Here are a few of my most recent favorite things. I can't call myself a true friend and keep these goodies from you:
This book by Philip Stead (Author of "A Sick Day for Amos McGee") is such a sweet book about change and friendship. I love it.
This beanie means I don't have to do my hair unless I want to for the next 4 months. I have it in olive and beige and I wish I had every other color as well. You can get them here on Amazon for less than $10. Boom.
Confession: My exercise clothes are pretty stinky (read: unbearably stinky). I have tried lots and lots of detergents and nothing has worked to get them clean and fresh except for Downy Fresh Protect. At the risk of sounding dramatic, this stuff has changed my life. I add it along right to the load with my regular detergent. And the best news is that it only takes about 1/3 of a cap full to get my clothes smelling great. I love this stuff.
These honey mints from Trader Joe's have only three ingredients: honey, chocolate liquor, and peppermint extract. Everyone in my family loves them. Like a peppermint patty, but fancier.
General Conference a couple of months ago might have been my most favorite conference ever. President Uchtdorf''s talk was one of my faves.
And this quote by Sister Stephens brings me so much hope and comfort when I get bogged down by my weaknesses and imperfections. I love it.
The Genie Brush: My sister introduced me to this little miracle brush. If you have a child with hair long enough to be brushed, you should really get them one of these. While not completely pain-free, they are so much less painful than your typical, everyday grocery store hairbrush.
Trader Joe's Srirchacha BBQ Sauce: I bought this last week and we used it to make bbq chicken pizza. If you like a little bit of a kick in your bbq sauce, this one is a winner.
Dinosaur vs Santa: All of the Dinosaur vs. books by Bob Shea are winners with my children, and this is one of our favorite ones of the season.
My New Friend Is Fun: It's no secret that I am one of Mo Willem's biggest fans, and this book is our current favorite. I laughed out loud the first time I read it. When the snake tries to cover his eyes I just can't hold it in. Perfect books for budding readers.
Caramels: I learned how to make caramels for the first time this year and I kind of created a monster. I think I made half a dozen batches of caramels (at least!) during the month of December. We made vanilla pecan ones, cinnamon ones, and even black licorice flavored ones. The cinnamon ones were some of our favorites. And dipped in chocolate (like the picture above), they tasted like chocolate dipped cinnamon bears. Who doesn't love cinnamon bears dipped in chocolate? Mel's Kitchen Cafe is where I found all the recipes and tips for chocolate dipping.
Steel Cut Oats: I love them. I cook a big batch in my slow cooker every couple of weeks and then I just heat them up and eat them almost every morning for breakfast. This recipe (I ditch the heavy cream and opt for milk and extra pumpkin instead and I don't sweeten it--I do that individually because everyone's sweetness preference is different in my family) tastes like the perfect blend of pumpkin pie and oatmeal. I love this one as well because maple and brown sugar just go together so well IMO. In this recipe I add the maple but wait to add the brown sugar until I'm going to eat it. With both of these recipes, I only cook them for about 4 hours on low because that's how I like the texture. When I've let them go overnight it always turns out too mushy for me.
I really like this article on motherhood. One of my CT sisters sent it to me and I thought it was so enlightening and motivating. And something that I could definitely work on, stepping back and asking, "How would you do it?"
Merry Christmas Everyone! I'm sure you've all seen this video, but I couldn't do a Favorite Things post without mentioning it. I think I've watched it dozens of times and have found that it's the perfect cure anytime this season when I've needed to be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas.
It's time for a few of my latest favorites--heat of the summer addition!
Blue Bell Ice Cream. Years ago, Ryan was in podiatry school and we were living in Iowa. Another couple lived across the hall from us in our little apartment complex and we became really close friends with them. Gavin, who was also a podiatry student at DMU (and from the great state of Texas), was always raving about Blue Bell ice cream. So much so, that I could still hear his voice in my head when I walked past the freezer isle of the grocery store shortly after moving to Arizona and saw it in the ice cream section. Of course I had to try it and of course he was right--it is pretty delicious ice cream. The best part about it is they have funky flavors like "Southern Hospitality" and "Magic Cookie Bar". Consuming our body weight in Blue Bell is one of the many things we are doing to stay cool this summer.
Contigo Water Bottles. My sister introduced me to these when were were visiting her this summer. I had been on a mad hunt for a sippy cup that doesn't leak (they all profess to be "leak-proof" and none of them are). Glory be, these don't leak! So we got rid of the sippy cups and Nater upgraded to these water bottles. We got the other kids hooked on them as well---just another way we are beating the heat. And as a bonus, they come in a three-pack at Costco for less than $13. Can't beat that.
