Saturday Linky Love

So, want to know what's happening in our neck of the woods? My cutie-pie daughter has pneumonia. Yeah.

We've been cooped up inside since Monday, although thanks to my husband's wonderful teaching job, he's been able to come home early so I can go to my chiropractor and the grocery or wherever.

But it's definitely been one heck of a week. We finally found out about the pneumonia yesterday after a chest x-ray. Libbie had been running a miserably high fever most of the week and coughing insanely. Now she's on antibiotics and an inhaler and I hope we'll be able to nip this in the bud quickly. Thankfully David, Mom, and Dad are fine so far. Plus my mom came from PA to help--hallelujah!

So, when I wasn't administering medicine, cuddling, or chasing after a toddler this week, here's what I read!

• Busy Foxes at For Better and Worse
• The accidental, honey-fied catching of a fly at Pensieve - A short lesson in parenting well. Always appreciated!
• Cardamom Yeast Bread at Salad in a Jar - I made this one day this week and it's amazing. I don't think much has a depth of flavor like cardamom. 
• Esther and Vashti: The Real Story at Rachel Held Evans
• Jesus Saves at Huntington Beach Pier at Elizabeth Esther

And if, like me, you just need a good laugh this week, this always does it for me (sorry about the curse word):

Source: jenniferslinks.blogspot.com via Angie on Pinterest

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Saturday Linky Love

Woo-wee! I haven't done one of these posts since 12/16. I'll try not to overwhelm you, but be prepared! But first, cutest picture of the week:

She would wear this dress every day. It twirls!

And now, on with the links.

• Don't Carpe Diem at Momastery - You've probably seen this floating around Facebook, but if you haven't and you are a mom of young kids, you MUST read it! Love the analogy and appreciate the message.
• What I Want Pre-Teen Girls to Know about Sizes at Parenting Miracles - Love it. Great words.
• How to Peel a Whole Head of Garlic in Less Than Ten Seconds - Brilliant!
• How to Make a Delicious 400 Calorie Salad at Can You Stay for Dinner? - I ADORE this site for healthful, tasty, real food recipes. Her outline on making salads is great!
• PJs and Pancakes Party from Tatertots and Jello
• Cookie Dough Eggrolls from Pennies on a Platter - Oh, yes. Come to Mama!

You can always see a zillion other posts I love by following me on Pinterest or StumbleUpon!

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Saturday Linky Love

• Mini Eggnog Doughnut Muffins at Two Peas & Their Pod
• DIY Rhinestone Barrettes at Flax & Twine - Would make a very cute gift for my little girl ... if I were slightly more ambitious.
• Planning for a Christmas Road Trip at In a Nutshell - Something I will need to refer to this week!
• Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies at Cookin' Cowgirl
• I made homemade liquid hand soap AND laundry detergent this week. I can't decide if I'm Susie Homemaker or just plain nuts.

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Saturday Linky Love

Another week, another fun set of links! Are you getting into the Christmas spirit? I have a whole pantry full of ingredients to make Christmas goodies, a whole lot of presents to wrap, and I haven't watched White Christmas or It's a Wonderful Life yet, which is obviously a problem. Lots to do in the coming week and a half, before we leave town!

Links to read:

• Vanilla and Brown Sugar Coffee Cake from ChefDruck Musings - Vanessa is French, so I trust her when it comes to pastry. This looks delicious.
• An Open Letter to Suze Orman from Smockity Frocks - Yeah, I'm kind of over open letters, but this one is worth reading.
• Paper Plate Pop-Up Snowman from Craft Linky - looks simple and fun to make.
• 8 Tips for Decorating the Christmas Tree with Little Ones from 4tunate gave me the courage to put up my tree this week. No casualties yet, although a popsicle-stick ornament from 1988 does appear to have been taken apart and chewed on. Oops.
• Printable "Names of Jesus" Ornaments from Bible Story Printables - Libbie was happy to decorate these last Saturday morning while I slurped my coffee down. Anything to buy me ten minutes ... right? Plus they coincided perfectly with day 1 of Truth in the Tinsel.

So tell me the truth: White Christmas or Holiday Inn? (Or perhaps you have zero idea what I'm talking about, in which case ... we might not be able to be friends.)


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Saturday Linky Love

I have nothing witty or even vaguely interesting to write. Sorry!

• Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures - This could be a new addiction for me! Made it this week and LOVE it.
• Cinnamon Popcorn at Amy's Finer Things - I made popcorn on the stovetop for the first time ever (at least as an adult) this week. It was surprisingly easy and so much cheaper than microwave popcorn! Amy's cinnamon popcorn will be made soon!
• Felted Wool Garland at According to Kelly
• Wipes Case Laptop at She Wears Flowers - This would be an adorable homemade Christmas gift for your toddler!
• Latest addition to my "Want to Read It" pinboard: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.

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Saturday Linky Love

It's Friday afternoon, the sun is shining, the kids are resting or sleeping ... so let's make this short and sweet so I can go be a sloth on the couch, OK?

• 8 Ways to Know It's Time to Take a Break at Chatting at the Sky
• 10 Ways to Find Balance at miskellany - Apparently I am feeling the numbered list this week.
• Remember at OhAmanda
• Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Pie at Amy's Finer Things - Yeah. Just look at the pictures and TRY not wanting it! 
• Tips for a Homemade, Make-Ahead Thanksgiving at Tammy's Recipes (hat tip to Jen)

Today for lunch, I made the most incredible sandwich ever. Homemade potato bread, with havarti melted on top. Apple slices, turkey, spinach, and homemade cranberry sauce.

Your leftover turkey will thank you if you put it on there. I wish I had a picture, but I gobbled it down too quickly.

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Saturday Linky Love

I have posts in my head and even on paper to write ... but it just hasn't happened this week. Freelance projects and laundry beckon. But here are a few posts I had time to read and wanted to share!

• Why I Don't Make Tortillas at Money Saving Mom - On the value of time! This is an old post, but I just read it this week.
• At Least I Didn't Call Myself Mega Queso at BooMama - About Compassion, sponsorship, and trying to speak other languages. Love it.
• Cloud Dough Exploration at TinkerLab - We made some of this and Libbie is loving playing with it! It's kind of like sand ... but since I made mine with flour and olive oil, I'm not worried about David accidentally eating some if it falls on the floor. The mess is worth the fun!
• Cranberry and White Chocolate Streusel Bars at Delishhh - Mmmm. I LOVE cranberries. (As exhibited by my Pinterest board "I Have a Cranberry Problem.") Can't wait to try these.
• Thanksgiving Leaf Wreaths at Impress Your Kids - May be this weekend's craft!
• And, a funny. Oh so true.
  

Source: 9gag.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

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Here's some stuff that I like and I think you might like too. Yep.

• Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic-Cranberry Sauce at Foodie Bride - I've already pitched this to my mom as a perfect Christmas Eve dinner! (And, unlike the first Christmas I was married, I do know the difference between a pork loin and a pork tenderloin!)
• Squashy Parts at Moosh in Indy
• Leveraging Holidays to Teach God's Word at Impress Your Kids
• Creating Family Nights: Make Your Home a Haven at Women Living Well
• Roller Coaster and BIG Mistakes at Pensieve - A lesson to remember in parenting teens

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Saturday Linky Love

For starters, I need to apologize. I just lost steam on my 31 Days series and this week is very full for our family: two birthdays, in-law visits, parents' weekend at the school, Halloween parties, birthday parties ... I just don't think I am making it past 26 days! I hope y'all enjoyed the reading posts and I am planning on one more post for Monday.

And with that said, here are some links I visited and loved recently:

• Stop the Spin Cycle at Inspired to Action
• Tiger Mothers? Or the Making of Velveteen Mothers at (in)courage
• 5 Fall Tree Crafts for Kids at 4tunate
• Jalapeno Popper Dip at Giving Up on Perfect
• Mark My Place at Mylestones

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Saturday Linky Love

It's been too long since I had a linky love post. So here are a zillion things I think you should read!

• 31 Days to Change the World: Know Your Passion at Chatting at the Sky - Love this series, love Emily, love her book. 
• 31 Days to Parenting Teens and Tweens: Fences (Not Cages) at Pensieve - Totally applicable to parenting littles in some ways as well. Taking notes for the future from this great series.
• Never Ending Chores at Keeping Life Creative - a chore chart of picture magnets that works great for pre-readers.
• Vanilla Chai Tea Latte Cupcakes at Carissa's Creativity Space - These sound divine!
• Creamsicle Cookies at The Girl Who Ate Everything - I made these this week and they were heavenly. I used white chocolate chips. Perfection!
• From Karma to Compassion at Shaun Groves - Just read it.
• Scripture Print at Impress Your Kids - Wonderful Scripture reminder about parenting - and a free printable to go with it!

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Saturday Linky Love

I will be unpacking like a crazy woman today, so no commentary, just links!

