Manic Mrs. Stone

10 inspiring thoughts.

2012-02-26T16:50:00.000-08:00

hello! here's another 10 inspiring thoughts for your day. all of these images can also be found on my pin boards. enjoy!

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1.) a recent addition to my childbirth dream board.

2.) this sandal makes me SO excited for summer.

3.) i've noticed this "hey girl" trend going on but not very many with johnny depp. so i thought i'd show this one off. plus it's adorable.

4.) this poncho makes me want to cry with happiness.

5.) love these. it's such a great idea for so many reasons. runes, affirmation stones, prayer stones, etc. the possibilities are endless if you are creative.

6.) another edition to my childbirth dream board. i had been searching for pregnancy art showing the baby in optimal birthing position.

7.) such a cute astrological signs poster!

8.) when i start my homemade oils and herbs collection, it's definitely going to look like this one.

9.) i want to re-create this maternity photo. it's possibly the most beautiful one i've ever seen.

10.) adorable outfit. this has me written all over it, haha. comfy jeans especially.

xo, mrs. stone

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love letter to eden.

2012-02-26T01:27:00.000-08:00

dear eden,

i know that mama has been so focused on the exciting day coming up this next month. you have been such a trooper. i love how genuinely excited you are about meeting your new baby sister and how much you keep me in the moment. i'm going to miss you crying and asking to hold my belly in the middle of the night as a source of comfort. i mean, maybe you will still want to hold my belly later, but it definitely won't be quite as basketball-like anymore.

the last several mornings i've had to do double-takes during breakfast. you just look and act so grown up now. it blows my mind. the way you talk and act now is so different than even just a few months ago. i miss your baby cry and i miss when you used to nurse (so glad you at least waited until 2 to wean yourself) but at the same time i'm soooo excited about this new phase of your life. they always say that no matter what stage your child is in you will always think it's "the best."

i have. and i still do. this is the best because now rather than just my sweet little girl, you are also my best friend. and you are finally daddy's best friend too. it took a while but i love that the two of you are inseparable now. it's quite adorable.

oh and people talking about this whole 'terrible twos' thing...well yes. it's sort of true. but honestly you are just like your mama - stubborn, independent, and loud. so really i don't see how it's "terrible." i am proud and plan to encourage your loud, stubborn independence ;)

i love you baby girl. or big girl. whatev - i love you my jellybean!

love mama.

wednesday's words // i am me with no apologies.

2012-02-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

wednesday's words is a new series i am starting. i used to participate in wordless wednesday but never quite got into it as much as i could have. i'm always finding beautiful posters and quotes that i want to share, so i introduce to you MMS's very first wednesday's words. enjoy :)

this quote is speaking to my soul this week as i discover that not everybody necessarily likes the "raw" me that has finally been surfacing in my blogging. yes i may lose some blog readers because they don't like that i cuss, study tarot or leave the medical system of childbirth - but i also gain readers who genuinely love me for me. that's what's important to me in blogging. the same goes for "the real world" and has since i became a rebel-with-a-cause in junior high. i love what i do and what i stand for. no apologies ;)

for my daughters.

{artworks by lisa ferrante. not going to lie - i'm completely obsessed with her etsy shop.}

i'm really attached to this type of artwork at the current moment because this is what i want to create in the way of affirmation posters for my beautiful home-birth. i am not skilled in art-journaling or collaging but am inspired to finally give it a shot. i've started an art-journal pinboard to help along the process.

xo, mrs. stone

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hey there, february sponsors! lookin' good.

2012-02-22T23:19:00.000-08:00

>>>This Enchanted Pixie<<<

"Hey there! I'm Polly, an English girl living in Wales with my Mr. and our three super sweet kiddos. I spend most of my time building forts for the kiddos, making jewelry, crafting, thrifting and blogging about life."

// BLOG // ETSY // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM //

>>>Baby Makes Two<<<

"1 Mama and 1 baby. We're pretty silly. We hate jeans.We love pretzels. We sell vintage. Come say hi."

