Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Family Dinner Show N Share Nights



MooreMinutes is partnering with Rosanna Dishes for a series of posts.  I am {over the moon} with this news because as a lot of you know, Rosanna Dishes are some of my FAVORITE THINGS.   I've been a passionate fan and happy collector of her dishes for several years because each collection is uniquely beautiful and peacefully simple.

Rosanna's life philosophy mirrors my own: living with intention, creating beauty in everyday life, treasuring simple moments, and holding onto tradition while maintaining a fresh, modern lifestyle.  I want to share a sound quote from their company website, "Rosanna knows the recipe for the Good Life. Start with three intentions: sustain tradition, create ritual, and cultivate connection."  How true this is!   

Rosanna's Coming Home book





One recent tradition our family started about two years ago to help keep our family connected is Family Dinner Show and Share Nights!  The idea was inspired by childhood school day routines of "Show and Tell" in the classroom.  Those were my favorite days.  I double love showing and telling (as is quite obvious by my little blog).  I borrowed that concept and brought it to our family dinner table.  We don't have an EXACT routine or schedule for it.  We basically try to plan it for Fridays, but certainly not every Friday.  We are a typical modern-day, American family who works too much, plans too little, and who has family members all going in too many different directions.  But, our scattered lives is what made Family Dinner Show N Share Nights necessary!  







I've had many of those "bad mama" moments.  

My son would enthusiastically run up to me while I was in the kitchen and attempt to show me his extra big LEGO project, but I would quickly brush him away because...




I was too busy. 




Or, another boy would try to curl up next to me while I was knee deep in paperwork and he would explain how super cool the book was he just read and I would quickly brush him away because...


 I was too busy.

 
Sometimes a son would follow me around as I gathered my purse and was heading out the door for errands and he would try to show me his school papers, but I would quickly tell them not right now because...


I was too busy. 


Other times, they would all try to ask me how something worked, how to fix something, or how to do something and I would quickly push them away because...


I was too busy.  

 
It isn't always just the kids.  Sometimes my husband would attempt to share something about work or fitness or show me something cool but I would quickly move on because...




I was too busy. 


Looking back, it makes my heart feel so sad that the ones I love most get so quickly ignored.  But these "bad mama and wife" moments propelled me to make some changes!  I planned Family Dinner Show N Share Nights.  These nights are designated times when each family member has an opportunity to share what's on their mind and to show us what they're interested in at the moment.  We all participate, even the adults.  We each get a handful of minutes to share.  Our family highly anticipates these nights around the dinner table now!  This created a small solution to all the "too busy now" moments.  This also created an excellent way to TEACH the kids how to use different household tools that they always ask how to use but we are often too busy to stop and show them.  Our children are eager to learn and will soak up everything we try to teach them.   Now, whenever I can't give my full attention to my loved ones, I give them a quick squeeze and ask them to save it and share with us at Family Show N Share Night. 




click image to enlarge

Examples of things to Show N Share: 


- projects we currently completed 
- favorite things that are special to us
- A tool we use and how to use it
- academic papers: tests, book reports, Science projects
- stories that have helped define our life or that mean a lot to us




Benefits of a Show N Share night:

- creates a designated time for the family to gather and focus uninterrupted attention on the one sharing.
- practice in listening skills
- practice in speaking concisely and purposely 
- practice in showing interest in other people other than ourselves
- creates unity and family connection
-brings peace within the home
- creates a designated time to TEACH each other how to use a variety of household tools




Chris has showed his guitars to us, explaining the different components of them and a brief overview of how they work.  Other ideas men could share are: pocket knife proper use and tips, a summary of their career and what exactly they do, how to use handyman tools, business planning tips, hobbies that are of interest to them, sports memorabilia, and more! 

  

I have showed off this old little teacup I received from a family in Mexico when I did a community-helper trip there as a teenager.  It means a lot to me and I had a story to go with it.  Other things women could share are kitchen tools and how to use them, journal entries, favorite pieces of jewelery, hobbies that are of interest to them, and more!



