Martha realizes it's much nicer to apologize and get along than to be stubborn and alone.  We also appreciate that the book paints Martha as a generally good girl who occasionally makes some poor decisions.  Sometimes kids need a reminder that doing something wrong doesn't make them 'bad' kids - they just need to make it right.  The pictures in the book are also deliciously fun and my kids asked to read it again and again.  If you need a good book about consequences, then Martha Doesn't Say Sorry is the read for you!

Tuesday Top 5: Solo Artist (male)

I have a pretty eclectic taste in music.  I like most genres (though I'm a little picky about country).  But I definitely have some favorite - both die-hard and brand-new.  Here are my top 5:

Toby Mac

source

I loved him when he was a part of DC Talk and I love him even more now that he's gone solo.  I'll confess to drumming along on the steering wheel when this song came on the radio.  His music is inspiring and it's great for working out.  Positive beat, positive message.  It's exactly what the doctor ordered.  And he's not too hard on the eyes, either ;)

Paul McCartney

source

This man has never written a bad song.  In fact, one might wager, every song he's ever written is brilliant.  He's just as amazing now at 70 as he was as a part of The Beatles.  Even our toddlers adore him - and anyone who could write a song like Magneto and Titanium Man (on repeat at our house quiet often) has to be fun. I'll confess, George was my favorite of The Beatles, but only Paul makes the cut on my solo-artist list. 

Kevin McHale

source

Easily my favorite voice in the entire cast of Glee, I know he isn't really a 'solo artist' perse - yet.  He did have a short stint in a boy-band (NLT) before he found prime-time fame.  And while he may not be my favorite character on the show, I'm always very happy when Artie gets a song of his own.  Plus, how adorable was his cameo in that Katie Perry video?  I have to say, I buy him a lot more in that role than, say, this video :p 

Paul Simon
 

source

I'll be honest - I don't know a whole lot about Paul Simon.  I do know, however, that Simon and Garfunkle was incredible.  And I do know that I could listen to You Can Call Me Al all day. And that is enough to get him on the list.

Noah Weiss

 source
photo by Tracy Weiss Photography

If you like Jazz, then you'll love this guy!  He's cool, he's talented - and he just so happens to be the little brother of one of my oldest friends.   He writes and plays his own music - like this gorgeous piece, and this one. You can check out more of his music at his myspace page. 


So that's it for my top 5.  Listen and enjoy :)  And please don't forget to link up or comment below and let me know who you love!  I'm always looking for new artists to listen to. 

January Sponsor Spotlight

Hello Everyone! I wanted to take a little time today to introduce you to our amazing January sponsors. These are all talented and inspirational women whom you will be so glad you took the time to get to know. I am pleased to introduce:

Marigold Road 

I'm Mindy, bride to my high school sweetheart, and mother to Wilder & Story. I launched my blog 4 years ago to chronicle my first pregnancy. Now I love to inspire a sense of self-worth and motivation in women, through writing from my heart, and presenting my motherhood journey in real and applicable ways, whilst including baking/craftiness for the visually inspired. My Etsy shop offers handmade wool felt headbands, hoop art, yarn wreaths, and jewelry, most of which incorporate vintage materials, and are crafted in the wee hours of the night. You can also shop there for kitschy mid-century vintage decor & housewares. 

Blog, Shop, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Discount: LOVECAT20 for 20%

When I was a child, I wanted to be a painter and a teacher when I grew up.

Agape Love Designs

I'm Maria-Isabel & I blog at Agape Love Designs, where I share my photography, free printables, crafty tutorials and so much more.  My shop is Agape Love Boutique and features a variety of Headbands and Custom Jewelry including Birds Nest Necklaces and now Hand Stamped Jewelry! :)

Blog, Shop, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

When I was a child I just wanted to be so many things when I grew up!  But mostly I wanted to be a lawyer, a History Teacher (yes I am a NERD), a singer and an artist!  Growing up I never could decide what I really wanted to be.  I LOVE variety and I don't like being limited.  Now I am a mama to 3 amazing kids, married to my best friend and doing something I truly love and enjoy which does give me variety.

The Fontenot Four
 

My name is Sarah.  I am the one behind The Fontenot Four!  I am in love with God, my husband {Ron}, and my girls {Moira and Peyton}.  I am a stay a home mom of two girls (7 and 5), the younger of which is special needs and is medically fragile.  I started The Fontenot Four as an outlet for me to write about the blessings in my life.  The good stuff.  Nothing negative.  I figured if I focused on the positive for a change, it might really help me work through life's challenges.  I decided somewhere along the way that I could really use my blog to help people.  I love to blog about the blessings in my life, my faith, the occasional book review, recipes from time to time, musings about my family, and so on.

Blog, Facebook,Etsy, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter

Discount: 10% off in my Etsy shop through January with code MIMIBABY

When I was a child I always wanted to be an archaeologist when I grew up.  I LOVED Indiana Jones.  I didn't wind up being an archaeologist but I loved my anthropology classes in college.  I wound up with a bachelor's degree in history.

Our Footprints On The World

Hey, I am Kelly-Marie, mummy to my gorgeous little boy Joshua ‘aka Joshy’ who is nearly 7 months old and I am wife to my lovely just married husband Matt! Both these guys are my whole world and I love blogging about them. On my blog you will find lot’s of photographs and stories and thoughts of our everyday life. I love photography and with my fab camera that follows me everywhere, our life is always captured.

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest  

When I was a child, I don't remember really wanting to do anything inparticular.  I am not really a very ambitious person I just want the simple things in life .. A loving family in A home with my little job in a Post Office.

Little Miss Nerd Girl

Hello, Stuff I Love friends! I am Lacey, the blogger behind Little Miss Nerd Girl. Over at LMNG I like to share tales that are laced with a bit of humor about being a stay-at-home mom, wife, full-time student and wannabe crafter and baker.

