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#GirlTalk

 

My oldest daughter is officially a middle schooler.  Don't ask me how this happened, I probably blinked or something.  I have so enjoyed raising her and getting to know her.  I think that last part is almost more important than the first right now (almost!).

One way I actively get to know my daughter and nurture her heart is through what we call our GIRL TALK.  About once a week my husband makes sure that The Fashionista and I get alone time for an hour or so.  Sometimes we go somewhere, other times, like this week he just takes the two littlest outside to play while she and I sit on the couch and chat.

  I start with a simple "So what's on your mind?" or "Hey I noticed you _________ (insert just about anything here- um like- hit the neighbor kid, yelled at your brother, stomped away when dad was talking to you, etc, etc, etc.) the other day, what was going on there? Do you want to talk about it?"  Our conversations get pretty silly with loads of giggles, but also pretty deep, often with prayer and even tears.

Lately I've learned she's pretty freaked out about the changes her body is going to be making as she hits puberty.  I remember for me it was such a traumatic experience where I went from being the annoying little sister to the disgusting little sister.  I shot up to being the tallest kid in my class (boys included!) in 4th grade and then REALLY felt like a freak.  I still feel that way when I tower over people around me.  I just want to be a cute teeny tiny Polly Pocket with delicate fairy wings! 

It's natural for any girls in this situation to be freaked out, but I do want to answer my daughters questions and ease her worries in an appropriate way that glorifies God and explains why HE designed her body this way.

We are working through the book called The Body Book (The Lily Series).  It's been so informational and I love that it answers questions about puberty without hitting the topic of s.e.x. too much.  She's not ready for that, I'm not ready for that, end of story. 

  I'm not sure who first suggested this book to me, it was on some blog post somewhere out there.  

If it was YOU, thank you!  This book has been a game changer!

This book has been called the Christian version of American Girl book: The Care & Keeping of You.  We haven't read that one, but I bet it's great too.  We've loved the American Girl books too!

My daughter is constantly carrying this book around and has her nose in it every chance she gets.  As a mom, that is SO COOL! 
 Now I don't fully agree with EVERY single word in the book, but I've only seen about 2 or 3 lines that I sort of shook my head at.  Not too bad if you ask me! 

If you are a mom to a girl, I recommend this book for you!

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What's on My Heart Wednesday

Don't mind me, I'm preaching to myself today...

#convicted
I've slipped up this week and not used my words carefully with the goal of building up others.  I just get tired of trying sometimes. There are times I am okay with being conformed by the world and living like "everyone else". You too? 
We, as women of God, have got to stop that! We can't let out guard down and be okay with idleness.
Stand STRONG! Be KIND!

Zucchini "Pasta" with Alfredo Sauce

For all you amateurs out there, like me, here's a simple tutorial on how to make a Zucchini Alfredo "pasta" that your kids (read kids AND HUSBAND) will actually eat.

We cut out eating pasta regularly a long time ago (you can read about that here & here) & we aren't over it yet.  I mean we are over the belly bloat and feeling tired/sick after eating it, but we aren't over the simplicity of the meal.  Then along came this beautiful idea...
 

Start with 1-2 Zucchini & 1 jar of sauce (any will do).

Peel it if you want to.  I mostly peel it, but leave some to skink to hang on to.

Compost the peels, trash them, or run them down the garbage disposal.  Doesn't make a difference to me.

I use the Swissmar Borner V-1001 V-Slicer Plus Mandoline slicer- but you can cut the zucchini with a knife any way you choose.  Sometimes we do cubes, just because.  I like strips the best.

Let it cook down a little while you snap pictures and check your Instagram

Stir

Pour on the sauce

Stir some more and cook until the sauce is warmed

 

Serve to your child/children and try not to freak when they like it- then they would know it's kinda sorta healthy!

 

Declutter: 9 Things You Can Throw Away Today!

If you're looking to DECLUTTER

here's a short list of things you

can throw in the trash TODAY!

--> Or recycle if your area allows for it.
 

 

Let's start in the closet:
Your surplus of stained t-shirts- We've all got them.  The ones we keep in the back of our closet "just in case".  In case of what?  Keep one for painting, toss the rest.

 

Ill fitting undies-  Where did those even come from?  Probably something you picked up on a whim a few pregnancies back, or even longer ago.  Quit digging past them in the drawer to get to your favorites.  If they don't fit well, just throw them away.  I'll wait...

 

Socks-  Chill out, I don't mean all of your socks, dude.  I like walking barefoot, but I'm not THAT radical.  Just toss the ones that have so many holes they cover less than 85% of your feet.

 

Old Cell Phones-  I mean your really old ones.  The ones if you took them into Verizon they would look at you sideways and tell you they don't still carry the technology to support that old beast, because it's just so outdated.  Your moderately outdated smart phones ones make great "tablets" for the little kiddos to play games on-  You can thank my cousin for this tip!

 

Junk Mail- You know it's junk when they promise you some big prize just for filling out a card with your name, phone number, social security number, # of past normal pap smears, your address (hello?  you sent this to me!) and all you have to do is mail it back in.  They've even paid the postage for you.  Let it go, you ain't won nothin'.

That pile of magazines that you feel guilty about for not reading. You will get new ones next month {or maybe even sooner if you're a magazine subscription hoarder.. like me}.  Don't be afraid of what you'll miss.  The best things in life are free.  If it was that big of a deal you'd hear about it through some other avenue than just a magazine.

Ratty old towels. Don't save them for crafts, shop rags, whatever. You will just see them in a different pile later and wish you had thrown them in the first place.

Expired condiments- Yes mom, I wrote this one just for you.  Update: I visited your fridge on the 4th and was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't find any ketchup.  I'm assuming it was old and you tossed it!  Virtual High Five!

Anything "gross" in your fridge-  Unless you homeschool, then we know there is at least one gross thing in there.  Just be sure it's clearly labeled "SCIENCE".

As a bonus task- Clear off your kitchen counter and wash it down.  If your counter is the regular "catch all" try to keep it cleared off through the weekend and see if it improves your mood.  I know this works for me!

 

Ready...Set...Go!

Come back and tell me if your efforts were successful! :)