• Moms and me :: Annie Downs on (in)courage
• Your values are more important than your schedule :: FIMBY
• 46 reasons why my three-year-old might be freaking out :: Jason Good
• I give God 10%. Why do you get 18%? :: Crumbs From the Communion Table
• 52 LEGO quests :: LEGO Quest

Guess what? This past Thursday, a rather unassuming click of my mouse officially meant that I TURNED IN MY BOOK. Yep… it’s done. So. very. excited, both to have it done and to share it with you all when it’s out in the world. More about my book later—for now, this means I got to get out the big Sharpie because I crossed off something HUGE on my list! And that means I’ll be around a bit more on the blog this February.

Thanks, everyone, for taking our survey in January! Oh goodness, there’s just so much I want to tell you right now about what we’re planning, but instead, I’ll reveal it a little later this month. Your feedback has been extremely helpful.

And don’t forget about my latest Simple Mom Podcast—this episode is with new mama of four Hayley Morgan of The Tiny Twig!

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” -Stephen King

• 25 reasons we’re taking our kids around the world :: EntreFamily Travels (this is a new blog by my friend Stephanie, whose family of six left this past week to travel around the world for a year—makes me eager to start our family’s trip…)
• 40 things every child must know before they leave home :: A Holy Experience
• I will tell my kids I’m proud of them :: Steady Mom
• Take better pictures with your iPhone :: Grumbles & Grunts
• Video of two men experiencing childbirth contractions :: Thought Catalog

“If you’re willing to do something that might not work, you’re closer to becoming an artist.” -Seth Godin

• On juicing :: Joy the Baker (we’re in full-on juice mode in our household – do you juice?)
• Hints of future passions :: (in)courage
• Please don’t help my kids :: Alameda Patch
• 14 wonderful words with no English equivalent :: The Week
• This isn’t the petition response you’re looking for :: The White House

And we’re back in full swing to weekly podcasting—this past week I cohosted with Emily Freeman. Fold your laundry and listen up!

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.” -Frank Tibolt

• Two words the world needs :: Jon Acuff
• Seth Godin on art and writing :: Write to Done
• Why you should quit your job and travel around the world :: The Art of Non-Conformity
• Playmobil security check point :: Amazon (hilarious comments)
• Drive-thru invisible driver prank :: Magic of Rahat (my kids loved this)

“Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.” -Mignon McLaughlin

• The real design trends for 2013 :: Nesting Place
• Finding time :: Anne Lamott
• Why a child’s memory is better than ours :: Steady Mom
• Everything I need to know about hospitality, I learned from Molly Weasley :: RNS
• Africa for Norway :: Radi-Aid

A note about Facebook

Sigh… I have such a love-hate relationship with Facebook. So many of you are on there, which I love—it’s a great place to connect with you. BUT, even if you’ve “liked” Simple Mom, there’s a really good chance you’re not seeing the updates. Grr.

So if you want to make sure you’re not missing anything on there, after you “like” the page, hover over what is now the “liked” button, and select “Get in news feed.” That way, you won’t miss any of the life-changing, super-important Facebook updates. Nicole, editor of Simple Homemade, recently shared on her personal blog some great tips for making Facebook more usable.

Happy weekend!

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” -Alan Cohen