We’re in the home stretch.
Running club is finished for Nora, we have 2 weeks of piano left, and as of tonight, all our church commitments are finished for the semester.
Just a few weeks of school left and then it’s officially summer break!
Our calendar is surprisingly empty and I truthfully haven’t even made a to-do list yet this week.
I’ve got lots of favorites to share again this month — a few of which would be excellent clutter-free Mother’s Day ideas!
FAVORITE MOMENT = Starting to Spell
One of my most favorite moments is around age 5, when our kids start sounding out words and trying to spell them — or even just writing words they see.
Clara is right in the thick of that stage and loves playing Jr. Boggle to practice spelling 3 and 4-letter words, as well as copying words she finds in magazines and books.
This colorful drawing is one of her recent creations and I love it so much! It’s definitely going in her 5-year-old photo book!
Sigh… another “last first” as my last child learns how to read and write.
So stinkin’ cute how she spelled “flower” backwards. 🥰
FAVORITE ROUTINE = Teacher Appreciation Week
It’s next week, friends!
Are you ready for Teacher / Staff Appreciation Week?
The Dekker family is busy getting ready, so I’m reminding you that your teachers, school staff, bus drivers, coaches, etc. would love it if you showed a little extra appreciation for everything they do for your kiddos!
As a teacher’s daughter, a teacher’s wife, and a mom of 4 school-age children, I can tell you that even a short encouraging note or email can go a long way in brightening their day — especially this time of year when the kids start getting antsy and everyone is ready to be DONE with school.
There has been a bit of confusion this year as Teacher Appreciation Week is traditionally the “first full week in May”.
Apparently, some schools determined that to be May 1-5, but it seems most schools (and Google) decided that the official Teacher Appreciation Week is next week, May 8-12.
So you still have time!
Do a quick search on Pinterest and you’ll come up with dozens of simple, frugal ideas for your teachers and school staff.
RELATED READING: Our Favorite Clutter-Free Teacher Gifts
PAST FAVORITE = Portable Fire Pit
We purchased this portable firepit on Facebook Marketplace 3 years ago — and we’ve gotten SO much use and enjoyment from it.
NOTE: we usually never let the fire get this big — but I had to show the kids how big of a fire I could make! Also, the fire pit comes with a lid.
I realize it’s not as fancy as a built-in firepit, but the portability is what we love most.
We can move it to the driveway, move it to the back patio, over to the neighbor’s house, etc. And when we’re finished using it, we just tuck it behind our outbuilding so it’s out of the way.
This past weekend, a handful of neighbor boys were in our yard when I started up a fire to burn ALL the sticks and twigs that fell over the winter (we hang onto larger branches and logs for our own bonfires).
We first enjoyed a few s’mores, and then the boys spent the next 2 hours tossing small handfuls of sticks into the fire until our massive pile was completely gone.
They said it was the “best day ever” and then all asked their parents for more sticks so we can have another fire! 😂
There are dozens of options for portable firepits — many of which look a lot nicer/fancier than ours. However, keep in mind that wheels make the portability MUCH easier!
RELATED READING: A look at our backyard entertaining space.
FAVORITE COSMETIC = Lash Princess Mascara
I don’t wear much makeup other than mascara, and I usually don’t care about brands — I just buy the cheapest.
About a year ago, a friend persuaded me to try Lash Princess Mascara when there was a great deal on Amazon — apparently, it makes your lashes look super long (yeah, I’ve heard that one before).
Well, much to my surprise, it really did make my lashes look much longer than any other mascara I’ve used in the past… and it was cheap!
I purchased the 3-pack and used it for about a year… until I recently ran out.
Without thinking, I purchased a basic CoverGirl mascara from the store.
I immediately realized how much I preferred the Lash Princess Mascara and promptly ordered another 3-pack (it’s currently less than $15 for 3 large tubes).
I have short, blond, bone-straight lashes… so if this mascara can help me, I’m certain it can help you too!
FAVORITE BOOK = The Better Mom Devotional
The Better Mom devotional was another thrift store find a few years ago and I keep coming back to it throughout the years.
Not only is the book gorgeous, but the tagline gets me every time “Shaping our hearts as we shape our homes”.
It’s extremely well-written and always seems to speak to me right where I’m at each day.
Hint: It would be a wonderful Mother’s Day gift for a new or seasoned mother!
After picking up the book, I researched the author and was pleased to find out that Ruth is a fellow Michigander and blogging mother of 4 — so, of course, I now like her book even more!
One other thing I really appreciate about this devotional is that the days aren’t numbered — so if I miss a day (or 5) I don’t feel like I’m behind or need to “catch up”. I just start up right where I left off — no guilt!
GET THE BOOK: The Better Mom Devotional
FAVORITE HOBBY = Knitting
I haven’t done much knitting in over a year, but I’m taking it back up again… simply to make more dishcloths.