// BLOG // ETSY //

>>>See Desi Do<<<

"Wife. Mama. Knitter. I love to eat foods and am learning to love to make them too. If I had one wish it would be to get a full nights sleep."

// BLOG // FACEBOOK // TWITTER // PINTEREST //

>>>Avishi Organics Intensive Repair Lotion<<<

"Avishi Organics develops all-natural, healing skincare treatments for pregnancy, post-partum, mother and baby. At Avishi Organics, we believe that healthy skin for mamas and babies can be achieved without the use of harmful chemicals found in typical skincare products. And we believe that natural formulations can be potent, effective and results-driven. Purity matters, but so do results. That is why our products are made from 100% natural ingredients that are renowned for their therapeutic and regenerative powers for skin that is radiant and glowing with good-health."

// WEBSITE // FACEBOOK // TWITTER //

>>>Milk Friendly<<<

"I created Milk-Friendly because I didn't want to lose my fashion identity while breastfeeding. I needed an outlet where I could combine my passion for fashion and my yearning to support other breastfeeding moms. I hope Milk-Friendly is a warm and welcoming place where readers can find fashion ideas that fit in with their new honorable lifestyle, and at the stores they already know and love. Because let's be honest, we've pretty much lost the days of leisurely mall-shopping ;)"

// BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // BLOGLOVIN // INSTAGRAM

>>>Love You Simply<<<

"A momma on a journey to better health."

// BLOG // BUSINESS WEBSITE //

>>>Green Your Air<<<

"Breath clean nature's way, with plants."

// WEBSITE // FACEBOOK // TWITTER //

>>>Vegan Mother Hubbard<<<

"I'm a stay-at-home mom to twin toddlers. I love vegan cooking and baking and spending time with my family. I write about all those things on my blog."

// BLOG // FACEBOOK // TWITTER // PINTEREST //

>>>La Belle Vie<<<

"Hello! I'm Rachel of La Belle Vie, I'm a 16-year-old Alabama living, Natural loving,Vegetarian girl. My jewelry is inspired by nature with a tribal/bohemian theme and I love to create using natural materials like wood, leather, feathers and stones."

// ETSY // STORE ENVY // PINTEREST //

>>>Pineapple Lily<<<

"Hey! I'm Melissa. A mom of three who blogs about life and all the things I love in it. Grab a glass of wine and stay awhile."

// BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK //

>>>2012 Goddess Yearbook and Planner<<<

"Over the last three years, thousands of women have used this workbook with the most amazing results. It’s the best planning tool available to help you make 2012 an absolutely incredible year!

"It’s filled with over 100 pages of worksheets & a printable calendar to help you dream, manifest, set your intentions, plan & cultivate your amazing new year. The workbook has been lovingly handwritten & rainbow illustrated… perfect for you to print out, soak up the rainbow colours of & get thoroughly inspired by!

"You’ll get clarity on what you need 2012 to be. What you want to create during it. And most importantly, how to make it happen."

// WEBSITE //

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want to be a sponsor for March and April? check out this post.

xo, mrs. stone

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sponsor the stones // march + april 2012

2012-02-21T00:48:00.000-08:00

{source}

buy one, get one free? yup! with the exception of the XL ad space. i am in full-preparation mode for our upcoming "baby-moon" so that's my deal. i'm taking it easy for the month of april. best of all? - >>>>>your sponsorship this month will be helping to support our beautiful home-birth!<<<<<

so who am i looking for in sponsors? i'm looking for like-minded bloggers, [environmentally-friendly] businesses/products that would interest my readers and me, affiliates, and more. just ask :) i'm also interesting in supporting non-profits of good cause free of charge.

so what is so exciting about the next two months? um, i'm having a baby! duh.

content to look forward to in march and april -

my lovely daily musings about life and motherhood :)
more how i'm preparing for my natural birth posts + we'll find out what worked for me and what didn't.
a new series on how i'm preparing for my rockin' postpartum body.
posts on my progress in my 2012 goddess year workbook and planner.
educational toddler craftiness...as i'm preparing more structured days for E.
self-reliant goody tutorials and inspiration.
high-iron + high-protein vegan recipes.
my final maternity series pics + an awesome maternity shoot finale.
#30daysmindandbody updates.
a post all about my awesome hair.
ostara/easter fun and inspiration.
more baby gaga.
updates on labor progress and baby-having!
and the best of all - you guys will get to meet the newest member of our family! we are so excited to meet her in-person.

here are the available ad sizes:

XL ad size is reserved for march. it is available for april so snag it up quick!