• In case you missed it, my guest post at Mama Loves Her Shows: Ten Burning Questions I Have for PBS/Sprout
• Extra-Creamy Cooked Cream Cheese Icing at The Kitchn
• I've Finally Decided What I Want to Be When I Grow Up at MYLESTONES
• Bible-Lovin' Kids at Impress Your Kids
• DIY Autumn Wreath - making a Williams-Sonoma wreath for a fraction of the price.

Source: 320sycamoreblog.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

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Recap of the week at VW: I'm a mess and I want to blame it on someone else; apparently a lot of other people thought Pumpkin Spice Latte cookies were a good idea, too, because the recipe has 69 Facebook likes; and ... this.

_

I don't know about you, but I am ready for Fall! Last Friday it was nippy and I wore a sweatshirt to the football game. This Friday I just walked the kids around campus on a few errands and am soaked with sweat. Hello? Fall? Where did you go?

Here are a few posts I loved that I read this week.

• Do We Have the Gospel Wrong? at Rachel Held Evans (hat tip to JessieLeigh)
• Homemade Beef Pepperoni at Tammy's Recipes - The reviews (and Laura) all say it tastes like summer sausage, which I looooove. I want to try it!
• My Favorite Piece of Fitness Equipment at Inspired to Action
• Somebody's Watching (Marriage Unwrapped Series) at The Diaper Diaries
• Handprint Calendars at Christmas Your Way - A great Christmas gifts for grandparents you can go ahead and start.
  

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Saturday Linky Love

It's Friday night ... and the moon is bright ... gonna have some fun, show you how it's done, TGIF!

It's been a long, crazy week, and we're adjusting to life here on campus at Mr. V's school. We still have a LOT of moving and unpacking to do. And when are we supposed to do it, with two little kids? Hrm.

So while I'm off digging through boxes and washing clothes (today was a much-needed Laundry Day!), here are some links for you to read.

But first, here is my adorable baby. Now you can proceed.

• The Lazy Mom's Guide to Doing Laundry at I Can Teach My Child - I think Jenae is anything but lazy, but this is a great tip for socks. I lose at least five baby socks every time I do laundry.
• Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake at How Does She? - Um, yes. The only time I really like marshmallow is over a campfire with lots of brown. This looks awesome.
• Bargain Birthday Bashes at ParentLife Online - I've started thinking about birthdays as Libbie's is less than 6 weeks away and David's is in December. (WAHHHH!) I honestly have no idea what I am doing for either of them!
• Marriage Myths: I Never Really Loved Her at Seth Haines - Seth is one special guy who adores that wife of his.
• Giving Up on Perfect Spaghetti at Giving Up on Perfect - Great stuff from Mary about marriage and letting go of being right.

What did you read that was great this week? I love to read recommended posts.  Leave a link in the comments. And if it's something great YOU wrote, even better. :)

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Saturday Linky Love

I keep promising and not following through on telling you what's going on. I have a post in drafts. It's ticker tape in my head, the words coming together in fragments. But it's not quite time yet. We don't know fully what's happening, so it's not for me to share yet.

Deal with me. I love you!

Here's what I read this week that I think you should read!

• Pumpkin Spice Lattes (On a Budget) at Once a Month Mom - I might be the only person ever who does not like the famed PSLs at Starbucks. But if you do, this seems like a great method to only have to cook once but get to enjoy one all week. I'm sure I could alter it to be something I DO like with coffee.
• Dear Photograph - love this site. Wish I lived closer to where I grew up, so I could do this!
• Efficient Homemade Baby Food - One of the best tutorials I've ever seen on making and freezing baby food. 
• Fashion Inspiration: Belle from Beauty and the Beast - I came across this while trying to plan a little Belle birthday for Libbie. I love the idea of taking inspiration from a character, an animated one at that. 
• Lessons from a Bloggy Break at OhAmanda - Yep. That. I haven't been taking a bloggy break, really, but only writing when I want to. It works.
• Faith Is Not Belief at A Deeper Story

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all.

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Saturday Linky Love

My head is spinning from this week! I'll elaborate soon enough on our move, but for now here are the good links you should read from what I found this week.

• In My Thirties at Hollywood Housewife - Laura and I lead very different lives, but I like her thoughts here. I'm edging ever closer to 30!
• Creating Variety in Back-to-School Lunches at Once a Month Mom - I need these ideas now that I am packing Libbie a lunch two days a week.
• How to Make a Gumball Necklace at Make and Takes - These are so cute!
• Zucchini Carpaccio at Kalyn's Kitchen - Mmm.
• The Help Caramel Cupcakes at Domestic Fits - I love finding food that goes with the book to serve at a book club.

