Just a Blurb...

Hi everyone!  This week is a super busy one.  The oldest 4 of my kids have VBS, and I've been helping with the snacks.  I haven't had time to create or finish any of my drafted posts.

Question:  Who is your all time favorite author to read?  Mine is Jane Austen.  I have 4 different movie versions of Pride & Prejudice!!!  I am slightly obsessed with her, at the moment. 

Why we Chose our Children's Names

We have been told so many times how unique and beautiful our children's names are.  So, I thought I'd share their meanings and why we chose them.  We believe names are very important, which is why we take forever in choosing them. Some of the meanings may sound strange, but that is because we chose a family name, regardless of it's meaning.

 

Fionna Grace

Fiona is Gaelic in origin and means "Fair."  I added another "n" in there because I liked the way it looked.  Grace is very common and means "charm."  So Fionna Grace is fair and charming.

Tiernan James

Tiernan is Gaelic in origin and means "Little Lord."  James was the name of both of my grandfathers, and means, "He who Supplants." So, Tiernan James is a little lord who supplants.

Kayson Frederick

Kayson is an Americanization of "Jason,"  which means "healing, healer."  Frederick was my husband's grandfather's name, and means "peaceful ruler."  So Kayson Frederick is a healing, peaceful ruler.

Liam Martel

Liam is Gaelic in origin and means "Strong-willed warrior."  Charles Martel, or Charles the Hammer, was an ancestor of my husband's and also his historical hero who defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours in AD 732.  So Liam Martel is a strong-willed warrior with a hammer. (which totally describes him.)

Ronan Augustine

Ronan is Gaelic in origin and means "Little Seal."  Augustine, or St. Augustine of Hippo, was a great preacher in the early church.  My husband wanted to name his son after a great man of faith.  Augustine means "great, magnificent."  So Ronan Augustine is a great, magnificent, little seal.

Winry Rose

Winry is Welsh in origin, and means "Beautiful."  We first heard this name on a Japanese Anime called Fullmetal Alchemist:  Brotherhood.  Rose, short for RoseMary, was my grandmother's name.  She passed away 6 months before our daughter was born.  So Winry Rose is a beautiful rose.

So, there you have it!  Do you, your spouse, or your children have unique names?  Please share the meanings or stories behind them in the comments below! 

Getting Real and Raw

I had a meltdown this afternoon. A nasty, ugly thing that resulted in me clearing off my cluttered, messy counter onto the floor while I wiped large tears of self-pity off of my cheeks.  (Stupid, I know...made another big mess to clean up).  I was done.  I was totally done. I didn't want to be a mom anymore.  I was done with the whining, the disobedience, the messes, the destruction...all of it. 

I had taken them all to the park this morning.  It had a wading pool, and for the hour we were there before eating they all were begging me to go in the pool...non-stop.  I kept my cool, and we ate lunch.  Then we went to the pool, and were there for about an hour.  Everyone pretty much had left (it's a mom's group/playdate thing at church), so I told them to get out and get ready to go.  Needless to say, they weren't happy, and L decided he would protest loudly and angrily.  *sigh*  Amidst the protests and R dipping in the pool twice more...we made it to the van.  They all then decided to protest, and beg, and demand to get burgers.  I was slowly letting my annoyance show.  I stopped at Walmart on the way home for some things, discovered I had left my list at home, and got other things anyway.  All they could do was complain and whine, and Mama wasn't having it.  So I sent them upstairs to take naps.  (Which they didn't do, btw.  Just in case you wondered if they were nap angels...)  They were whining and playing around banging on things (and Daddy was sleeping so that's a no-no.)  So I lost it. 

I gave in to my selfish desire to not be a mom.  I gave in to the desire for no responsibilities.  I gave my frustrations a voice, an out.  And it was so ugly.  I woke my husband up with my yelling.  I made the kids stay upstairs while I cleaned up my mess downstairs.  I could have let them outside, but my selfish self didn't want to deal with wet, mud-covered children as I knew they would make a mud pool and get dirty. 

