Quick Takes #186: Swimming fun, NFP, and lots of mint!

1. Life recently was super hot and then it wasn't or more accurately the humidity took a dive!! What a relief; cue many an afternoon of backyard water play in the paddling pool, water table and slip&slide. This has also allowed for a bit more reading time for me! 
2. Our local Y divides swimming lessons into two sessions and we have just started the second. I'm going to need to keep my expectations under control cause they all did great during their first 6 lessons. Lisbeth now routinely puts her face in the water and has even jumped off the diving blocks both things she absolutely refused to do at the beginning of June. Liam has gone from being afraid to swim without anyone holding him to reveling in it; I'm seriously considering 'forgetting' his vest for our Maine trip and seeing how he does with just arm floats. Lastly I'm having such fun splashing around with Caitie; she is not at all afraid of the water and really enjoys kicking and paddling around.
3. Rosie of A blog for my mom is on a mission to reach the milestone of 500 'likes' for her Facebook page without FB help. In return for which she will model many a romper for us. So if you are on FB and are not already enjoying her wonderful writing and her kids antics ~ please consider.
4. And on a much smaller scale if I get my little ole page to 100 likes will model a jumpsuit of mine from back in the day aka 20 years ago that has survived every closet purge, and be depicted for posterity.
5. NFP week ~ I never know what to write ~ luckily these lovely ladies do; please pay a visit to Kathryn's and Haley's for this and this.
6. Free space to rest after your click trip :)
7. Last year as a housewarming gift we were given a mint plant which I planted and now we have a LOT of mint ~ any suggestions what to do with it?

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's!

31 days to write and read.

Happy October!

Happy Feast of the Guardian Angels!!

   The last two years I have joined the challenge hosted by the nester to write for 31 days during October and really enjoyed it both times. This year however I have other goals for the month like Finally getting a certain house on the market and making real progress on a certain 4!! year old's baby book.

But I did want to share a couple links for those who want to write and read along.

The main site

Jenny at Mama needs Coffee is writing on Church teachings.

Sara of Fumbling Toward Grace is sharing poetry.

Have Fun!!

Five Favorites: Blogger Picks

This segment brought to you by the blog-o-sphere

aka; blogger recommended ~ me approved

1. Trader Joe Chocolate covered Almonds recommended by our lovely hostess Hallie ~ Sweet & a little salty; Delicious!!
2. Mocassin Wedges from Target recommended by Ana of Time Flies ~ Height & comfort; Stylish Perfection!
3. Twice recommended by Grace of Camp Patton ~ High end clothes at budget friendly price; My closet and wallet thank you!
4. Brother Francis products recommended by Karen's Adventures on Mommyland ... ~ A cartoon teaching Catholic doctrine and prayers  that I enjoy watching (or listening to in the car) too; Win!
5. 3 minute retreat by Loyola Press by I honestly cannot remember but has been a wonderful blessing to me ~ because of course the craziest of days are often the ones most helped by a moment of quiet and contemplation.

Sorry no pictures ~ computer acting up

PLease head over the Moxie Wife for more Faves!

What I Wore Sunday Vol. 2

   Another Sunday; another outfit ~ this week I was joined for the first time by Caitlin who seemed to enjoy her first Mass (post-birth).

Details:

Me ~ Pants: Target

         Sweater: Christopher&Banks

         Tank: Target

         Boots: Kohls

Caitlin ~ Sleeper ~ Macy's (I think, was a gift to her big sister)

Please visit Fine Linen and Purple for the rest of this weeks link-up.

Sheenazing, maybe?

   I've been nominated for a Sheenazing Blogger Award sponsored by Bonnie of A Knotted Life, and I love my category Most Unappreciated Blog because I'm not sure I could actually win and still claim to be unappreciated.

While I ponder such questions please head over and vote for some of the many wonderful blogs nominated in the different categories ~ including mine (happy dance, but not since currently a baby is sleeping in a sling I'm wearing)!

New look

I've not really been loving the background template I switch to when Lent ended so this weekend I went exploring in the blogger vault ~ and found this. While brown usually does not fall high on my color preferences I thought that the picture was a great morning image to compliment the blog title.

What do you think?

Celebrating Versatility

Thank everyone for their kind comments; yes the migraine is better and as I don't get them too often will be the last until after September when I can again take medication for them. Another thing making the day even nicer was this lovely award from Maggie of From the Heart, for which I thank her very much.

The rules for this blog award are:

1. Thank the blogger who gave it to you; (see above)
2. List 7 things that people may not know about you;
3. Pass the love to 15 deserving bloggers (gonna have to amend this one...how about 7?);
4. and let them know that you gave them an award.

7 Things about me:

1. Child of an interfaith marriage, I am proudly Catholic and appreciative of the tolerance I learned in the Unitarian Church
2. Did not learn to swim till I was ten because...
3. Had ear tubes placed 4x between the age of 5 and 10
4. Favorite show is The Waltons
5. Wrote one of my college admission essays about Anne of Green Gables
6. Was six months old in my first passport photo (visited family in Belgium)
7. First concert was John Denver (I was five yrs old)

Passing the award to:

Musing of a young mom

Roots and Rings

City wife/Country Life

Momma Molly

Karen in Mommyland

This Heavenly Life

Matching Moonheads

Please check them out, I always enjoy wonderful writing on a wide range of topics when I visit.