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Hey, guess what? When I'm at my parents' house, I actually have some time to read stuff! I've enjoyed clicking links from Twitter and trying to make a date in my Reader this week. Here are some posts you might enjoy!

• Sacredness of Women/Pity of Men at Pensieve - Just gorgeous. Watching Robin have her baby leave the nest has made me cling a little tighter to my babies!
• A Confident Child: It Starts with Eye Contact at Musings of a Housewife
• Just Breathe at (in)courage - Hm, this is by Robin, too. Cause she's awesome and full of wisdom.

Source: parents.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

• I love these painted headboards at Parents.com. I plan on fully perusing this article about shared kids' rooms, because my two will be sharing a room in our new apartment. (Help??)
• Packing Affordable School Lunches at Life as MOM
• Sesame Crusted Chicken Fingers at Skinny Taste - Mmmm. We can always use another chicken finger recipe, because it's something Libbie will eat.

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Saturday Linky Love

I will be the first to admit this was not the week of reading blogs. (Not that many weeks are, recently.)
This was a week of two days in the car and three days packing boxes in a frenzy, all while trying to remember to pack things for a week away as well.

But here are a few things I came across you might like to read this week!

• 10 New Shows I'll Be Watching This Fall at Mama Loves Her Shows
• How to Weed Out the Lie That You Are Not Beautiful at The Gypsy Mama
• Sweet Tea Tiramisu at Apple a Day
• Blogging a Series for Reader Engagement at The Diaper Diaries
• Honey Barbecue Meatloaf at Can You Stay for Dinner?
• Lemon Drizzle Traybake at The Pastry Chef's Baking

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Saturday Linky Love

thanks to blogger ... This didn't publish Friday. Oops. Arch.

I cannot even begin to explain how insane the next few weeks are going to be for us. I will try to compose a post if I have some time ... but don't expect much from me in the near future. Life will be settled down eventually, and maybe then I will have time to reflect.

I do ask your prayers as my grandmother's memorial service is next Saturday, the 20th. I am glad she is with Jesus, but it's still difficult to lose someone so beloved.

Here are a few things I read this week you might want to check out:

• 8 Inexpensive Ways to Store Craft Supplies at I Can Teach My Child
• There's Beauty in Your Ugly Stroller at The Finer Things in Life
• Cajun Hailbut with Praline Sauce over Dirty Rice at Annie's Eats
• Everyday Tabernacles at (in)courage
• I'd love it if you'd read/comment on my guest posts from this week: Grown-Up-Ness at ParentLife Online and Miss Fannie's Hat at Impress Your Kids

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Saturday Linky Love

Remember last Friday, when I said I had a huge freelance project coming? It came! Just in case you didn't notice my lack of posting this week. That and the huge amount of freezer cooking I've done have definitely cramped my blogging time (and my back, unfortunately).

I haven't had much time for blog-reading this week either, obviously, but here are a few things, old and new, you might take the time to read!

• Homemade Non-Toxic Liquid Hand Soap - Laura's blog has the BEST ideas. And simple!
• How to Decorate Sesame Street Cupcakes at Annie's Eats - So cute! Maybe fun for a half-birthday party or a little first-day-of-(pre)school celebration at home? Annie's Sesame Street party made me laugh a little. I stole a lot of her ideas for our Dr. Seuss party last year, and Libbie would like nothing more than a Sesame Street party!  
• I am super in love with this lace-trimmed pillowcase nightgown from iCandy Handmade. The pattern has been sent on to my mother-in-law ... because I can't sew. 
• And lastly, I leave you this, which Karla shared on Twitter today:
  

Source: stumbleupon.com via Karla on Pinterest

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I'm about to be buried under a giant freelance project, so we'll make this quick! Here are links. They are good. Go visit them.

• How to Shoot Mouthwatering Food Photos at The Mya Chronicles - I've been trying to improve my food photography while sticking with my point-and-shoot. Good tips!
• Bacon Cheddar Scones at Annie's Eats - I made these this week and they are HEAVENLY. I love the balance of bacon, cheese, green onion, and pepper. 
• The Divine Picking of the Raspberries at Pensieve - On sisterly outings and love.
• Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake at Bite Me New England - Looks yum-o! I love chicken sausage. 
• Cardboard Box Town at The Imagination Tree - so fun! Libbie would love this. David would love chewing on the box, the blocks, and his sister.

Source: lh5.ggpht.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Y'all know I am not the least bit crafty, but I'd LOVE to do this in our guest-room closet for Libbie. 

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