If you’d like to try knitting, dishcloths are definitely the thing to start with. They are extremely simple, and very forgiving (b/c it doesn’t really matter if your dishcloth has a few dropped stitches!)
Here’s an easy dishcloth knitting tutorial — the same pattern I use.
And this is the Sugar and Cream yarn I use for dishcloths.
Knitting is a great car activity (when you’re not driving) because it doesn’t require focus like when you read, so even if you have motion sickness like I do, you will probably still be able to knit. I actually knit 4 dishcloths on our way down to Tennessee for spring break last month… no motion sickness at all!
Knitting is also a great activity to do while watching a movie or listening to a podcast or audiobook.
And as an added bonus, the finished dishcloths are so functional and could be great Mother’s Day gifts (paired with fun dish soap or our favorite Bend Soap).
And speaking of Bend Soap and Mother’s Day gifts, you can currently get 20% off Bend Soap Mother’s Day baskets — all of which are super cute and clutter-free!
The discount will automatically apply, so no need to worry about coupon codes!
FAVORITE MEDIA = The Pour Over
I’ve shared about this before — but The Pour Over is such a great source of (free) weekly world news from a Christ-centered perspective.
It’s still the same news stories you see on TV, but with a totally different, more positive perspective that helps you think in terms of eternity, not just today.
The Pour Over recently came out with news for families — called decaf 🙂
If you tire of the negative spin on news, I’m confident you will love The Pour Over!
FAVORITE RECIPE = Meat Marinades
We broke out the grill a few times last month already, but May is when we really start to utilize our outdoor spaces, including the grill and outdoor eating areas.
If your family enjoys a good chunk of grilled meat, here are 3 of my favorite (EASY) Meat Marinades:
- Easy 2-hour Marinade (when you’re short on time)
- Simple Steak Marinade
- Amazing Steak Rub (if you’d rather do a dry marinade)
We’ve been using these all for years and years with rave reviews each time! I hope you enjoy them too.
FAVORITE ARCHIVED POST = Favorite Canning Supplies
Since this is a “Favorite Things” post, I thought it was only fitting to share some of my favorite, most useful canning supplies — ones I’ve been using for years and years, probably passed down from my grandma.
If you’re interested in the world of canning and preserving, my post has a wealth of resources!
Read the full posts here.
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
Liane says
So glad you posted the marinade recipes. And the rub. A recent discovery in our household was we have high inflammation (test by C-reactive protein) so a deep dive into what foods are responsible with help from our functional med doc, we discovered that farmed animals who are fed soy and corn have high levels of pro-inflammatory linoleic acid, an omega-6. But animals that are ruminants like cows and lambs have the ability to break down omega6 in their stomachs. And also that despite using nothing but olive oil and avocado oil it turns out these are contaminated with rancid seed oils (with a few exceptions). So. As a result we’ve eliminated chicken and pork (which we hardly ate anyway) and are eating beef and wild caught seafood. I’ve been alternating beef one night with salmon, cod or shellfish the next and I’m getting a little bored with it! I have followed your lead on increasing fresh fruit and of course that includes bananas, tomatoes and avocados. Lots of berries this time of year. And making organic yogurt in the instant pot. Not that I’d marinate it lol.
J says
Thanks for this list. I got that mascara as a freebie from Ulta and like it. My lashes are getting thinner as I age, but Ulta also has a night-time lash serum that really works well.
Twenty-plus years ago, a patient of mine made me some cotton yarn dishcloths (I don’t even know the difference between knitting and crocheting). I still use them all the time- they’re good for dishes and lots of other things. I think of her when I use them. Your yarn is pretty,
Last thing- the drawing and labels from your little daughter reminded me of some I have from my daughter at about the same age. One had a confusing picture of some people, with the title “I love my hole family”. She didn’t understand that hole and whole were different- she tried to draw us, her family in a hole, to illustrate her point!
Andrea says
I really enjoy your content. Thank you for continuing to share.
Jill says
Wish I could get excited about your newfound favorite mascara. But, I only use organic. Although this company manufactures their products without the use of some bad ingredients, there are plenty ingredients I would not personally use nor recommend. Some included ingredients can be endocrine-disruptors, some ingredients can cause cancer, etc.
Liane says
Very good point! I avoid animal tested as well. I tried a free sample of ilia but it smears badly. I’m a contacts wearer so I don’t was something that dissolves into my eyes if I have an allergic spell from pollen or a sad moment watching a Hallmark movie. My compromise is They’re Real from benefit.
Moira says
I’d be careful about knitting in a moving car. Hit a bump hard enough and those needles can slip and poke or even stab the knitter!
Jean says
Based on your recommendation I subscribe to Pour Over and have recommended it to friends.
I read an article recently about the county politicians/politics in what I believe to be your geographic area and was quite dismayed and disappointed. I wish there was a “local” version of Pour Over so that more people would be informed about local government activities and
policies. It is as important – perhaps more so – than national.
