Last month was filled with games, books, snow forts, sledding, and celebrating Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl, and TwosDay. Oh, and I purchased seeds for our garden!!
Nora and I enjoyed a mother-daughter ice-skating party and the boys enjoyed their first flag football camp. Simon turns 8 later this week, and Clara is working really hard to stop sucking her thumb (she fell asleep with her hands between her legs the other day).
Seemingly all of our friends and family members traveled to warmer climates for various vacations over the past month… Dave and I just keep reminding ourselves that although his school schedule allows very little time off in the winter, we get to enjoy the entire summer at home (which is one of my favorite things!)
I’m sharing a few more favorites below!
FAVORITE MOMENT = Crimpy Braid Hair
From a very young age, Nora was “blessed” with Dave and my course, thick, wavy hair with lots of body. Of course, she complains about how “poofy” and “frizzy” her hair is, but I continually remind her how difficult it is to do Clara’s hair, compared with her own hair.
Miss Clara has the silkiest, smoothest, bone-straight hair that doesn’t hold a curl (or most hair clips) for more than an hour… and wouldn’t you know that she regularly asks for “curly hair”!
So every few days, I braid Clara’s hair after her evening shower so she can have “curly hair” the next morning. The braided-over-night method actually holds for most of the day.
RELATED READING: Our Favorite Little Girl Hair Styles
FAVORITE ROUTINE = Scrubbing the Sink
I know, this is lame — but I really, really love a nice clean kitchen sink!
I’ve read that kitchen sinks are one of the germiest places in the home (often worse than bathrooms!) and since our kitchen sink gets lots of use every day, I figure I should scrub it regularly.
The whole process only takes a few minutes at night (usually as I’m cleaning up the last meal of the day), and then it’s bright sparkly white when I wake up every morning.
For years and years, I’ve used Soft Scrub to clean my porcelain sinks — it does such a great job at removing any black scratches or other scuff marks, in addition to cleaning all the general everyday messes.
I’ve had a hard time finding SoftScrub in stores this last year, so I’ve ordered it from Amazon with the handy subscribe and save discount!
RELATED READING: How to Clean a Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
PAST FAVORITE = Book Lamps
I’ve shared our kids’ book lamps before, but I thought this might be a good time to re-share, since they are great for traveling and I know many people are traveling this time of year!
Per our family “tradition” we give our kids their own book lamp when they can read independently — which means they can then read by themselves in bed (a.k.a. stay up a little later).
James finally got his book lamp about a month ago and the boys are THRILLED to be able to read in bed for a bit each night.
The main requirement I have for book lamps is that they are rechargeable (via a charging cord — no batteries) so the Glocusent lamp fits that criteria. I also like having color options so each child can have their own color.
And I wanted something with different brightness levels. I really like that the Glocusent lamp has 3 color modes settings (amber, soft, natural) with 3 different brightness for each setting. The kids use the amber setting at night (no blue light) so it’s not too bright.
Find this lamp on Amazon: The Glocusent Lightweight Light
FAVORITE COSMETIC = Wine Lip Tint
Back in 2012, my sister introduced me to CoverGirl Lip Stain… and I was instantly hooked. I shared my favorite colors on the blog and so many of you messaged me to let me know that you also loved the Lip Stain.
Well, about a year ago, I could no longer find the CG Lip Stain in any local stores or on Amazon (there are still a few on Amazon, but they are $20 or more!) so I started looking for another “lip stain”.
I came across Aliver Lip Stain and ordered the 6-pack the same day. At only $12 for 6 different colors, I figured I couldn’t go wrong! Plus, the sales page said the color would last for 24 hours.
As you can see, the colors are VERY bold, but they can easily be toned down by blotting with a tissue after application.
And I can testify that the color really does last many many hours (I’ve never tried to keep it on for 24 though).
I don’t like “dry” lips, so I always apply Vaseline or another lip balm/gloss over the lip stain. I can reapply lip balm and Vaseline throughout the day without affecting the color of the stain.
Oh, and aren’t the little tiny wine bottles so stinkin’ cute!?
I don’t even like wine but the marketing effort behind these bottles is fantastic. They would be such a cute stocking stuffer, teacher appreciation gift, bridal party favor, or just a fun treat for coworkers or girlfriends.
Give it a try: Aliver Wine Lip Tint
FAVORITE BOOK = The Red Tent
My reading has been quite eclectic lately — everything from “Dutch Made Nice & Easy” and “Domestic Monastery” to “The Flirtation Experiment” and “Fast. Feast. Repeat.“
But if I had to pick a favorite for the month, I’d go with “The Red Tent“.
It’s a novel, based on the life and story of Dinah, Jacob’s only named daughter (her story is found in Genesis 30 – 46).
Of course, it’s just an interpretation of what her life might have been like, but it was such a great storyline… definitely one of those books you don’t want to put down!
READ THE BOOK: (it’s currently FREE for Kindle Unlimited)
FAVORITE MEDIA = Abide With Me
I recently came across Audrey Assad’s version of Abide With Me (one of my favorite hymns).
