Sweet stuff

I've been putting off this semi-regular Sweet Stuff link post. I find they are a lot of work to pull together and I'm not sure how helpful they are for readers. I'm thinking of ways to make linking to blogs both fun for me to write and interesting and relevant for people to read.

If you want to know what I recommend for reading on the net you can see my list of Internet Reads on FIMBY's front page. I update this list daily and I although I know doing things this way is hopelessly out of date, what with smart phones and twitter and everything, I just can't bring myself to join that party.

So this time around instead of linking to particular posts or articles I'm sharing thirteen of FIMBY's favorite blogs (in no particular order).

• which name? -  I've been reading Nicola's blog for about a year and I have enjoyed following her family's journey of creatively living light on less. Getting to know Nicola, in both public and private space has been a pleasure. I love Nicola's truly creative, frugal and eco-friendly perspective.  
• Steady Mom - What can I say, Jamie's my editor at Simple Homeschool so I have to say nice things about her right? But she's not just a great editor she's also a like minded blogging friend. Steady Mom is all about intentional, professional motherhood and that's my gig.
• exhale. return to center. - Erin is a real world community gal. She doesn't just live on her computer, she works on a farm, teaches classes and dances with a rolling pin. And she's not afraid to share the struggles of thoughtful, intentional living. Well maybe she is afraid but she does it with such honesty and I really appreciate that about her.
• Small Notebook - I have been reading Rachel's blog for a long time. I was privileged to guest post there early last year. Rachel's the real deal and it just shines through her words. I love small and I love simple and I just love Small Notebook for a Simple Home (who doesn't?).
• Simple Savvy -  As Christine describes it her blog is about "organizing and going green" but I feel that description doesn't do it justice. Simple Savvy challenges me to think deeper about a more ecological everyday living and she's not a mother (the only non-mommy blogger on this list) and I appreciate that change in viewpoint. 
• Old Recipe for a New Generation - Kyce is currently taking a summer blogging break and I do miss her desert photos and thoughtful writing. Her family went without plastic for 4 months this year and I find that inspiring. They also travel in a old VW van. What's not to love?
• 5 Orange Potatoes - Part homeschooling, part craft, part herbs, part nature study, all good. Lisa blogs about a variety of topics many of which I identify with. I love it especially when she shares her herbal/outdoorsy knowledge.
• Fat Free Vegan Kitchen - My favorite recipe source on the web.  I know there are probably other great food blogs out there but trust me not many for they way our family likes to eat.
• Clean. - A blog about natural family living written by Rachel who, like me, is a soap maker, but unlike me does this for a family livelihood. A couple months ago I had a giveaway of her LuSa Organics Soap. Clean often hosts interesting giveaways for stuff other than wooden baby toys and fabric - neither of which I need. Cool family. Cool blog.
• infinitely learning - Hillary and her family are (in her words) "on a journey towards mindful family living, self-sufficiency and financial independence". Good stuff. She also just had a baby so things are slow right now but that's true and right for just having a newborn. I admire that about her blog, it's honest.
• Simple Homeschool - I know I write for this blog so it's bit like tooting my own horn but I really do like so many of the posts that show up here. I think this is a great resource for homeschoolers and those thinking about it and I'm really thrilled to be a part of it.
• fuoriborgo - It's a blog about rural/small village family life in Italy. Francesca takes beautiful photos and shares her thoughts on homemaking, gardening, stitching and art. Each post is beautiful and feels exotic to someone like me who has never traveled beyond Canada and the US. And no, I don't know what fuoriborgo means. 
• The Organic Sister - is traveling the United States with her husband and son looking for a place to settle down and call home. Tara writes about "Mindful Parenting. Organic Living. Learning Without School. And Life On The Road." I find her posts very thought provoking and interesting

My only fear in writing a post like this is that I have no doubt left someone out who feels they deserved to be mentioned. My apologies for not including every blog I read and comment at.

By the way, that's my homemade raspberry ice "cream" pictured at the top. It was even more delicious than it looks. The recipe can be found in the Vice Cream cookbook.

What are your favorite blogs to read? Please leave links in the comments. 

I'm off for the weekend with my family for our first backpacking trip of the season. Now that I've tasted camping for real - in the woods, no cars and no running water (except the stream) I don't know that I want to go back to campground camping. We're re-visiting Gentian Pond to get us back into the groove. Now, that's what I call sweet. 

You might enjoy some of this sweet stuff while I'm off peeing in the woods and snuggled in my sleeping bag.

Mama Speak

• Changing Lives One Laundry Load at a Time at Small Notebook.
• Come Home to your Children, a book review at Birth at Miracle. My friend Naomi reviews a couple books that help families live on one income.
• Get Outdoors Challenge Day Three at The Loving Path. Debbie has been posting how her and her son are getting outdoors everyday for the challenge hosted at 5 Orange Potatoes. This particular post was so cute... and muddy.
• On a related note, Scientists give grubby children a clean bill of health @ guardian.co.uk. I knew all along that having children on the grubbier side of clean was a good thing.
• Gratitude at infinite learners (or is it infinitely learning?). This post was a good reminder for me to let go of my expectations for perfect and appreciate what's around me.