Ad sizes (pictured above)

XL, 200x250 - $15

- includes prime ad space + solo interview + inclusion in sponsor highlight post + solo giveaway + product review + guestpost. (reserved for march)

L, 200x150 - $10

- included in sponsor highlight post + group giveaway + guest post.

M, 200x100 - $5

- included in sponsor highlight + guest post.

S, 97 x 97

(trade only)

email any questions or comments to ManicMrsStone{at}live{dot}com. this is also my paypal email if you'd like to just reserve your space immediately. i will include one custom button in the purchase of your ad if you need it. if you would like more, the current rate is $5 for 2 buttons or $10 for 5.

*for your free month of april, there will only be the option to do a guest-post as i will be too preoccupied to do a group giveaway or highlight post. however this rule does not apply to the XL ad space - april will resume as normal is for that ad purchase.*

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guest posts for march and april: all guest posts will be reserved for my baby-moon during the last couple weeks of march/first week or so of april (approximately - we don't know for sure). i'm looking for anything in the general topics of motherhood, natural parenting, attachment parenting, inspiring kid stuff, environmental-activism, vegan yummies, goddess loveliness, natural childbirth, gardening, ostara/easter info/crafts/inspiration/traditions, self-reliance, eco-kiddo-fashion, mind/body/spirit love, etc.

really, the possibilities are endless. if it meets my blogging interests then i'm sure i'll love your idea. hit me up. if you don't have a blog to advertise in the sidebar but would still like to be lovely and helpful with a baby-moon guest-post send me an email and we will make it happen!

any other questions? email me at ManicMrsStone{at}live{dot}com.

xo, mrs. stone

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{BE MY GUEST} vegan mother hubbard shares a spinach pancake recipe + tips on vegan nutrition.

2012-02-19T00:46:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm Sandra from Vegan Mother Hubbard. Many thanks to Elisabeth for sharing her delightful piece of the blog world with me for a day. I'd like to share a couple things with you. First, I have a delicious and super-duper easy recipe for you. Second, some ideas for increasing the nutrition of your vegan (or not vegan) cooking and baking. I hope you enjoy!

Savory Spinach Pancakes

ingredients:

3/4 cups white flour

3/4 cups wheat flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tsp salt

1 tsp chives

1 tsp parsley

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 cup shredded soy cheese

3/4 cup chopped, frozen spinach, thawed

1/2 cup whipped silken tofu

1 1/2 cup plain non-dairy milk

Directions: Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Grate the cheese into the flour mixture and toss with a fork, so the shreds don't stick together. In a separate bowl, whisk together the spinach, tofu and "milk." Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a fork. Do not over mix the batter. Allow the batter to stand a few minutes, before cooking on a griddle over medium heat. Serve as a side with soup or use them in place of bread for a sandwich. Or, if you are my daughters, eat half a batch, completely plain, and then spend the afternoon begging for more.

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Healthy Vegan Tips:

My family loves all manner of delicious baked treats, and contrary to popular belief, merely making a dessert vegan does not mean it's good for you. While my tricks of the trade still don't mean that the treats are completely healthy, it does make them more healthful.

