Blog Hop

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen.

A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/this-week-in-my-kitchen-blog-hop/

So I am four days into Heather's 30 Day Vegan Retreat.  Day one saw me putting a slice of cheese on my vegan burger, my husband pointed that out...Day two saw me in line for ice cream at the ice cream social only to be reminded again, by my husband-no dairy.  Today, a mango lassi smoothie for breakfast, a kale and sweet potato salad for lunch and pasta salad for dinner.  Life is good and thankfully the snow has stopped falling. Blessings to all and thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned for pictures from my pop up adventure play day from my library. 

Also does anyone have any hints on taking better blog pictures?

I love my fiesta ware, I never get tired of looking at it, unless of course it is piled up in the sink.

Supplies for 30 days Vegan.  My husband bought a wine called Carnivore. He's a funny guy.

Whole Wheat Pasta salad with spinach and carrots and lemon and oil.

Mommy's little helper...

and finally....OOPS

Kitchen Hopping

 

                                 This Week In My Kitchen :: Blog Hop

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen.

A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

 

http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/

 

 

We celebrated my sons third birthday with this awesome shark that my husband created.  If you ask he will tell you that pinterest stole the idea from him.  The train, my best friend made-definitely not whole food, but a big hit. A joyous day indeed!!!!.  I am looking forward to doing the vegan cleanse with heather and hope to post some healthier meals in the future.

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen.

A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

Week Three for me of doing the blog hope over at

http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/

Besides the joy of documenting my kitchen, I am also working on my tech skills.  What a great excuse to try new things on my blog.

Many Blessings Friends, KYM

Breakfast made by my husband

Easter Dinner

Favorite Mugs

 Here is this weeks book list, of course I have not even gotten through last weeks magazines.  I scored two free copies of Mary Jane Farms and my Coastal Living arrived.  Yes, I live in the mountains...but we dream of retiring to an island in the Carribbean.  That is what gets us through the 9 months of winter we have in Gunnison, Colorado.  We are entering spring and I recently bought a bunch of seeds for my garden: spinach, beets, carrots, basil, squash, zuchhini....it is exciting weather-wise in the mountains, the temps are in the 50's and 60's but the wind is blustery, I never know what has blown over on my deck during the day.  Today two wrought iron chairs blew over and the plastic outside play kitchen...sometimes my laundry ends up all over my yard.  I'm sure my neighbors love me.  Its hard to be outside because it is  to windy.  Soon it will be so beautiful that you remember why you live in the mountains.

http://www.aneverydaystory.com/30-days-to-transform-your-play/




So I found this amazing blog and even though the month is more than half over I hope to spend the next 8 days catching up on the ideas in this blog and intergrate them into my home life and work.  As the childrens librarian, I believe in offering quality toys in the library to encourage play-self directed and with a family member or caregiver.

We recently participated in a kids art swap with Marcela at http://naturallyfundays.wordpress.com/
Tyler had a great time welding for the first time.  He made a snake out of a recycled bike chain. I was so proud of him and his incredible picture of our house.  I look forward to taking part in more craft swaps.

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen.

A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/this-week-in-my-kitchen-blog-hop/



The Week in my Kitchen has been a fun way to check out what others are doing.
 Heres' a view from where I do dishes and what it looks like on a daily basis while I create my boys lunches.

Since this is only Monday, I feel like I am ahead of the game with at least one thing in my life, my kitchen blog post.
At the Gunnison Public Library, I have my dream job as a childrens and family service's librarian, as summer approaches  I am focusing on:
creating a party for the library with a Corduroy the Bear theme for family fun day.

I am also working on crafting a type of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) experience for summer reading. Maybe I will introduce it during the school year and call it Tinkering Thursdays?
I am looking closely at http://tinkerlab.com/



for inspiration...I am thinking about creating a tinkering Tool Box that kids can enjoy at their leisure.  A type of passive programming. That is programming that does not need a leader.  This will allow children to develop their own imagination and allow time for constructive and imaginative play.  I would also provide access to books that highlight these themes...Tinkering is defined as a hands on experience that encourages learning from failures and UNOBSTRUCTED time to create, explore and invent.
I read about some libraries offering science stations around their libraries as well.  I really need to focus on 5 or 6 topics or else I will plan forever and never get anything accomplished.  I think I will give myself a deadline of 4 hours of research and thats it. I like the idea of offering Mad Scienctist tea Party as either a kick-off or as a conclusion to summer reading.


I also think I am going to create a sketching basket filled with Ed Emberley books, pencils, erasers, paper etc
a Math Basket filled with Math related items and ????

Personally, I am excited to be planning a birthday party for my sweet 3 year old boy...my baby.