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! It's no secret that I'm a sucker for children's books. Knowing this, Ryan's dad often sends me links to articles of great book recommendations. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! was on the most current must-read list he stumbled upon, so we checked it out after he passed the article onto me. It is Davy's new favorite---so much so that I lost track of how many times we have read it together.
Sophie's Squash. This is another one from Papa P's latest list, and I have to say that it's my favorite. If you have ever had a child who at one time or another was attached to an inanimate object, this is a must-read.
Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know-It-All. Months and months ago, after one of my "favorites" posts, my sister recommended this book to us. I'm so glad she did---it is nothing short of hilarious. All three of my older kids love it. And since Davis is very much a "Question Boy" (what 4-year-old isn't?), it's oh so familiar. Check it out, you'll love it too.
The Way Way Back. Both my sister and another friend recommended this movie, so when I came across it at our local library I had to give it a try. It's darling. And Ryan even tolerated it. Warning, it will make you want to punch Steve Carrell's character in the face, because he's pretty much the meanest person ever.
Mormon Messages For Youth. Have you checked these out? They are so so great, and can make planning a Family Home Evening lesson a piece of cake, or give your kids something to do on a Sunday. Below is one of my current favorites:
For the first time since our newlywed days, Ryan and I live in a real neighborhood. It's my very favorite thing of all. Prior to moving into our current home, we have always lived in apartments or on a really busy street. But now we live in an area where kids ride their bikes up and down the streets, and there is more than one park just around the corner. It reminds me of my own childhood. It was the single most important factor I was looking for in a home this time around. And it's every bit as awesome as I thought it would be. Just today I was talking to a new friend at church. She asked where I had moved from and when I told her Connecticut, she responded, "Wow! It must have been quite a shock to move to the desert!" and then she went on, "Just you wait, Sara, in a couple of months when it cools down, you'll think you're in heaven. It's spectacular."
Here are a few favorite things that are helping us to (barely) survive the dead of winter otherwise known as January:
A show you should really let your kids watch :
Peg and Cat is a new show on PBS that is witty and cute and smart all rolled into one.
Books that you should really check out from your local library:
The Bink and Gollie books are early readers about two very different best friends. They are are so cleverly written. All three of my older kids are totally smitten with Bink and Gollie. Each of the books is full of laugh-out-loud lines like this one:
"Bink," said Gollie. "The brightness of those socks pains me. I beg you not to purchase them."
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.
Tales for Very Picky Eaters. A must for every parent with a child who complained about dinner time.
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds. One of Davis' favorites these days.
Green has very few words but the illustrations are worth checking out.
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, for anyone who's ever resisted bedtime.
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett.
Journey. This wordless book is so beautiful and imaginative.
Last but not least, Rabbit and Robot makes me shed tears of laughter every time I read it. A hilarious early reader about a sleepover that doesn't go exactly as planned. I'm not sure if it's because Rabbit reminds me more of my crazy 3 year-old or my OCD self, but I seriously love this book and am crossing my fingers that it's the first of many in a series.
Recipes you should really try:
Golden Lentil Stewfrom Martha Stewart Living. I have not been successful in finding golden lentils so I subbed for the green variety and it is one of my favorite new soups. It's a little bit more complicated than I like for a week-night meal but it is really so delicious and like nothing else I've ever made before.
Stir-Fried Broccoli from MKK. For anyone who is tired of boring old steamed veggies.
One Hour Whole Wheat Breadfrom Real Mom Kitchen. It takes me closer to and hour and 15 minutes from start to finish, and it tastes delicious. My favorite whole wheat bread recipe ever.
Indian Butter Chicken from MKK. Ryan and I both agree that this is a restaurant-quality Indian dish. I'm drooling just thinking about it!
There you have it, a few of my favorites that I hope will brighten your dreary January day. And if you are one of my few friends/family who isn't experiencing a dreary January (shout out to CA, TX, and AZ!) then I am jealous of you. And I still hope these suggestions make your sunny days even brighter!!
Phillipine brand dried coconut. I have long been a fan of their dried mangos, but this coconut is my new favorite treat. I have only ever seen it at a Utah Costco, so I asked my parents to bring me a bag when they came for a visit recently--instead they brought me four. That's just how they roll. Ryan thinks it tastes just like Styrofoam. I think that's great--more for me.
