2010 June | Simple Mom

Block Party Giveaway: Joovy Greenie Caboose Ultralight ($250 Value!)

This giveaway is now closed. Check back on July 4 for the winner!

Welcome to the Simple Living Media Summer Block Party! We’ve got 20 giveaways across the entire network this week to give you plenty of chances to win!

So we’re starting off the Block Party on Simple Mom with a bang, thanks to Joovy. I’m happy to take a little break from my maternity leave in order to try out this fun Joovy Caboose Ultralight stroller with my newly expanded family. And already, it’s been a hoot toting my three (three!) kiddos around on one streamlined stroller.

I’ll admit I was a smidge hesitant at first to try out this stroller. After all, I’ve been perfectly content with our smaller stroller, and I just didn’t love the thought of lugging around a larger tandem stroller. But I’m happily surprised at how lightweight and compact this stroller is… for a tandem stroller, that is.

I’m on maternity leave from June 11 to July 16: The following is a guest post from Simple Organic contributor Stephanie Langford of Keeper of the Home.

Last summer I was blessed with my third baby. It was a truly beautiful time, as I found it so much easier to relax, follow my mothering instincts and care for my baby in a simpler way than I did with the birth of my first two children.

This relaxed approach wove its way not only into my interactions with my baby, but also into the way that I began to view baby paraphernalia. Store displays, pregnancy magazines and mothering websites would have us believe that with a new baby must come a load of stuff to care for all of their specific needs.

I have found this just isn’t true. Less has been more for us this time around, and I expect it will continue to be should our family be blessed again.

I’m going to share my thoughts on some of our personal baby essentials throughout the first year or two (once you’re past the early newborn stage). You may agree or disagree with various things I mention, but my goal isn’t to have you agree with me.

I share merely to demonstrate what simplifying babyhood has looked like in our home, and to help you evaluate what will actually be essential for your own family. Cutting down on clutter and making do with less “stuff” is always a valuable exercise, even if your essentials ultimately look different than mine or your sister’s or your best friend’s.

Here are the baby essentials in our home.
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10 Picture Books that Teach Important Life Lessons

I’m on maternity leave from June 11 to July 16: The following is a guest post from Simple Homeschool editor Jamie Martin of Steady Mom.

Often as parents we get consumed by the details of our days–life speeds past while we try to catch up and just keep everyone fed, clothed, and healthy. Sometimes the rush of our busy routines leaves little time leftover to contemplate and discuss life’s important issues with our children.

When, exactly, are we supposed to find the time or the words to talk about meaningful topics like injustice, simplicity, death, or faithfulness?

Thankfully we can walk into any library and have abundant assistance to tackle life lessons with our little ones. All we have to do is open a book, enjoy it together, and let a natural discussion unfold.

Check out these ten titles to get you started. [Read more...]

Tips for Quick and Easy Family Meals to Maximize Summer

I’m on maternity leave from June 11 to July 16: The following is a guest post from Simple Bites contributor Shaina Olmanson of Food for My Family.

Summer is officially here, with its days spent building sandcastles at the beach and t-ball games in the evening. Summer has a way of starting out long and lazy, but then it quickly gets filled with activities and impromptu get-togethers, and it’s all those things that start to interfere with family dinnertime.

It’s easy to get into the habit of picking something up while you’re out anyway, stopping and grabbing something to eat between your daughter’s soccer practice and your son’s baseball game.

Before you know it, family mealtime can fall to the wayside as summertime activities fill your schedule.

Why Dine Together as a Family?

Family dinners serve several important functions. Studies have long shown that children who sit down to dinner together with their family are less depressed and get better grades than their peers that do not. They are also less likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Beyond those studies, preparing and serving a family meal also gives you control over what is going into your children’s bodies. Focusing on real food is important, and eating a diet high in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in preservatives and deep fat fryers goes a long way in maintaining our health and energy.

How Do You Make Time?

So, we know it’s important to eat well and eat together, but how do we manage this in the midst of summer? The answer is not to always plan on being home every day at dinnertime, though that would also work. Instead, plan for the unexpected meals on the go.
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20 Ways to Add Sweetness to Your Life

I’m on maternity leave from June 11 to July 16: The following is written by health columnist Lisa Byrne of The Well Grounded Life.

Last month I wrote about noisy foods and the impact they have on your body and mind. As I read through all the comments, I was struck by how many of us struggle with feeling addicted to sugar.

I certainly don’t take a hard line on sugar and feel it should never pass your lips… but I do believe we should feel in control over when and how much sugar we eat. If you know a certain food is not serving you well, but feel unable to stop eating it, it just may be time to dig a little deeper to really see what’s going on.
[Read more...]