When Thomas came to us he was 6 weeks old, he had spent 3 weeks in the NICU and 2 weeks at home with his birth parents.  I remember getting the call to foster him, after that my mind can't really put together the way the events feel into place that day he came into our lives. It was love at first sight but as with any good foster parent the goal is always reunification even if I don"t believe that is always the best goal for the child.
But thats another post, right now I am happy to be planning his third birthday.  I purchased some balloon themed plates and cups at the DOLLAR STORE-WOW I love that place....I live in a small town and the nearest dollar store is an hour away along with a super Walmart.
So I finally went into a DOLLAR store and it was amazing!!!! Can't wait to return to purchase supplies for work and some storage containers for my never ending quest in organization.  I had to be thoughtful about purchases for the boys for their Easter baskets as I have been trying to offer "meaningful toys" and not a bunch of crap for them to play with...but I did stay in control and focused and purchased some art supplies (chalk, highlighters, preschool crayons, construction paper and word search), two bug catcher kits, some bubble bath, and of course some candy.

I have includes  some random lines of inspiration to help guide me in planning activities for the children of my community and for my own kiddos...this way I can keep track of thoughts without having a million sticky notes all over the place.
Beauty promotes concentration of thought
inviting environments create independence and sustained focus and encourage thoughtful learning
learn explore read
the environment is the third teacher
create story labs or investigation boxes
light box to purchase or create to be used with panels, magnetic chips, magnatiles, sea glass, transparent blocks and plexiglass bugs
acrylic mirror trays-create a more engaging experience because of the beauty of reflections
I want my Storytimess to develop imagination and curiosity
to include sensory exploration... lets move to music, play with water, paint messy pictures...read touch and feel books focus on social interaction, eye hand coordination and development of fine and gross motor skills,

Whats on this weeks reading list-magazines.  I want to read the Over Proteced Kid in the Atlantic, an interview with Phil Lesh in the Rolling Stone and Real Simple just cause its great and the article on walking works seems right up my alley since I feel this winter was not kind to me or maybe it was to kind!
I am listening to 
The book my husband and I both are reading is:



With Blessings, KYM

So decided to do the kitchen blog hop over at http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/




I know that I love looking inside peoples houses so I thought I'd share what my house looks like.

I am listening to The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
and in the car the boys and I are listening to The Big Snow from the Little House on the Prairie series.  We started with The Farmer Boy and both loved it.  I have actually sneaked listening to some of the story without Tyler in the car. SHHH don't tell.
I have been working bit by bit on creating my own space downstairs in the guest room and am still wondering how much of the boys things to incorporate into the space.  I want to have a sacred space to create my altered art and whatever else I decide to do from my pinterest craft page.  I want the boys to feel comfortable down there as well without junking it up.  Maybe I will put art supplies and some puzzles down there so that they can play while I "create"...
It seems that gardening is in the air along with a fresh couple inches of snow.  I thing this year I will attempt to do a potato container garden, a strawberry patch, create a cinder block garden which I will plant spinach, zucchini and sweat peas.  On my deck, I want to have crazy tomato plants.  This will be the second year of a garden.  Last years garden froze before I could really reap the benefits.
I recently was part of a craft blogger swap and it was so wonderful that I signed my son up for one with
Marcela at  http://naturallyfundays.wordpress.com/.  

Tyler welded for the first time in creating his craft for his swap mate.  I really hope his craft pal enjoys it, I know that Tyler was so proud of himself that he is now a welder.

This weeks reading...

I am inspired to participate in the http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/
kitchen blog hop...maybe next week...
Finally, I can't believe my little baby T is going to be 3 this year. I am excited to plan his birthday.  I always say that Tyler was my wish on a shooting star and Thomas was my surprise.

As I lay sleeping next to my sweet almost 3 year old boy I pondered the concept of co-sleeping.  We never planned to co-sleep, it seems that we just fall asleep while reading or talking with our sons.  This has led to our family belief to sleep wherever you fall asleep.  I know that someday we will all be allocated back to the comforts or our designated room but until then, I will enjoy the moments when my son says "open your eyes mommy and look at me".  I will honey try to always LOOK at you.
After being sick for almost a month, I have been trying to clean and air out the house.  We are enjoying warm temps in the 30's.  I am planning a garden and am anxious to have a day to myself within the confinds of my home to organize my craft/guest room and am trying to decide how to also create a game/puzzle/lego/art space for my boys....or do I leave it as a sacred space for myself and guests.  Guess I will have to pin some inspiration.