Ikea's Kids-Eat-Free-Tuesdays. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? Clearly their chocolate milk is a hit.
I get chills every time I watch the trailer for the newest Les Miserables movie. I haven't been this excited for a movie in a long time. In case you have been living under a rock and haven't seen it, you simply must check it out. Anne Hathaway, you get my Oscar vote.
This essay on Motherhood makes me smile. I love writers who can articulate so well how I am feeling like this one did.
And lastly, a video of each of my three favorite little people:
Isaac sings his favorite primary song, Nephi's Courage.
Maddie's rendition of Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam with some dancing. She made me promise I would post this one to the blog.
It is a running joke in our family that Davis has never had a thought that he didn't vocalize. He is ALWAYS talking. Always. Adorable and exhausting all rolled into one. Without him knowing, I grabbed a little bit of footage of him looking at a book in hopes of catching a glimpse of what he is like at age two.
Pineapple Chobani Greek yogurt. Best flavor by far.
Thermal Blackout curtains. Because we are the eastern end of the east coast time zone, it gets light here around 5am. These curtains help keep things cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and my kids sleeping for hours after the sun starts to shine.
I love any workout video by Jillian Michaels (she scares me), but this one is my latest fave. 30 Day Shred and Banish Fat Boost Metabolism get honorable mentions.
Rain in Connecticut. Did you know that it rains more inches per year in New England than in Seattle? Seattle has more rainy days, but we get harder downpour. It reminds me of my mission days in the Dominican Republic. It makes everything unbelievably green. So green, in fact, that when we were about 5 minutes away from ending our cross-country trek en route to CT, I told Isaac we were getting really really close to our new home. In a panic he belted out, "But I don't want to live in a forest!!" Running in the rain makes me as happy as can be, and I get giddy every time I think about how beautiful fall here will be.
Living so close to so many awesome cities. We took a day trip to Boston earlier this week. Here we are in front of the Boston Harbor. We got to spend the afternoon with Ryan's brother (Devin and Krystal are vacationing in Boston right now) and explore the city a tiny bit. Can't wait to go back.
With this year's 4th (and final...sniff...sniff) annual Favorite Things Party coming up this Saturday, I have been thinking about what I want to share with my Iowa girls this weekend. While none of these faves seem appropriate for the party, I wanted to share the love with the blogging world just the same.
Insect Lore
This Easter my kids received a butterfly garden in their basket. We are currently harvesting baby caterpillars that get bigger and bigger each day. In the next couple of weeks we will get to watch the caterpillars grow, build their cocoons, and eventually hatch into 5 different Painted Lady butterflies. They love watching them and can't wait to transfer them to their mesh butterfly garden in the next week or so. Here is the link to their website, but I bought mine at Amazon for less than $15. A great educational experience for a small price.
Greek Style Feta Dressing
Since my beloved Bleu Cheese Vinaigrette is nowhere to be found here in Iowa, Trader Joe's Feta dressing has taken it's place. My dear friend, Laura, introduced me to it's goodness and now I can't get enough. It seriously makes for an amazing salad. And it's only $1.99 a bottle.
Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies
Also from Trader Joe's (can you tell I really like that place?), Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies are such a fun snack for my kids. All of the cookies are shaped like letters and numbers, and Ike and Maddie love it when I make small words for them to sound out. Davis is a pretty big fan as well. My friend Hilery was the one who helped me discover these, and now they are a special treat around here, and they are only $2.49 a tub (who knew Trader Joe's was so affordable?). The only problem is, they don't stay around very long.
Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons
Speaking of sounding out words, Isaac has been doing a lot of that lately. While I'd like to think it's because he's a super-genius (he totally IS), I owe it more to the design of this great book. Some of my teacher-friends told me about it years ago, so when Ike started showing interest in reading a little while back, I purchased the book (less than $13 on Amazon), and we are currently on lesson 40. Each lesson takes around 10 minutes and he loves it. It is his "school time." I know he would learn to read in kindergarten, but the educator in me wanted to be the one to have the experience of teaching him myself. So if you have a pre-reader who is showing interest, I highly recommend this book. And four years old seems to be the perfect age. I haven't tried it with Maddie and probably won't for another year.
Here is a little video of the Ikester reading the story from lesson #39. This was his first reading of the story.
Could you just see the pride in that little boy's eyes?