The boys have shared toys (!!!), finished LEGO projects, little pocket treasures they found on outdoor adventures, school papers, sports and academic awards, and stories.   

Each family member gets center stage for a few minutes during the evening meal:



 


 


 






These nights are also a welcome opportunity for me to put my HOMEMAKER on!  It's an excellent night to try new recipes for the family.  We don't sit down around the dinner table for every meal.  My moneymaker husband works late often (thank you babe!) , and the kids have outside activities.  We sometimes have our dinner in intervals or in the car.  However, I am still mindful of the importance of gathering the family around the table and I try to make it a goal to do it more often.   I work towards making these meals {just a bit} more special than average.   


So I dress up the table...



And rinse off most-loved dishes...


And pull out new cookbooks...


 to create some home cooked comfort.







Inside Out Chocolate Chip cookies
change up your traditional cookies by adding 
1/4 cup cocoa powder 
and using white chocolate chips
 instead of semi-sweets.




A quick table-setting tip:
 If you don't want to take the time to set a full table,
 keep a basket of napkins handy 
and easily add a pile of flatware to the basket
and set the whole thing on the table before a meal. 



The sun is almost leaving 
and it is almost time to gather around our dinner table 
to Show N Share.  
Our meal is a celebration of family
 and a practice in unity. 


 

So if you wander by our house on a random Friday night, you may see boys dressed up like this: with full smiles and a dinner table mixed with pretty dishes and piles of toys, projects, and papers.  


That's just us making a moment to experience life on pause for a quick second.  And by the time we all wake up the next day, the quick hum of busy life will return.  But that's okay because we have another random Friday Family Dinner night ahead...and each one of us is looking forward to it with anticipation.





Don't forget to visit Rosanna's Tabletalk for more inspiration on creating community, tradition, extending childhood,  and art around the table.




Come join Love the Pie with TidyMom  
sponsored by Whirlpool and enter to win a new Whirlpool Range



This post is linked to:   Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty, Seasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave  Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design    

Monday, February 13, 2012

Why do men stop fighting for us? ...a Valentine love lesson



We are all ready.set.go for February 14th tomorrow.  I bought this set of pencils from Knot and Bow and am giving them to Chris on Valentine's Day.  Just a whimsical reminder letting him know..."what's me without you?"  


 "I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils
if I knew your name and address." 
- You've Got Mail


Tomorrow we will start our day off with traditional pink strawberry milk and end the day with some Xs and Os. 

 breakfast 2011


I have a home sweet home full of BOYS so there aren't any pink hearts or roses to give out to them on February 14th.  We have told the boys often that THIS holiday is more focused on lovers, not as much for kids in our home.  Because of this, we don't go crazy with gifts or activities.  Chris and I keep the focus more on each other than the kids.  They're spoiled enough, I promise.

Titus


The closest they get to romantic love right now is when they are playing with LEGO knights and fair maidens.  Sometimes the knight recuses the fair maiden from the dangerous dragon.



The concept of the mighty knight recusing the beautiful fair maiden has become hazy and lost in our modern lives.  But in our deepest hearts, most women desire to have a man who wants her enough to fight for her, to risk it all for her.  And most men want to be their lover's hero and to know their strength is sufficient enough to make their girl feel loved.


So why do our men stop fighting for us?

Lately on Pinterest I've seen a lot of dreamy quotes written by women listing qualities they want their man to possess.  Instead of focusing all effort on how your lover should change and love you more, think about what YOU can do to become irresistible to him.  A lot of energy is wasted (and a lot of love lost) when we constantly pepper him with all the ways we think he should change for us. 

Why do our men stop fighting for us?  There are so many reasons but one reason is that we have forgotten to think about how best to love them and instead we spend too much time trying to convince them to love us better.  Silly girls.  We sit around with our noses up in the air claiming that we deserve more.  Really?  I believe we should turn our hearts inside out and work toward fully loving our men and being the best GIRL we can be instead of selfishly feeding our hearts all these ideals that we believe we deserve.  If we spend half the effort into self improvement as we do into nagging about him and his faults, we will instantly see a complete change in our relationships.  Simple actually.  It's all about that childhood lesson we learned years ago, "don't worry about anybody else, just worry about yourself".  This applies to our relationships.  Be the best girl you can be instead of trying to make a new man outta him! 