Thank the Lord for my husband.  He has the ability to talk sense into me.  (I suppose that's why God put us together.)  He came down and I spilled my woes to him amid angry exclamations and tears.  He showed me how selfish I was acting.  He revealed to me that I was throwing a fit;  the very thing I was frustrated at the kids for doing!  I was hesitant to admit my wrong, of course.  But I repented, and we finished the day with Spaghetti & Meatballs while watching the new Paddington movie (which was extremely delightful). 

When you're feeling overwhelmed, defeated, raw, or just done with motherhood...remember:  you are most certainly NOT alone!  Every mother, at some point, feels the same way. You repent, you pick yourself up, and you keep going.  Motherhood is the most wonderful job on earth, it really is!  So, grab your little ones, hold them close and kiss their precious, little faces. 

Trim Healthy Mama Reviews

I hope everyone had an amazing Independence Day!!

I am going to be trying out the recipes in the cookbook that are more obscure.  Recipes with no picture, or ones you don't hear about alot on the boards.  Stay tuned for my Trim Healthy Mama review posts!

My Top 10 Websites for Moms

I love the Internet!  I love the fact that you can share and find all kinds of amazing knowledge and helpful hints!  Here is a list of my Top 10 favorite websites for moms. (I've linked each site to their name, so if you click on the titles, you'll go directly to the websites.)

1.  Zulily

I cannot say enough about Zulily!!  It is incredible!  A website dedicated to bringing you sales on a range of categories such as Women, Women Plus, Kids, Babies, Shoes, Men, Home, and much more!  Most of the products are on sale for over 50%.  Anything you can think of gets featured on Zulily!  I check it out at least 2 times a week.  I've gotten dresses, shoes, cloth diapers, nursing bras, and a few other items from Zulily. 

2.  Amazon

Do I even have to describe Amazon?  Everyone know Amazon is amazing!!  You can literally find anything on here.  I love Amazon Prime, because who doesn't like free, 2-day shipping??  And, I like their other Prime benefits...Prime Music, Prime Video, Prime Pantry, and Prime Photos; to name a few.  I have been a Prime Member for 6 years now, and let me assure you;  the $99 per year Prime fee totally pays for itself! 

3.  Diapers.com

I love this site!  There are more than 5 other sister sites such as wag.com, bookworm.com, look.com, vine.com, soap.com, beautybar.com, and others.  It is free, and you can get free shipping if you reach a certain amount spent.  It has everything you'd ever imagined for moms to ever need.  I have also purchased from the sister sites. 

4. Etsy

This site is wonderful for finding unique items for gifts.  If you're crafty like me, you can find all kids of nice patterns to buy.  It's also great if you want to have a small, at-home business.  

5.  YouTube

This site is indispensable for finding all kinds of music, good, old cartoons, and tutorials for just about anything you could possibly imagine.  It's such an amazing resource.  

6.   Pinterest

This site is known as the catalog of the internet.  You can find everything on here.  I have too many boards to count, and my Crochet board alone has over 700 pins!  Great resource for DIY, crafts, decor, and so much more!

7. Jane

This is such a cute website!  It has evolved somewhat since I started perusing it several years ago.  Some things are more expensive than they were before.  This is an awesome site for buying inexpensive jewelry, niche things, decor, and clothing at a discount.  

8.  Ebay

If you want something at a decent price, and don't mind used...this is an incredible resource!  I have gotten a clothing lot of 20 newborn sleepers for $19!  I have also gotten diapers and maternity clothes for great prices. 

9. Netflix
 

This is a good site for movies and documentaries!  I have discovered numerous history and science films as well has preschool videos that I can use for the kids' school.  It's also nice if you don't have a movie, and would like to watch one. 