Homeschool

• The One Thing Principle at Brave Writer, found via Handmade Homeschool. Could it really be so simple?
• Speaking of Handmade Homeschool, Sarah gives us all a permission slip to basically re-evaluate and enjoy our homsechool experience (in case you need reminding).
• Get your kids creating at Clean. I've been very excited to share Rachel's post with you all. I think it's excellent and it's what I would say to anyone asking me a similar question.
• Nature Journaling (tutorial) at Daffodil Lane. Shawn makes this look so easy and beautiful. (stay tuned for a giveaway of one of these little handmade journals)
• Frugal Homeschool at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-Op. Homeschooling need not cost much, especially when kiddos are little.
• Making a One Sheet Book (tutorial) (super easy book making) at Old Recipe for a New World. The kids are busy making these as I type.
• Creating and Preserving Life Margins by Stefani at Simple Homeschool. This is where homeschooling really shines - in the way we can craft our time to suit our family's needs vs. the demands of external pressures.
• Peter's Spring Break Interview at Yarns of the Heart. An unschooled graduate attending college answers homeschooling parents most pressing questions. An excellent read for those of us wondering "is this really going to work?".

Creative Homestead

• On Composting Toilets and Humanure at Organic Sister. Composting toilets - I want one.
• Spring Cleaning: Saving on the High Cost of Storage at Small Notebook. Message to me: just get rid of it already.
• Chalk board pantry door (tutorial) at Creative Kismet. How clever and easy. Too bad I don't have a flat pantry door.
• Simplify your medicine cabinet at New Urban Habitat.
• Pay More, Eat Less: An Important Truth to Eating Naturally on a Budget at Passionate Homemaking. Good food costs money, eat less.

Beyond my Back Yard

• Affluenza and the loss of community at Simple Savvy, "the more we consume, the less we feel a sense of community".
• Are we abnormal? at One Green Generation. Abnormal or normal, it's all a matter of perspective.
• The Great Fear at The Path Less Pedaled. There is always something to be afraid of. Don't let that stop you.

Enjoy your weekend. Hope you all have a sweet one with your family & friends.

I've been saving these up for awhile, I don't think any of these are "hot off the press" posts. Some have been starred in my reader for months. Others I've discovered through the comments left here. 

I'm clearing out all my end of winter favorites and getting ready to read and savor spring inspired writing.

Mama Speak

• Right now we have an inspiration board with written notes but after reading Lusa Organics blog Clean what I really want is a manifestion board.
• Thank you Hillary for reminding me to stand back to witness and not always rush to fix my children's emotions. 
• I loved reading Kate's thoughts on love and marriage. I especially appreciated that this was a story of love for her husband and not some 4 point how-to have a good marriage post.

Creative Homestead

• You know I just love homemade skin care stuff so I enjoyed simplify your personal care from New Urban Habitat.
• In a similar vein The Homesteading Apartment posted homemade laundry and dishwashing recipes. These are worth a look-see if you don't make your own bar soap to use for cleaning ie: they use all store bought ingredients.
• Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op always has such good stuff (2 posts in this round up). Do you grow comfrey? You should. It's one of my favorites in my herb garden.
• I'm not sure how I stumbled across Old Recipe for a New World but I'm glad I did. This family is quitting plastic for 4 months, ie: not buying anything with plastic (they do a tally each month end and I must say they've been doing very well). As we aim to rid the plastic from our own lives, at a much slower pace I'm afraid, I'm humbled by their efforts.

Beyond my Backyard (Dreams) 

Pursuing our dreams is a big theme for our family this year. To see others do just that is so encouraging and inspiring.  

• I love what Erin at exhale. return to center is doing to follow her passions and support her community.
• The Organic Sister and her family have just left their home to travel the country in a converted bio-diesel Winnebago.  This is not my dream but watching someone else live an intentionally unconventional life makes for a good read. 
• Of what do you dream? at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op.

Gallery

• A great how-to take photos in low light with a point and shoot tutorial at Wisdom of the Moon.
• Capturing children create is one of the most beautiful things to photograph.
• While we wait for spring to really happen here I'll enjoy these last shots of winter; leaf in the wind, chickadee wings and frost on a window pane (with apologies to everyone who is already reveling in spring).

No Homeschool Sweet Stuff this month.  I've been expending a lot of mental energy writing for Simple Homeschool and you can find my posts (all one but very soon to be two) here.  The contributions by all the writers have been really good.  I think it's a great go-to source for homeschoolers or would-be homeschoolers.