Random Links + thoughts on ‘And the Mountains…”

Here are just some random links of good stuff I’ve seen, read about or found online recently:

– This post about blogging & motherhood from ‘All Kinds of Things’ is quite good.

– Another BEAUTIFUL blog post from Rachel of Hands free Mama. This one really spoke to me and made me think a lot about how we should be loving our children. LOVED EVERY WORD.

– I feel like the rest of this year and the whole of next year is THE season for our family to SAVE, save & save!!! This article has some good tips. I started the 52 week money challenge beginning of this year and I have 3 more months to go — so far it is going well.  Haven’t touched it yet hehe. I will write about this challenge when it finishes next year.

– Can’t believe it’s October already!!! How cute is this DIY costume?! Thinking of making it for Ada for Halloween. Hmm…will I have the time?? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

– These paintings by Emily Jeffords are magical.

– This one (Source) =)

 

Oh and…….I finally finished “And the Mountains Echoed”!!!

Sadly, I didn’t really enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I started off with really high expectations as I really liked his other books (The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns) but I don’t know — this one just didn’t connect with me for some reason. Maybe I’m just distracted lately? (benefit of the doubt) The storyline is reminiscent of his previous works – a family that’s torn apart, poverty, tragic loss — the works. It just didn’t hold my attention and I didn’t really feel much for the characters Also – I wasn’t into the way he kept moving back and forth into different timelines with no warning. For the most part – the book isn’t BAD but I just wasn’t excited to keep reading it and nearing the end I just couldn’t wait to finish it so I could move on to my next book. In all fairness – this book has got awesome reviews everywhere else so maybe it is just me. =)

Memorable passage/s from this book:

“….I learned that the world didn’t see the inside of you, that it didn’t care a whit about the hopes and dreams, and sorrows, that lay masked by skin and bone. It was as simple, as absurd, and as cruel as that.”

– “And the Mountains Echoed” , Khaled Hosseini

Currently

CURRENTLY: {September 2014}

Feeling – a bit sluggish and tired lately – I have started working 5 days a week again and i’m still kind of adjusting. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be -so I guess that’s a good thing.

Craving – for anything with basil pesto — yum!

Needing – to carve out time for my spiritual life. I haven’t been reading/meditating on God’s word… I know I am always a better person when I meditate on Jesus’s love and His promises.

Excited – to spruce up our outdoor area. Nothing fancy – but just wanting to make it look more cosy and inviting for the summer.

Snacking – on avos! I love it plain or with some ground pepper or salt. Or a bit of Knorr seasoning if I’m feeling a bit adventurous  haha.

Reflecting – on what my ‘true’ goals are vs. what I think I should be doing. I always have a lot on my to do list but are these things on my list bringing me closer to where I really want need to be??

Anticipating – Spring, Summer, Christmas, next year’s mini break….

 Amazed – and feeing very thankful that God has blessed us to be parents of Ada – she has taught us so much. I look at her these days and I am amazed at how much she’s grown. She’s taller and bigger and is expressing herself more. She’s also getting cheekier by the day. Oh, the joys…

Bookshelf project

Since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to have my own bookshelf filled with my most favourite books!  For someone who loves reading I actually own very few books! I’ve been living overseas for about 6 years now and I have only bought a handful of books since then. (Most are from the opshop!) I mean – can you blame me? Books are ridiculously expensive! Plus — since I utilize our library a lot and I’m very happy with their book collection I’ve haven’t really had any reason to buy books.

Until now.

They say your home must be a reflection of who you are. Aaaaand — I just feel like our house is missing a piece of me not having a proper bookshelf and all haha! So – I plan on finally having my own beautiful bookshelf that will house all my favourite books! What we currently have is a very modest old shelf (given to us ) that not only holds books but also a mish mash of different things – it has sadly become the dumping grounds for little bits and pieces that don’t belong anywhere – like receipts, straws, pens to name a few. It doesn’t look very nice and I’m kinda over it.

Anyway – I was looking at Pinterest the other day to gather ideas on what I want my shelf to look like and as always I was blown away by the overly beautiful photographs they have. Here are some of what I found and liked:

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I will be giving away the books I currently have that a.) I’m not really that fond of b.) holds no special meaning c.) doesn’t speak to me d.) has no sentimental value  to make room for the books I love and are special to me. And yes, I will have to start buying (my poor wallet) but — knowing me.. It will take me years to build my mini library so there is still heaps of time to have a well curated book collection and there’s no need to spend a lot of $$$ straight away. Also– who said I will be buying all brand new books?! I mean I’d love to but it’s just not practical is it?

I’m so excited for this project. Like what Marcus Cicero said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

Reading List! (non fiction)

Thought I’d share my non fiction reading list! There’s currently not much on my list so I’m open for some recommendations!

Click on the photo of the book & it will take you either to the author’s website or blog or to amazon (not an affiliate).

Hands free Mama

If technology is the new addiction, then multi-tasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it’s no wonder we’re distracted.

But this isn’t the way it has to be. – Rachel Macy Stafford

Sounds familiar?! Can’t wait to read this.

 

How to raise Godly Tomatoes

In these pages you’ll find a wealth of common sense and godly wisdom, a guide to applying reasonable discipline, and instructions on how to build a close relationship with your child. Raising Godly Tomatoes encourages parents to keep their young children — their little ‘tomatoes’ — lovingly staked to them, in order to train and apprentice them in a godly way of life that will prepare them for Christ’s calling in the future, and render them a pleasure to live with today. (- from Amazon)

It is never a bad idea to get advice from a mama that’s raised 10 children! Yes, 10. 

 

#Girlboss

“If you’re frustrated because you’re not getting what you want, stop for a second: Have you actually flat-out asked for it? If you haven’t, stop complaining. You can’t expect the world to read your mind. You have to put it out there, and sometimes putting it out there is as simple as just saying, “Hey, can I have that?” – Sophia Amoruso

Total girl power book. What’s not to love?

 

100 days of right believing

In 100 Days of Favor, Joseph Prince invites you to embark on a purposeful and powerful journey in discovering and experiencing the unmerited favor of God. You will learn how God’s favor releases good success in your life, and will develop a strong sense of favor-consciousness. Prince shows how God empowers you with every blessing to overcome every challenge in life. Immerse yourself in a journey that will impact and change your life forever. This book shows readers how to focus on God’s grace, favor, and love daily. – (from Amazon)

 

Letter to my daughter

 “I believe that one can never leave home. I believe that one carries the shadows, the dreams, the fears and the dragons of home under one’s skin, at the extreme corners of one’s eyes and possibly in the gristle of the earlobe.”

Any other non fiction books similar to the above that I should check out? =)