10.  Ebates

This site is wonderful!  You create an account, and when you want to shop anywhere, log in, and search your store.  There is usually a 5-70% cashback value on virtually every site you can think of.  Walmart, L.L.Bean, Vera Bradley...etc.  You get a statement at the end of the month.  You then cash out, and get a check sent to you in the mail.  It is such a good site if you shop online alot.  Who doesn't want cashback??

So, there you go.  10 amazing websites for moms that can help you save money or have a great resource at your fingertips. 

Planning a Trim Healthy Mama 4th of July

The 4th of July is fast approaching, and I've compiled a list of some great dishes you can make to help you stay on plan through the holiday!  ***Recipes are from the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook unless otherwise noted.***

Appetizers:

Cheese and Nut platter
Roasted Chick Peas
Sweet Potato Fries
Green Fries
Deviled Eggs

Main Dishes:

Wipe-Your-Mouth BBQ
Slim Sloppy Joes
Taco Time
Zucchini Canoes
Cheeseburger Pie
Sausage Balls
Bangin' Ranch Drums
Jalapeño Onion Burgers
Grilled Cheesy Bacon Chicken from Joy Filled Eats
So Simple Fuel Pull Sloppy Joes from Pray Eat Love Read Create Save

Side Dishes:

Waldorf Cottage Cheese Salad
Not Naughty Mac 'N Cheese
Sweet Creamy Coleslaw
Cauli "Potato" Salad
Bacon Ranch Cheddar Broccoli Salad from Joy Filled Eats
Berry Ambrosia Salad from Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen
All American Pudding from Pray Eat Love Read Create Save
No Bake Berry Cheesecake Pudding from Nana's Little Kitchen


Dips/Sauces/Condiments:

Cilantro Lime Pesto, Dip, Dressing, and Mayo from Joy Filled Eats
Ranch Yogurt Marinade from Joy Filled Eats
Zesty Tomato Vinagrette from Nana's Little Kitchen
Salted Caramel Whipped Topping from Chrissy Benoit In Love
Sweet Southern BBQ Sauce from Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen
BLT Dip from Joy Filled Eats

Desserts:

Wedding Cheesecake
Trimtastic Zucchini Cake
Key Lime Pie
Fruity Summer Delight from Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen
Sugar Free Strawberry Pie from A Home with Purpose
Rockin' Roll Cake from A Home with Purpose
Lemon Sunshine Poppy Cheesecake from Pray Eat Love Read Create Save
Choco Butter Bars from Wonderfully Made and Dearly Loved
Coconut Cream Pie from Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen

Drinks:

Sugar-Free Lemonade
Sweet 'N' Slender Iced Tea
Lemon-Lime Trim Pop
Root Beer Float
Apple Pie Sip

I hope you have a Fantastic, Patriotic, Fireworks-filled 4th of July!!  My family usually has a BBQ and then, since my kids are small, we watch the 4th of July celebration on NBC.  I cannot wait until my kids are old enough to go to the fireworks!!  (Also, it gets dark really late so they are usually in bed.)

*Here are the links to all of the lovely blogs I have linked in this post!  Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen, Pray Eat Love Read Create Save, Nana's Little Kitchen, A Home with a Purpose, Chrissy Benoit in Love, Joy Filled Eats, and Wonderfully Made and Dearly Loved. 

WCW: Women of Faith Series #2

Today we are going to be learning about Idelette Calvin, wife of reformer John Calvin.

Idelette married Calvin after becoming a widow. He asked friends to find him a wife who was, "chaste, obliging, not fastidious, economical, patient, and careful for (his) health".  She bore a son and a few daughters but they all died in infancy.  She was instrumental in tending to his many illnesses so that he could further his reforming work in the church.  She tended the sick and welcomed those running for their lives because of their faith into her home.  She survived the Plague, but died after enduring a long illness in 1549.  She praised her Lord and Savior on her deathbed.  She said,"O God of Abraham, and of all our fathers, in thee have the faithful trusted during so many past ages, and none of them have trusted in vain. I also will hope".

*Quotes come from this website:  Christian Classics Ethereal Library