Issue #15: Welcome to the new and improved Life Your Way weekly newsletter, where you'll find the latest posts from the blog plus special features to help you live more intentionally and creatively!
Good morning!
This week was a busy one, but hubby and I had plans for a long overdue date night, so Friday afternoon we loaded the girls in the car, drove an hour to my mother-in-law's house to drop off the girls and then headed to a tiny local restaurant for some of their famous cream of crab soup (which is a favorite of ours!). We ended up stuffing ourselves before heading back to enjoy the perfect weather while the girls played outside and then making the drive back home with this gorgeous sunset leading our way!
In today's newsletter, I'm talking a little bit about the "date night myth" and our current favorite lunch dish along with the highlights from this week on Life Your Way. Grab an iced latte and sit for a while!
~Mandi
Updated Home Management Printables + a Special Coupon Code!
We've just finished a major update of our home management notebook printables, and you can now fill them in and save them on your computer. While all of the printables are available FREE on the site, we're also offering a special coupon code off our complete download packs through the 4th of July.
Just one last reminder that Google Reader is shutting down on Monday. If you subscribe to your favorite blogs in Reader, you'll want to come up with an alternative before then because your data is going to all disappear!
Looking to add a little structure to your summer? Be sure to download these fillable to-do checklists for kids to help them stay motivated even during lazy summer days. With two cute designs to choose from, it's a great way to introduce them to the beauty of a to-do list!
I've been pretty vocal about my feelings about weekly date nights in the past, so loyal Life Your Way readers probably won't be surprised by this, but the idea of couples needing a weekly date night has always bugged me.
Don't get me wrong! If weekly date nights work for your family, I'm happy for you -- I think it sounds like a lovely routine, and I don't think there's anything wrong with taking advantage of the opportunity if it's there.
For those of us who are limited by money, time or childcare, though, the pressure to have a weekly date night in order to have a healthy marriage can make us feel like our marriages are doomed to fail, and that's simply not true.
Sean and I have been (mostly) happily married for almost 11 years now, and I think it's safe to say that we've averaged 1-2 date nights a year for most of those years. We've lived in places where we know no one and we've lived in the boonies, and sometimes even the cost of driving "to town" an extra time each week is simply not in our budget.
And while there have been times when we both feel like we need a chance to just reconnect without the distractions of home and kids (like this week!), for the most part we've thrived without a weekly date night.
So what's the key?
Whether you have a regular date night or not, the key is simply to be intentional about connecting. It's making time for conversations about more than diapers and budgets. It's finding a hobby or interest that you can enjoy together. And it's making sure that you have time to share your hopes and dreams and fears without the distraction of little ones climbing all over you.
We do that through things like going to bed together at night, making the most of our drive to and from town by turning up the music for the girls in the back so we can talk in the front, and sharing special desserts while we cuddle and watch TV together after the girls are in bed. It can be done through flirty emails and texts, cooking together or taking an evening walk as a family while the kids run ahead.
There are a million ways to be intentional about your relationship -- date nights being just one -- and the key is finding the ones that work best for your family!
What Is a Classical Christian Education?
I've been talking a lot about our homeschooling plans and what homeschooling looks like for our family over the past month or so, and this week I decided to dive a little deeper into our philosophy of education -- including the definition of a classical Christian education and why it's the educational philosophy that resonates with our family.
My sister was shocked when she realized we no longer have a microwave…and that we chose to get rid of it and aren’t planning on replacing it!
“But…why?!”
Although I’ve read a fair amount about the dangers of microwaves — and at times have wondered if the very aggressive cancer that took my grandmother suddenly three-and-a-half years ago might have been related to the fact that she cooked almost 100% of her food in the microwave for at least a decade — it was really wanting the extra space back in my laundry room that led to our decision to get rid of it..
My favorite lunch these days is a big ol' baked sweet potato slathered in butter or ghee and sprinkled with lots and lots of cinnamon:
To make, preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Scrub your sweet potatoes and pierce them multiple times with a fork. Bake for 45-60 minutes (depending on the size of your potato). When they're tender all the way through, cut them in half and slather them with butter or ghee and cinnamon and enjoy every bite!
My girls love these as well, and I often add a small side salad or a grilled chicken breast on the side for a quick and easy lunch.
It’s Time for July’s Photo Hunt {For the Whole Family!}
We're hosting a photo hunt for the whole family this summer! Click here for a handy printable checklist and more details about how Krystal is doing the hunt with her kids.
The Sweet and Savory Sides of Quinoa
Quinoa (keen-wah) is a gluten-free superfood that's become a popular addition to the dinner table, and this week Amy shared how she incorporates this nutrient-packed seed into a variety of meals with both sweet and savory dishes.
Instagram has been full of pictures of families dining al fresco over the past month, and Lisa has some great ideas for dressing up your outdoor dining area, whether for your family or to entertain guests!
Buying Used: How to Fill Your Home with Secondhand Stuff
Buying used is a great way to lessen the environmental impact of new purchases and save money, and this week Emily shared her strategies and favorite sources for secondhand shopping this week, including Craigslist and Facebook groups.