Blog, Facebook, Bloglovin',  Twitter

Offer:  I am looking for two or three more people who would be willing to let me design some buttons, banners, backgrounds, etc. for their blog or shop.

When I was seven I wanted to be a lawyer, but then I realized lawyers had to talk A LOT in front of MANY people and changed my mind.
 

 The Foley Fam

I'm a twenty something year old Momma who wanted to have a place aside from our 365 day blog, to share my creativity, pictures of our cute girls & mostly our extraodinary thoughts about our ordinary days. This is more of {our story}. I am Wifey to the Hubs, Momma to our M&M girls, and Lover of Life! Follow along as I share our adventures! I blog about {us}. The Good, the Bad, & the Dirty. You’ll also find some crafting, my fashion style, and all the bits and pieces that make me {me}. I can be a wee bit sarcastic, but try not to take offense mmmkay? Hope to see you in our neck of the woods sooner than later!

Blog,  BlogLovin, Facebook,  Shoppe,  Twitter,  Pinterest, Google+

When I was little I wanted to be a nurse and mommy like my Momma :) 

Drops Of Motherhood

Hi! Im Jess from Drops of Motherhood. I have only been blogging for a couple of months but I love it. I had met so many amazing ladies and am very blessed for each of them. I currently am having somewhat of a writers block but am getting back into my groove. So you should stop on over to see whats going on in my life as a mom, full time student, part time worker, and a very soon to be wife. 

Facebook, pinterest, google + 

When I was a child I wanted to be a music teacher for elementary students when I grew up. :)

Sneakers Over Stilettos

Hello Stuff I Love readers, I am Amber and I write over at Sneakers Over Stilettos. I am in love with my two babies Ethan and Peyton, and I am completely obsessed with Photography and Fashion. Both of these aspects play big parts in my day to day and therefore are a big part of my blogging style. When I was little I wanted to be a model for Chanel, but since I never grew past the height of 5'2'' I did the next best thing and became someone who styled the models, and will hopefully one day find my way to photographing fashion.  I love making new blog friends so I hope you will come over and check out Sneakers Over Stilettos! 

Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Fashion Blog

Swap It To Me

This past holiday was filled with swaps of all kinds.  Gloves, gifts, shop items and miscellany.  I'm beginning to think that I participated in just about all of them.  And I had a blast!  Not only was it fun to get treats in the mail, but I was also able to swap for some really useful services from other shops and blogger.  I had so much fun, that I want to make this a regular event!


Therefor, on the first Friday of every month, I'll be hosting a swap linkup.  I'm going to attempt to keep it open all month (or as long as the linky tool will let me) so that everyone who wishes to participate can.


On all the odd months, we'll be swapping goods - Christmas presents you didn't love, surplus items from your shop, crafting supplies you no longer need, clothes you are tired of (but are still in good shape), books you've finished reading, brand new toys your kids refuse to play with - pretty much anything goes!


On all the even months, we'll be swapping services - sponsor buttons on your blogs, blog design editing, guest posts, product reviews, shop promotion - pretty much anything you can do for someone else.


The only rules are:


1) Keep it Legal - please don't offer to swap anything untoward or illegal
2) Keep it Nice - it's ok to say no to a swap offer, just do it tactfully
3) Keep it Fair - don't ask someone to swap a $40 necklace for a bag of M&Ms.   Make exchanges equitable.


How it Works:
1) Take pictures of all the things you want to swap.
2) Write up a nice post showing them off and describing them.
3) End your post with a list of things you're interested in trading for (yes, it's ok to just say 'send me an offer')
4) Leave your contact info somewhere easy to find - or specify that all offers should be made in the comment section.
5) Link up here with your post - include a snippet of what you're offering in your title if there's room.
6) Search other posts for things you want.
7) Get in touch and start swapping!


That's it!  I'll have my post up in a day or two - I'm sure it's going to be chock full of fun things (we're doing spring cleaning a little early around here).  I hope you'll join me!!
Also, please include this button in your post so that everyone can participate.  Thanks y'all!!

<a href="http://babystuffilove.blogspot.com/2012/01/swap-it-to-me.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Swap It To Me" src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee435/mrscat206/Swapittome.jpg"></a> <br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=124031" type="text/javascript"> </script>

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Guest post

Hey everyone! I'm finally all stocked up for the holidays! I've got a whole bunch of new items in the shop - here are a few samples.

For Thanksgiving, I've got some subway art wall canvases.


And for Christmas I have both jewelry for holiday parties



And decorations for trees and gifts



And all of the items in the shop would make great Christmas gifts. Also, 50% of all profits from my sales go to charity. This month's charity is The Shine Project - working to send underprivileged students to college. Keep an eye out for a more detailed post on The Shine Project coming soon. Thanks, y'all!

Giveaway

Hi Everyone! I am so honored to be here with you today. Erin has such a wonderful blog!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Cat and I married my college sweetheart, Richard, back in 2005.


We have 3 adorable, energetic little kids. (squirmy baby L has been the model for all my ventures).


Let me tell you - it has been a long, hot summer, and I am so ready for fall! How about y'all?


I am so blessed to be able to stay home full time with my kids. In my 'spare' time I write a little blog called

There, I share Stuff I Love, Stuff I Don't Love, Books Of The Week, Recipes, and whatever else (charities, events, giveaways, great deals, ideas) happens to be on my mind. We also have a forum for you all to ask questions, post recipes and share your own opinions.

If that doesn't keep me busy enough, I also sell some of my crafts at my shop

And I am thrilled to be able to give away a couple of my items to you all!

The winner will receive both this framed 8x10 sunflower print

and this purple flowered necklace

I am grateful to you all and best of luck!!