Forget about the box of chocolates and candlelit dinner, just be his companion, his best friend, and his biggest fan on a daily basis.  It will rock your world in everyday ways. 


  
For more on this marriage topic see past post: The Slightly Offensive Marriage List

And for my favorite Valentine Story see past post: A Tale of Two Love Stories 




O Yes you do!
Happy Day of Hearts!
 

Pin It
 

This post is linked to:   Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave  Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design  

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Gentle reminders of love: A Valentine Home




The sweetest month of the year is February.  It's a lighthearted reminder to celebrate love.  Our home has gentle hints of the holiday. 


Over our mantle is a GIANT wooden letter set of XO, the classic muuuah lovin' symbols.  Each wooden letter has tons of sparkly sequins glued on!  Umm, no.  I didn't make it.  Yes, I know I could make it.  But I actually love to buy and to shop and to buy again.  So instead of using all the patience I could gather (which isn't much) and attempting a CRAFT, I bought it on etsy!  I'm not all that "crafty" afterall. ;)


I just love the way the GIANT X & O sparkle in the lamplight! The charming duo is easily visible from most areas in our home.


Simply stated but bright and bold!


The kids always anticipate the new words on the chalkboard for the changing seasons...






For the sweetest month the kids and I have been taking our usual meal classics and turning them sweeter...a pan of brownies created a fun afternoon!  They were each able to cut fun shapes out and decorate their after school snacks. 



The boys and I decorated brownies with the candy melt designs I previously made.  



I made another warm, comfort classic in my {most loved} new lilac Le Creuset dishes. Our meal was chicken and heart-shaped biscuits. 



The light lilac color is perfect for a February Valentine mood. 



Our home has quiet accents of Valentine's Day,
almost subtle enough to miss...



I pulled some favorite marriage books off the bookcase and displayed them for February.  Valentines, love, hearts, hugs, kisses, it's all celebrated in marriage right? 


I recently knit a little coffee cozy, 
just in time for Valentine's Day! 
I'm still super pumped about this new knitting hobby! 


I'm so happy about my knitting that you get to see one million a few photos of it!


Here's a tiny secret: it is a Valentine gift for Chris since he is the coffee drinker BUT obviously he won't want the pink heart on it sooo....I made a removable pink ball of yarn (in the shape of a heart!) and pinned it on.  I will use it for future Valentine decor.  Underneath is simply a big brown button instead.    

To make your own heart shaped ball of yarn, cut your shape out of foam or cardboard and quickly wrap it in varied directions with your yarn.  Tuck the loose ends, add a safety pin and decorate away with it! 





I got a pack of brand new pencils for my favorite BOY in the world! They each hold a sweet message of PAIRS!  Chris and I are just right for each other, the perfect lil pair and I wanted to show him that with this gift.  He is the butter for my bread { awww lol } He still isn't supposed to be reading my blog, hopefully he isn't!



We are ready to make Valentines!


Lots of fun accessories to make cute Valentines sent with love...

We have a home full of boys so instead of heart-shaped doilies and lots of pink, the closest we get to Valentine style is LEGO games of knights fighting dragons and saving the fair maidens. 

Romance with LEGO stuff.



And hearts made with boxing gloves! Titus actually was excited to show me how he made a heart shape with his fighting gloves.  I made him "hold it right there!!" while I grabbed my camera.


My little heartbreaker






There's more: 

I have previously shared our Valentine traditions like heart-shaped PB & J on past posts here: Valentine Traditions love lessons and a lunch of hearts

And you can view our Valentine home in past years here: A peek into our home on the sweetest day

and here: to lightly love






 So we lightly celebrate love and use the quietness of slow winter February to soak up some warm comfort.


Sending YOU lots of love this Valentine's Day!


This post is linked to:   Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design