Many Useful but Unrelated Tidbits

I have a bunch of random things to share with you today...and if you make it to the end, there's a prize. {Well, sort of...it's a discount code...surprise!} I guess now you don't have to read the whole post.

Let's start with this picture of Maren...I have no idea what she is doing, but I included it since it's, well, random.

I love to read. My goal for 2013 is to read 33 books. I'll let you guess why 33, because a woman never tells her age.

My aunt gave me this little prayer book for Christmas several years ago, and I've just recently started using it again. There are a month's worth of simple prayers for morning and evening. My prayer life has been richly flavored by Baillie's words over the past couple of weeks.

I also just finished The Thirteenth Tale, based on a recommendation from a trusted fellow-reader-friend. {Side note...if someone who loves food is a foodie, and a picture you take of yourself is a selfie, what would you call someone who loves books? Just doesn't quite work. Also, if you live in Colorado, you are not eligible to participate in Amazon's affiliate program. Sad. Not that I was planning on getting rich from it or anything, but I love to buy books, so thought I'd give it a go. No go, Colorado address.}

I liked The Thirteenth Tale. It's dark and eerie and has a pretty great, unexpected twist at the end.

Maren learned to change diapers. Almost. It's backwards, but it worked! And...one less diaper for me. Literally, one less. This was her first and last attempt.

I've decided to do some things a little differently in my shop. I've read several books this year, and I've just been generally convicted lately about simple living. I'm pretty terrible at it, but as a family, we're working on getting better. It's so hard not to chase after the next new, better, smarter, more fun or special thing. I like to shop. I like to decorate. I like to cook. I like to read. I like clothes. I like stuff. There, I said it. But, I'm trying not to let all those things consume me or my family's resources. 

The thing is, I also LOVE to give things away. I like giving gifts to my friends and family, I like filling boxes at Christmas for children who might not have much, I like supporting various missionary friends, and I really find great joy in giving and supporting people doing special things. 

All this considered, I started praying a couple months ago about how I might use my Etsy shop to serve, love and help others. I received some great feedback and support from a couple of special friends. {Thanks Hannah and Heather! You should visit their blogs and shops...two very special ladies!} And, what I've decided is that I want to use much of my income from Oh Write to offer support to friends and family who are walking through the adoption process. My goal has never been to get rich from my Etsy shop, but I do really LOVE the idea of using it to help others! 

Effective immediately, 50% {hopefully even more...just need to see how the numbers all pan out!} of my sales will go directly towards helping families who are adopting. I have 2 special friends who will likely be my first recipients. I'm in the process of working out those details...but hopefully I'll get to share about them with you soon. I've always had a hard time promoting my shop for my own benefit, but now I'm thrilled for the opportunity to use my creativity and time to bless others...so go buy something! Ha. But, seriously, it's for a good cause. {wink}

Finally, I've come across a few great posts recently, and maybe you'll be blessed, encouraged, or informed by them, too.

Tsh reminded me to take time for Friends of All Ages. I'm constantly blessed by my friendships with older and younger ladies...how about you?

Is your family broken? Elisa shares the truth that we ALL come from broken families. Such a freeing reminder!

Do you read Edie's blog? I can hardly wait to try some of her October recipe suggestions...and please tell me that we're not the only family NOT eating like this every day?!

These Quinoa, Black Bean and Corn Tacos were delicious. Every single one of us loved them and raved about them...and they're a great meatless option, if that sort of thing matters to you!

And, that about wraps up this post.

Oh, yeah...a prize!!! Use code RANDOMLOVE for 20% at the shop.

How about you? Any random goodness in your life lately?

Books we love...Christmas edition

Several of you have asked for a list of Christmas books we enjoy in our home. I'm happy to share some of our favorites with you. We've started a tradition in our family of giving our children a new Christmas book at the beginning of the holiday season. I've tried to find books that support the message of Christ's birth as the central event to be celebrated.

Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Jane Chapman and Karma Wilson

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones

When Christmas Came by Eileen Spinelli

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

Do you have a favorite Christmas book? Please share...we're always looking for new additions to our collection! Merry Christmas!

November Gift Guide

This month's gift guide is inspired by books. I love to read and this season of cooler weather and longer nights always reignites my desire to curl up with a good book. Enjoy!

{for a baby}

{source}

{for a girl}

{source}

{for a boy}

{source}

{for a lady}

{source}

{for a gentleman}

{source}

{for a friend}

{source}

{for the newlyweds}

{source}

{another gift I just think is really cool!}

{source}

An interview with Maren

A while back I found a fabulous little book for Maren called Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal by Amy K. Apart from being a simply darling book, it's a great way to document changes brought about by each new year in a child's life. There are interview questions for each year, and we captured Maren's interview on video as well. Some of her answers surprised me, some made me laugh, and some made me want to grab her and give her a giant hug. If you've got a couple of minutes to spare, here's a little peek into the world of Maren!

My View

A delightful way to spend an afternoon...


I am enjoying The Handmade Marketplace. I'm trying to learn more about the worlds of blogging and Etsy. Kari Chapin has done a lovely job of compiling a user-friendly guide to selling online. How did you spend your afternoon?

Let's Meet on Monday: The big 3-0 (and a little something for you!)

Giveaway is now closed!

I turned 30 this year. For some this is a traumatic milestone, but not for me. I am anticipating a fabulous fourth decade of life. I love the season of life I am in now. My days are filled with just enough of the unexpected to keep me on my toes, and just enough of the expected to make me feel 'at home'.

In celebration of my 30th birthday, I set a few goals for myself. In the coming year I plan to read 30 books, write letters to 30 influential people in my life, and memorize 30 Bible verses. The reading portion of my little plan has been the easiest. I love to read, and with this goal I have been more intentional about spending time with a good book.

Right now I am behind in my memorization and letter-writing. I have a terrible time with memorizing anything. I typically don't remember much about what I've read, heard, seen...where was I going with this? (*wink*) I wanted to challenge myself because I know it's not going to get any easier to memorize scripture as I get older. To be honest, writing this down now is giving me a boost of motivation to continue on!

As far as the letter-writing goes, I plan to complete a majority of these over the summer. I love to get real pen-and-paper mail. I believe it to be so special partly because it is a seldom-received treat and partly because it takes time and thought to produce such a gesture.

How about you? Are you a goal-setter? Have you had success or do you eventually abandon ship?

I realize this is a new blog, and I am excited to have a few followers already. If you're still reading, THANK YOU! And, how about a little giveaway? Leave a comment for one entry, and become a follower for another entry. (Be sure to tell me in a second comment if you follow!) I'll pick a lucky winner Wednesday morning.

In homage to a little show I like to watch, 'Want to know what you're playing for?' I will send you a little package of goodies from my Etsy store. Good luck!

That explains alot

I grew up in a tidy house. My mom is one who cleans out closets every season, takes monthly trips to Goodwill, and does not have a junk drawer anywhere in the house. I would say a fair amount of her orderliness rubbed off on me. But I do have a junk drawer. Or three. I'm hoping this blog might help me in remedying that situation. We'll see.

Melissa at 320 Sycamore took me on a fabulous little walk down memory lane today by mentioning The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room. I loved that book! Now that I think of it, I wonder if perhaps my mom had an agenda when she brought that book into our house. I know I will have an agenda when I bring it home for my own daughter. Well, Melissa's post made me think of a poem by Shel Silverstein called Messy Room. Do you know the one? It's fabulous. I memorized it in 3rd grade for a speech meet competition. I might ascribe a bit of my current temperament to these two literary masterpieces. What early works were influential in molding you into the person you are today?