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{Be sure to check out my Fall Apron Giveaway!}
There are some of you who don’t even want to think about Christmas yet {after all Halloween isn’t even here}, but the planner in me can’t help but start making Christmas lists. Of course it doesn’t hurt that I just so happen to love Christmas. But, here are ten ways that you can start planning for Christmas without feeling like you’re slightly Halloween and Thanksgiving.
1. Christmas Cards/Pictures – Take your family Christmas picture in October or beginning of November so that you can have your cards ready to mail by December 1st.
2. Name Swap – Does your family do a name swap for presents? If not, I highly recommend it {especially if you have a larger family}
3. Gift List – You can start this early, writing down gift ideas for individuals; It helps you make sure you have everyone covered.
4. Shopping – I bought all the girls’ Christmas presents in August. I found some great deals at random stores and garage sales and have just stored them away for later.
5. Craft Ideas – Want a new Christmas wreath? Or does your husband need a new stocking? Start making your Christmas crafts now so that you can get good deals at hobby shops and don’t feel the holiday pressure come December.
6. Baking – I love to bake during the holidays. And for me, that means baking October – February. One trick I learned last year was to bake several batches of cookies, breads or pies and freezing most of it to bring out for parties or events.
7. Plan Parties in Advance – The holidays book up fast. And between family, work, church and friends it’s hard to coordinate larger events. One way to help is by setting a date early and send out invites a few weeks in advance.
8. Meal Plan – Along with planning parties, it’s important to start listing out a menu. This is where baking and freezing can really come in handy.
9. Check Lights/Locate Decorations – You can wait till closer to December {or November if that’s when you start decorating} to check your lights/find your decorations. I wish I’d done this last year when half way through decorating our tree I realized several strings of lights were out. 
10. Enjoy the Holidays – I remember Christmas being a carefree and wonderful time as a child. As an adult I can’t help but feel slightly overwhelmed at times. But I strive to enjoy the wonders of the time; the snow, the time with family, the magic of it all.
What are ways you prepare for Christmas?
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
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After making my first apron, someone suggested I do an apron giveaway. Then one day at Hobby Lobby I came across some adorable fall inspired fabric and knew immediately that I wanted to make an apron for my readers to win!
It’s very fall-ish and perfect for all your Thanksgiving cooking coming up {hard to believe Thanksgiving is so close!}. I truly made this apron with all of you in mind and want to tell you how much I’ve appreciated your support as I’ve grown my blog this last year. It’s been so much fun and I couldn’t have done it without you!
For each comment, you’ll receive an entry and a chance to win!
1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about fall.
2. Blog about the giveaway, linking back to this post.
3. Follow me on Twitter: @sadiewindham
The giveaway ends on Friday, October 22 at 11:59 CST.
This giveaway is for US residents only – sorry to all my UK friends.
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For all of you waiting on pins and needles for more information on my headaches, I’ve got something for you! I’ve been off sugar for 15 days now. Don’t feel too bad for me, since I’ve started experimenting more with agave and honey to make cakes and muffins. They taste pretty much the same and my sweet tooth is satisfied.
Now, for the headaches themselves, I’ve noticed a sure pattern. For the first two days of my sugar fast my head was pounding. This also happened to be a time when my monthly cycle was having a shift. I did great day 3-13 but then yesterday out of nowhere my head started pounding. Up to this point I had had the beginnings of headaches, but nothing actually happened. So yesterday I was thrown off guard that my headache went from nothing to full blown in such a short time. It lasted half the day and I went to bed early because I was starting to feel sick to my stomach. I did a little tracking and realized my cycle is shifting again.
Now, this is what I’ve concluded:
1. Without sugar my headaches have been far more infrequent – making me think that going totally sugar free might not be the worst idea ever.
2. My headaches are effected a lot by hormones. Which I can’t really control. Bummer of a deal. I’m starting to research/explore that whole field.
My guess is this experiment is going to last through November – with me adding back in some sugar to test out my theory. I did go back on the coffee kick, because, well, coffee is my BFF, my cheerleader in a cup. We all knew I couldn’t part with it for too long.
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I’ve always thought it would be wonderful to speak a second language. I took four semesters of German in college, and while I could speak/understand it then, I can’t even recall any words now. Jonathan grew up in Texas with a Spanish speaking family, but they never taught him and only spoke to the children in English.
When we had the girls, we decided we really wanted them to learn Spanish. Not only do we think it’s an important language to know, we want them to have a strong connection to their heritage. {For those who don’t know us personally, despite having a very Anglo last name, Jonathan is in fact Hispanic.} When Grandma moved in with us we saw it as a great opportunity for the girls to learn Spanish.
Then Jonathan decided that rather than just having the girls learn, we should make it a family adventure. And so, our family has embarked on learning Spanish. We got some amazing books from the library and are constantly quizzing Grandma on proper enunciation and wording. The girls {i.e. Julia} are slowly picking up on different words and I’m putting together sentences {Yo quiero uno vaso de lecha, por favor – I would like milk please}. It’s been pretty fun, listening to Spanish songs and reading through the picture dictionaries. Hopefully we can say a few Spanish phrases for families back in Texas the next time we visit.