Her voice is angelic — enjoy!
Dave and I have also tried to catch up on our Netflix / Amazon Prime videos over the last few weekends. We recently enjoyed Hilbilly Elergy, The Laundromat, and Hidden Figures (all based on true stories).
FAVORITE HABBIT = Writing Thank-You Notes
I’ve always been fairly good at sending thank-yous — not just for gifts, but for everyday things like participation in a church service, going the extra mile to help my kid out at school, doing something extra nice, etc.
Often it’s an email, a special treat, or a quick text message, but I do still enjoy writing out cards as well.
I really want my kids to value handwritten thank-you notes too. However, I don’t want thankfulness to feel like a burden for them.
I’ve tried to come up with ways to make thank-you notes easier and more fun… and these super cute thank-you postcards are some of my favorites (we’re using them for Simon’s birthday party this weekend as Simon loves sugary snacks!)
The postcards make it easy for the kids to simply fill out a few blanks, add stickers, and send them out to their friends/family members. Also, what kid (or grandparent) wouldn’t love getting these in the mail?
If your children are more inclined to write their own message (like Nora), I’d recommend these colorful blank Thank -You Cards (with envelopes and stickers).
RELATED READING: Taking Time to Say Thanks
FAVORITE RECIPE = Chicken and Rice Stew
I first made my version of Chicken and Wild Rice Stew just over 6 years ago (I remember because we had relatives over to see James for the first time!)
Since then, I’ve tweaked and changed things based on what ingredients I have in the house — but I always keep Minnesota-grown wild rice on hand in case I feel like whipping up some of our family’s favorite “chicken stew”.
I freeze my homemade bread crusts to use for the bread topping… and my kids eat ALL the veggies (even mushrooms) without too much complaining! That’s a win for sure.
Try the Recipe: Chicken and Wild Rice Stew.
FAVORITE ARCHIVED POST = No-Sew Sweatshirt Updates
Just this week at breakfast, I took off my sweatshirt and used a seam-ripper to remove the front pocket. The kids watched as I, once again, altered some of my clothing in a spur-of-the-moment idea!
They probably think I’m nuts, but I’m OK with that. I love finding second-hand clothing and altering it to fit my personal style preferences.
If you want to try updating your sweatshirts (no sewing required) I have a few ideas for you. It could be a fun wintertime project to do with your kids!
Get the tutorials here.
That’s it for me this month.
If you’re interested, you can scroll through ALL my Favorite Things posts HERE!
Kim says
I love getting caught up on your post. In one of your photo’s of the kitchen sink there is an arrangement of flower’s in an elevated glass container. Beautiful!!! Where did you get the container?
Andrea says
Hi Kim!
Glad you could get caught up 🙂 The big glass “vase” is actually a water/lemonade pitcher (I just have the spout facing the wall). Here’s a link to something similar on Amazon.
Jenny says
I’ll comment on the wild rice recipe. It sounds so good! It says, though, that you have to stir the wild rice constantly or use a rice cooker. My friend is half Native American (from Wisconsin/Minnesota) and her Mom actually grew up harvesting wild rice from canoes! They ate it for or with most meals, so to me, are experts, and they don’t stir except at the beginning and end of cooking. It does take a long time, and it’s also important not to overcook it. It’ll still be edible but kinda of soggy. They make a dish similar to this but with cooked sausage or ground beef, and it’s really good. I like how you can get all of those vegetables in, and it looks pretty!
Andrea says
Cool story about your friend harvesting rice from canoes!
I wonder if they use more liquid? Or just aren’t in as much of a hurry as I am — LOL!
Every time I cook this rice, I feel like it will start to stick to the bottom of the pan if I’m not stirring regularly — so I guess “constantly” might not be the right word — but “regularly”. Or maybe use more liquid and drain if necessary??
Rachel says
Chiming in as a “baby-fine, straight as a board” hair person 🙂 1. When she is old enough – Hot Sticks worked amazingly well in my hair. (They are rubber coated springs hot rollers). I’ve seen them in stores around Christmas time years passed. 2. After braiding her hair, wrap the ends in a pink foam curler (from our parents age) or I’ve even made curlers out of toilet paper/paper towels and bobby pinned them in. If you curl the ends of the braid – you get beautiful waves with curl on the end. Other options I have tried 1. using pink sponge rollers when hair was wet and letting it dry. 2. My mom would twirl my hair around her fingers close to my head and pin with bobby pins. 3. Rag curls – rolling hair around strips of fabric and then tying the ends of the fabric to hold in plaice.
Andrea says
Thanks Rachel 🙂
Debbie says
I will definitely try that lip stain. Most lip stains dry my lips, some lip balms do too by the following day. The only lip product that I’ve found that keeps my lips moisturized and protected as well as having staying power is LipSense. This will be a game changer if this works as well.