Thanks to Lisa at Happyindolevalley@blogspot.com for my wonderful swap gift.
Beeswax candles, tea tree oil soap, 2 hot pads, a cork magnet and a sweet card.
It was such a great surprise to open the mailbox and find something other than bills. To be honest I sometimes open the mail box and if it is only bills, I leave them.
Well, this swap really motivated me to clean up my craft room.  I think I could very easily become addicted to craft swaps. All of this because a friend signed me up for a hibernation workshop with http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/
and then I found http://www.sweetpotatoclaire.blogspot.com/ and then I updated my blog (which I have really enjoyed doing-maybe now I can have a electronic trail of my life instead of a bunch of sticky notes that I lose)
and so the story goes.
Well, gardening is also on my mind.  I read that if you spend 100 on a garden you will gather the rewards 3 times over.  Let's hope that this years harvest does better than last years yield which =  a couple of strawberries, lots of kale, some snap peas and some squash that froze in an early freeze and 2 tomotoes that did not survive a wind storm.  Lets hope this year will be better.
I am presenting next week on early literacy and creating inviting environments in the library for children and families to engage in early literacy activities that focus on reading, writing, playing, singing and talking.  Going through all my old notes and pinterest boards has really motivated me to accomplish more at work as a childrens librarian and at home.  I have been reorganzing toys and hope to create play bins this week that I will alternate out for my youngest who will be 3 in April. Well...writing that number 3 really tugs at my heart strings, it seems like yesterday I had a newborn and now I have a BOY.
I am Blessed...

So what's on this weeks reading list:
Making HOme by Shron Astyk
Unconditonal Parenting by Alfie Kohn
The Artists Way for Parents Raising Creative Children by Julie Cameron
Heaven on Earth by Sharifa Oppenheimer-loving this one...
The Artful Parent by Jean Van'T Hul
Nurturing the Soul fo your Family by Renee peterson Trudeau
Creative Play for your toddler by Christopher Clouder
Remember that you don't need to read every page and every chapter.  Flip through the sections and notice what calls to your interests.  There are so many books out there that if you read through every page you would never get a chance to look at so many more.  Thats just my philosophy.
Sooo
The challenge of the week is to get the baby (almost 3) to sleep through the night (1) and in his own bed (2).
I will again begin the transition process by moving him to his room and sleeping on the twin.  I think I will also make him a chart that shows him his bedtime routine.  Here's hoping that by the end of Feb, everyone will be in their own rooms again.  I admit I love snuggling with him every night but he is a bed hog.

A dear friend of mine gifted me an online retreat called Hibernate with Heather Bruggeman witch lead me to joining in on a craft swap which led me to starting up my blog, which has not been of any importance to me until this week.  I find that it will be an interesting way to chronicle my life, much like a journal, but maybe I will refer back to it more often, not so much as a journal, but as a resource for things I find myself interested in, things I do, PINS that I actually complete.  So when I have moments of spare time, when I am not creating my family rhythms and meal plans on watercolored paper while my kids watch Daniel Tiger, I plan to write.
I finally realize (knock on wood) that life can be easier and I don't need to be so hard on myself. 
I really think my online retreat, my dear friend and finally finding some rhythm to my life helped me feel centered....at least for the past five minutes.
In all truth...Life is Good

My neighborhood this morning.  We never have snow days in Gunnison.  I feel sad that my kids will never have the joy of hearing the snowplow trucks and listening to the radio waiting for their school to be cancelled.  Almost two feet of snow out there.  I wish today was Saturday so we could watch the snow fly, watch movies and destroy the house.

A must read post from Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting.  I need to read this every day


http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/2013/11/29/the-gift-of-a-strong-willed-child/

along with this one

http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/2013/07/08/backtalk-is-communicationlisten/

documenting the quest

Much like my journal, my blog is incredibly outdated...well, with a new year... arrives new aspirations along with inspirations. So with two boys, a full time job and a ongoing never-ending goal of organizing,  simplifying and bettering our lives, oh and making time to have fun .... life is chaotic.  So this blog will chronicle the books I have read, advice I hear, ideas I have and bits of wisdom I have gathered all of which will help or hinder in attaining these goals.
So along with the words I write... here is a link to my pinterest account that visually documents "me"
http://www.pinterest.com/bookwitch13/

Slow family Living-Bernadette Noll
Drop more Love Bombs and Less F Bombs
Listen...Really Listen to what my kids are saying..Whining is not just whining but a sign of a greater need.
Sigh. Forgive. Let Go. Move On
Stop...Think...Make a Choice
Questions to Ponder...
What are my strengths as a parent?
Where do I fail?
Where do I get my ideas for parenting?
How should I encourage a stronger relationships with my kids?

My thoughts
How can I incorporate a Waldorf type rhythm to my life and parenting style.