Five Finds Friday

I’m new to the world of blogging, but my amazing colleague, Holly Paulette, is helping me out.  She and her friend, Taylor Schumann, host this fun link-up called Five Finds Friday.  They share things they love from around the Internet and I’ve been invited to join the experiment.  Here goes.  I hope you enjoy!

Funny

I have an odd sense of humor.  I do.  I admit it.  But the Star Wars craze is rampant.  In fact, my kids have given everyone in the family a Star Wars name.  I’m “ChewMama”—funny, right?  And, I love bacon (who doesn’t?).  So, yeah, this had me laughing out loud!

Fashionable

I love this!  I saw it before the holidays and think it is a perfect gift for anyone at anytime (myself included-hint, hint).  It takes someone’s handwriting and makes jewelry.  It’s personalized, super special, and WAY less permanent (and less expensive) than a tattoo (which I’ve been known to do!) See some more options here!

Flavorful

As the entire east coast and I welcome Winter Storm Jonas (or as I like to say… The Snowpocalypse of 2016), it seems only appropriate that I share the simplest of recipes for snow cream.  It’s so good and so easy.  I’ve a pot sitting out collecting the fresh falling snow as I type.  Note—I strongly encourage you to put a bowl out to collect the snow so as to avoid anything yellow or brown.

Faithful

I am a huge fan of Elephant Journal and this article resonated this week.

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/01/its-time-to-wake-up-your-spirit-is-calling/

For me, spirituality and faith surround us if we are open to them… and there is no better place than nature and this gorgeous Earth we inhabit to embrace them. In fact, I saw this picture posted by a friend this morning on Facebook (no filters or enhancements) and thought to myself, “yep, God is an artist for sure and we get to enjoy his canvas constantly if we just open our eyes and pay attention.”  Your spirit is calling… can YOU hear it?

Feels

As a mom to three beautiful little girls, this viral photo and affiliated story brought tears to my eyes.  First and foremost, this woman’s courage is absolutely incredible.  Posting any pic of myself comes with self-critique and judgment… but 24 hours post-birth?  Oh hell no.  Erica Andrew’s my hero!  She also piqued my curiosity.  In this body-shaming world, I cannot even begin to fathom what would make any woman feel so brave.  So I read her beautiful story and got weepy.  My pregnancy and birthing days are over.  It is a glorious, beautiful, and all-too-brief time—but that is hindsight talking for me!  I wish I’d captured more photos of my baby belly and post-birth self each and every time.  I wish I had appreciated the remarkable changes (physical, emotional, etc.) I was going through at the time.  The body is a machine capable of feats unknown (childbearing included).  And the creation of life is nothing short of miraculous (that one wasn’t lost on me!).  But, I look at my babies (now 9, 6, and 3 years old) and I realize that time goes much too quickly and the infant/baby phase is so, so short.  Kudos to Erica for not only capturing that moment… but for sharing it with the world!  May we all embrace our bodies—for whatever they look like or have gone through—and realize we’re beautiful just as we are at that very moment!