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
Julia Mabel – Little Flower Girl
Posted on: October 13, 2010
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Later this month Julia is going to be a flower girl in some dear friends’ wedding. I’ve been practicing with her on how to walk down the aisle {our hallway} and drop the rose pedals {pieces of shredded paper}. Isn’t she a cutie, if I do say so myself?
Part of my mama heart is a sad because Mabel is growing up so fast {she’ll be 3 next month!}. But the other part makes me thrilled to watch her grow and become such a beautiful girl.
I love you Mabel.
Top Ten Fall Recipes I Love
Posted on: October 12, 2010
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Despite a heat wave putting a slight damper on the awesome fall weather, I’m still cooking like it feels like fall. I’m a big fan of soups {easy to make during naptime} and of course all the sweets I can eat. Or could eat. Here are some of my all time favorite recipes.
1. Maple Dijon Chicken – This is one of my personal favorites because of the sweet potatoes. It’s a great crock pot meal that is tender and juicy.
2. Baked Potato Soup – I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s amazingly simple {again a crock pot meal}.
3. Spicy Chicken Soup – Jonathan loves this soup. Add in cheese and serve with some hot rolls.
4. Cider Baked Butternut Squash Soup – I just made this for the first time two weeks ago. If you can get past the orange color, the taste is divine {I kid you not}.
5. Cream of Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich – A fall/winter staple for me. Easy, perfect for lunch and great with pepper jack cheese.
6. Beef Chili – Chili. Cold weather. Need I say more?
7. Easy Chicken and Dumplings – Nothing like Southern food made easy. Refrigerate biscuits as dumplings. Makes for good leftovers too!
8. Pasta Fagioli – This soup taste just like Olive Garden’s. Hmm… garlic bread sticks.
9. Apple Pie – Can’t make a fall food list without apple pie. I love apple pie. Which might explain my apple orchard obsession.
10. Pumpkin Bread – I use to think I didn’t like pumpkin. Oh, I was sorely mistaken. I LOVE pumpkin. Love. It. And pumpkin bread smothered in butter {or whipped cream} is mouth watering.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
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Our family’s educational plans {at this point} are to homeschool the Windhamettes. For various reasons we love the idea and I have been looking forward to both the challenge and excitement of being their teacher.
At the beginning of September we started “school”. Tuesdays and Thursdays for 15-20 minutes the girls sit in the kitchen writing or reading. Hannah doesn’t do much other than scribble on paper, but Julia has really taken off over the last few weeks. We have books that can be written in with dry erase markers, so she practices her numbers, letters, shapes and identifying colors. It has been an absolute joy {most times!} and she is loving it {most days!}. We’ve taken a couple of “field trips” around the neighborhood to learn about different things in our city {what are/how fire hydrants work, why we don’t feed wild animals, etc}. I keep it pretty low key, going at Julia’s rate and allowing her to decide how things go {like when to stop – she usually wants to go past the time limit but Hannah doesn’t}. Our school days are making me look forward even more to our time when we really start “schooling”.
100 Mile Running Challenge
Posted on: October 8, 2010
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I have a confession: I’ve been really, really lazy. Since running my half marathon, I’ve not gotten back into the groove of things. Sure, I still run. But I can’t really count running 3 miles once a week running. I told Jonathan I need a new goal, something that will stretch me. And that’s when he said:
Try running 100 miles in a month.
Whoa. That’s 5 miles a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Not sure that’s something I’m up for doing, so instead I agreed to 100 miles in 6 weeks. My deadline is November 20, when I will hopefully run the Living History Farms Race.
I woke up super early this morning to hit the gym. Ran 3 miles on the treadmill. Only 97 miles to go.
Coffee is a Cheerleader in a Cup
Posted on: October 8, 2010
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It’s always hard for me to come off a more serious post. But if you’re going to do it, do it right.
After nearly two painful weeks without coffee, I’m waving my white flag. I’m going back to my liquid energy. And here’s why:
Thanks to Leah for passing this along!
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“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-30 {The Message}
In February I took on a personal challenge to pray daily for an entire month for my younger brother, Fletcher. February turned to March and I kept praying. Then I prayed through the spring and summer. It’s October and I’m still praying. My constant prayer is that Fletcher would lay his life before the Lord and be saved by grace.
About three weeks ago Fletcher called me. Said he need to talk to me about some trouble he was facing, some hardships that happened. About half way through our conversation, Fletcher said “Sis, I’ve realized I can’t do this on my own. I need Christ.” I asked him what that meant. He said he was ready to lay his life before God; to surrender his life in return for a relationship with God. I wept. Literally. I stood in my kitchen and cried sweet, sweet tears.
Let me bold. Let me tell you, Christ died for your sins. He died to put you in right standing with God. He died because He loves you.
Christ wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to have a relationship with me. He loves us. He wants to “recover your life”. He wants to give us “real rest.” Recovery from our sins, from our hurts, from our pain. Rest in Him. Rest in the grace He gives, the mercy He brings, the love He covers with.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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