Andrea says
Glad you enjoy the news, Jean!
It would be nice if there were more local news options with this Christ-centered perspective, but I feel that would be quite a big undertaking, so I’ll just enjoy the national news for now 🙂
Emily says
Really enjoyed this post! Would love to check out the news website you mentioned. Have you heard of God’s World News? I haven’t tried their magazines yet but their daily video news is our family’s favorite – World Watch News. It’s our after dinner routine now! They give content warnings if a topic could be an issue for younger viewers.
As for knitting, I’ve also been doing it off and on, but recently got a book I’m really excited about – “Knit, Pray, Share” by Lisa Hennessy (“Over 50 Creative Projects You Can Make to Bless Others”)
Ruth Schwenk and Karen Ehman published a devotional called “Pressing Pause” which is also great.
Andrea says
Thanks Emily!
Yes, the news website is great for me and our family… and yes, we totally love World Watch News. It’s the kids “reward” if they get all ready for school in time. We watch it after everyone is ready for school before they head out for the bus 🙂
Debbie says
Does the mascara come in a waterproof version? My problem is my lashes droop down as soon as I apply mascara. Somehow the waterproof version doesn’t do that, and it also helps with avoiding racoon eyes.
Andrea says
Hi Debbie, yes, the mascara does come in waterproof. I’ve never tried that version, but I’m sure it would be great too!
Nancy says
This might be off the subject, I wanted to tell you about Chad Bird, in case you don’t know about him. He is on a site called 1517.org , tiktock, youtube, facebook. I am not Protestant but I love this guy, I even love his voice now. He is always explaining a better translation of the Hebrew or Greek word used or connecting an Old Testament story to a New Testament story. Such as, the meek really means (very paraphrased) you have a sword, but you don’t use it. It’s so eye-opening. He’s a very thoughtful writer but I love the word breakdowns the best. He’s a scholar that used to be a truck driver so he’s very accessible.
I know your children would really benefit from this, it’s so simple and makes such a huge difference. You want to do everything you can to make the Gospel stick when they grow up.
That flower picture is spectacular, I love 4-5 year old art the best.
Andrea says
cool thanks for sharing this Nancy!
JJ says
Simple things really are the best! Love that story about the kids and the sticks! Clara’s picture is a beautiful work of art! At 5, she has great attention to detail!
I want to try the mascara. I have short, straight lashes, too.
What is the name of the plant you have pictured? It’s beautiful! We are trying to add more plants to our yard. One of my absolute favorites is portulaca.
I put that devotional in my cart! Your Favorites posts are like Christmas morning for me.
As a former classroom teacher, I love all you promote and do for teachers. Some of my favorite gifts I received as a teacher:
Hand written notes(sometimes accompanied by chocolate)
Muffins(one mom would randomly send them in, and it just perked me up)
Gift cards
Books students made(17 Reasons Why We Love You)
Cash(some class moms collected cash for the end of the year). One year I used all that cash to put toward a KitchenAid. 17 years later, it is running strong!
Thoughtful gifts of favorite items! i would randomly say things in class not even realizing the kids took amazing mental notes and would tell their parents specific things I liked. It was very touching to receive those gifts. Sometimes small things like favorite scent of lotion.
One random new favorite thing is washing spice jars in the dishwasher once they run out and clipping herbs from our garden to give to others in the glass spice jars. I simply tie twine around the neck of the jar. It looks fancy, but it’s a simple and inexpensive gift. We gave it to our friends and piano teacher, since she likes to cook. The spice jars make great vases for kids who don’t pick the whole stem off when they pick flowers for you, too.
My favorite thing in the morning is to open the blinds right before sunrise. It is so relaxing to watch the outside world wake up! Sometimes we have seen owls, hawks, bunnies, wild turkeys, and other beautiful things as the sun rises.
Happy May, Andrea!
Andrea says
Love your list — thanks for always sharing many of your favorites!
And yes, teachers want gift cards, cash, and food — we always try to stick with those too 🙂
The flowers I pictured are bleeding hearts — I’m not sure they’d grown down but you, but you can Google it!
Margaret says
I started knitting again after a hiatus of almost 30 years, and it’s wonderful. I mostly make socks for myself and hats (or hat-and-cowl sets) to give away. Both are small and portable, so I can knit in church and in meetings.
With modern no-rinse wool washes, hand washing woolies is a simple as soaking, spinning out in your washer, and air-drying.
And if you’re not already familiar with Ravelry, check it out. Sort of Facebook for knitters. Patterns (if you want them, I make up my own) ways to keep records and photos, and forums to answer questions. People are very nice and super helpful, and I have learned a lot.
Andrea says
Thanks Margaret — I don’t do much on social media these days, but I may have to look up your knitting group if I have questions 🙂
Margaret says
Ravelry is its own thing, not a part of other social media.