One of recent favorites is dates, as in medjool dates. One or two in the evening after dinner keeps my sweet tooth satisfied. I split it in half, toss the pit, and put peanut butter inside. It’s my go to dessert.
Andrea says
Hi Debbie, in full disclosure, I do feel like the lip stain is “drying” for my lips — which is why I mentioned putting Vaseline or lip gloss overtop. I’m a huge Vaseline person, so I apply and re-apply it throughout the day (because I hate the feeling of dry lips). That said, in my experience, this lip stain stays on even with many applications of Vaseline throughout the day!
Debbie says
That’s perfect. As long as the stain stays put, I’m okay applying some kind of hydrating balm on my lips. The LipSense product also requires their gloss to apply on top of the color. They work great together but price is on the high end so I’m willing to try this one.
JJ says
Debbie, I’ve been wanting to try medjool dates. What brand and store do you get yours from? Thanks so much!
Debbie says
I get them from Costco, in the fruit area. It’s in a rectangle plastic container and it should say Organic Fresh Medjool Dates. The current brand I have is Natural Delights but we get whatever brand that’s available at the time at Costco.
JJ says
Thank you so much!
Nancy says
Lots of good things in this post! The are’s Tent has been on my list to read so I’m glad to have a nudge to follow through. I read and appreciated the book you recommended in an earlier post, Things We Couldn’t Say. In return, I can recommend another amazing and related book: The Choice by Edith Eger. The audio recording was especially well-done.
Andrea says
you’ll like the book, I’m sure of it. Thanks for your recommendation — I’ll add it to my list!
Erin says
The Red Tent has been one of my favorite books for many years. There is also a made-for-TV movie, which you can find on some streaming services! Both are so good and such a great glimpse into the culture and lives of women in Biblical times. These kinds of stories are missing in our history so often, so it’s nice to read about women like us!
Andrea says
Yes, I just rented the DVD from the library and it came in today! It’s 3 hours — wow!
Bonnie'sMama says
Andrea, you might enjoy this song as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNCj2KW-JFk
I listened to it often in the spring of 2020.
Andrea says
Thanks! Lovely 🙂
Barbara Breisch says
Do you have an electric can opener, and if so, where do you keep it when not in use? Ours stays on the counter top but I hate the looks of it always sitting there.
Andrea says
I don’t have an electric one (mainly b/c I didn’t want it sitting out!) We just have a manual one that we keep in a drawer. I’d say get rid of the electric one and give your arms a little workout 🙂
Paula says
How did you enjoy Fast, Feast, Repeat?
I’m about to start my 3rd year of fasting. Curious about your thoughts on the book.
Andrea says
The book was OK — sort of long and wordy in my opinion. I’m just interested in the idea (not necessarily doing it in my own life) so I would have liked something sorter for my purposes. However, I suppose if you were really hard-core into this concept, all the information would be useful!
ShellyL says
I really like Hillbilly Elegy and Hidden Figures. I love that they are based on true stories of people overcoming adversity. I have not seen The Laundromat but I think I’ll give it a try based on your recommendation. Nice to hear from you, Andrea!
Andrea says
For what it’s worth, The Laundromat (the one with Meryle Streep) was my least favorite of the 3. It was very interesting and informative, but there were some weird parts that I felt didn’t really add to the overall film. But definitely eye-opening to see a bit about how money laundering is more prevalent in our everyday lives than we realize.
Carol L Triebel says
The Red Tent is also available as a movie if anyone doesn’t have time to read the book. It’s very well done with some well-known actors and actresses. Definitely worth checking out!
Andrea says
I JUST got the DVD from the library this week — can’t wait to watch it this weekend!
Carol L Triebel says
My library DVD of the movie had it in two parts. Very helpful if time is limited to watch it all at once.
Jen says
“The Red Tent” is one of my favorites too! I was in GR for two weeks in early February helping my sister recover from back surgery. I was all over the place doing errands and running her kids to various things and kept hoping I’d run into you. Maybe someday! 🙂 I will say I forgot how cold and gray and dirty Michigan is in February. While I was there, my husband was enjoying 70 and sunny here in Charlotte. Happy March to the Dekkers!
Andrea says
oh my goodness — I’ve told you that you NEED to tell me when you’re going to be in town. I rarely get to the city of Grand Rapids (especially not in the winter) so unless you’re at my church, my kids’ school, our little library, or the Aldi I go to, there’s a very little chance you would “run into me”. Next time, let me know!
And yes, Michigan is very cold and gray. I don’t really notice it until we have a supper sunny day and then I realize how much I miss the sun!
Ann says
What shade do you prefer of the lip stain?
Andrea says
well, you know I love a good bright pink when it comes to my wardrobe… and I actually really like the blush pink (although I would say it’s BRIGHT pink, not blush pink). I blot it well with tissue and it’s much more “wearable” for everyday purposes!
Ann says
I love “The Red Tent” but it is definitely R or X rated!
Tammy says
Those boys are looking like mini teenagers! :):):)
Andrea says
yes — I agree! except they are both fairly short 🙂