LMNOP and Kiwi

I love magazines. I especially love magazines that I can read without wasting gobs of paper and cluttering my house. I even more especially love reading magazines that are free. My favorite magazines have, in recent years, morphed from fashion magazines to those directed toward families and parents. Even better if they have a focus on living simply and being environmentally responsible (but really, what magazine doesn't lately?) LMNOP is a way cool free online magazine that is just... happy. You can subscribe and they'll send you an email notification when the next issue is published online. Latest issue is out today, by the way. Kiwi is a print magazine that is also way cool and always read immediately at my house. It's about, as they say, "Growing families the natural and organic way." This magazine isn't usually free, but it is if you sign up for Moms Meet! Woohoo for free magazines that are awesome! Also, you can find a free download of the magazine from Kiwi's main site here.

People Doing Extraordinary Things

Wild Things Paper Toys

With what kind of paper dolls does my 3 year old boy play? Wild ones. Wild Things, that is. He's adopted Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak as his new favorite book (thank you Auntie Lindsey), which makes me happy since it was also one of my favorite books as a kid. We have yet to see the movie made from the book, but I can't help but wonder HOW in the world is there a full length film based on this 10 sentence story? I'll find out soon enough, I'm sure. If your kid (or you!) are into this story, you should make these little paper guys. They do take a couple of minutes to cut out and fold together, (and tape, if you're me) but they're way cute. I made Max and the guy in the stripes for Corbin and we've already acted out the story with them. Great fun. And the site you find them at is... toy-a-day.blogspot.com

For more Wild Things fun, check out this place where I found the paper Things project.

Christmas and Excess

Ah, Christmas. It's lovely. Snow, lights, bright stores where one could buy anything and everything they don't need to put under the tree in colorful packages to be opened in haste on Christmas morning just to be stuffed in a closet or giveaway box as soon as the thrill of this new thing has worn off. If you can't tell by now, I'm less and less thrilled about the way Christmas has been turned into a commercial holiday in the USA. It disgusts me and I want no part of it. We need nothing. Don't believe me? Check out the rest of the world. I promise you are not in need. In want, yes. But not in need. Christmas shouldn't be an excuse for excess and the enabling of selfish, hedonistic tendencies. Not even if you're buying things for others. The concept of excess isn't one that only applies if you're buying things for yourself. No. It's the entire notion that you're putting something where there is no clear and actual need for it. It's wasteful and it's looking only at ourselves.

John's family does name drawing at Christmas for the older family members. I love that. You get one gift for one person, receive one gift, and that's it. Kids are separate from the drawing, but they'd be just as happy with another cookie as a massive, shiny, new toy. I'd love to carry that practice over to my family, where gift giving is maybe over practiced, although I realize that it's how some people show affections.

I know that gift giving can bring great joy to both parties involved, but we must not remain so focused on ourselves. There are people in the world who actually are in need. Not want, need. And it is one of our main priorities as followers of Christ to put other people before us and to show them His love through our actions. This year, instead of buying gifts for your family that they might not even like or use, why don't you buy a goat and some chickens for a family in a third world country that provides food, income, and security? Really? Why not? What do you want that is more important than giving another family hope for the future and food for their children? Think about it. And when you're done thinking about it, go to the World Vision site and buy a goat for that family.

One Truth in Our Home

Never let a day go by without doing at least some laundry lest it eat you alive.

DIY forever

I love this book by Raleigh Briggs. It's about making and doing things yourself around your home. From cleaning to composting (which I'm completely inspired to start doing... just a little unsure about with the whole freezing much of the year thing) to first aid and personal care products and an intro to gardening, it's so inspiring. I've had it for a month or so and it brings me such joy because of its beauty in content as well as form. It's completely hand written and illustrated. Very cool. I haven't tried any of the medicinal tinctures etc. yet, but I'm sure I will when I get my hands on some essential oils in the future. That is a little intimidating for me. But the book is full of practical things that you can do to make your home a simpler place by buying less and making more, and by working with fruits of the earth rather than abusing them.

In fact, Microcosm has a bunch of awesome things. Some crazy thing, but some awesome things. Check them out. I got some fantastic patches to put on some baby tees I'm going to make. I'm sure I'll show you when I finish. :)