Substitute part of the white flour in cookie, muffin, bread or cake recipes with whole wheat, oat or barley flour. Unless a recipe is designed to use only these non-white flours, you won't want to do a 100% swap, but I often use 50% whole wheat flour or 25% oat or barley flour, regardless of what the recipe calls for. Whole wheat, oat and barley flours provide more nutrients and fiber and are typically much less processed than white flour. In many recipes, the texture and flavor ends up better.
Try adding a tablespoon of ground flax or wheat germ into your baking recipes. In most cases, you can't even tell it's there, but again you are adding nutrients and fiber. You can also throw these things into oatmeal, smoothies, pancakes and other treats. Be careful with finer, more subtle recipes like pie crust and sugar cookies, as it may provide an unexpected and potentially undesirable flavor for those particular pastries.
Try experimenting with nut butter in place of part of your fat in dessert recipes. In many treats, using 50% vegan butter and 50% peanut or almond butter, only slightly changes the texture and flavor of the final product, but it reduces some of the fat and adds a boost of protein.
Use tofu as your egg replacer in baking and pancakes. Use 3 tablespoons of tofu for each egg the recipe requires. Or throw some into a smoothie, oatmeal or creamy soup. The key is to use silken tofu that you have thoroughly whipped in a blender or food processor. You can't tell there is tofu in the dish. It won't alter the flavor, but it is a high protein, low fat and cholesterol free replacement for the eggs. In smoothies, oatmeal and soup, tofu provides a hearty creaminess. If your family is tofu-phobic, it's a phenomenal way to take their fear away. Have them try the dish with the tofu in it, prior to telling them it's there. They will quickly learn that there is nothing gross or scary about the amazing soy bean curd. Before long, you'll be serving up tofu scrambles and BBQ tofu as your main dishes at supper.
Break up the monotony of the rice you're serving for dinner. I typically use half white and half brown rice. You get all the healthy aspects of brown rice, but you still get the texture of familiarity of white rice. I also throw in quinoa, barley and/or wheat berries. Substitute these other grains for the rice, in equal amounts. My daughters love rice, especially with quinoa and wheat berries mixed in.

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sandra is also giving away vegan "starter" kits over here. feel free to enter!

xo, mrs. stone

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YES x7.

2012-02-17T23:32:00.000-08:00

here is my refreshing little break from the world of natural childbirth preparations. i'm sure you'll enjoy.

honestly, who doesn't have a psychotic obsession with harry potter? yeah...that's crazy talk.

{one, two, three, four, five, six, & seven}

xo, mrs. stone

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avishi organics review & giveaway {U.S. entrants only // $38.50 value}

2012-02-16T15:46:00.000-08:00

as you may well know by now, my belly is ginormous. and when i say ginormous i mean it's huge and it's getting bigger. i have stretch marks from my previous pregnancy as well as some new ones. i don't mind stretch marks - i think they are a beautiful reminder of the lives i've carried inside me. but i'm pretty much good with the ones i've already got - if you know what i mean. i don't really need any more, thank you. also, my skin has been driving me nuts. itching, burning, itching some more, and burning some more. i didn't get those symptoms with the last pregnancy but i also never got this big.

and let me tell you i hate lotion. hate it and will never use it.

but guess what?! oil rocks.

i recieved my bottle of avishi organics oil in the mail several days ago and have been using it twice a day since then. the itching and burning on my skin has completely disappeared and the oil smells amazing.

i mean, seriously, i think i will need this oil when i go into labor because the smell is so relaxing and lovely.

my skin just soaks it up and looks so much better since i've started using it. E loves it, too. she has fun rubbing it on "baby sister" and then putting some on her own belly as well. it has become a fun daily routine for us.

more information? -

Avishi Organics Intensive Repair Oil activates skin renewal to visibly minimize the appearance of existing stretch marks and scars, as well as reduce the possibility of new marks forming during pregnancy. It is free from chemicals, fragrances, colors, parabens, sulfates and other toxic ingredients, and is safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

This luxurious, light and quick-absorbing blend not only deters stretch marks but also relieves itch on the belly and other areas common during pregnancy. Powerful skin-cell regenerating ingredients work hard to smooth skin texture, encourage skin elasticity and enhance the repair process.

how cool is that? i will definitely keep using this throughout the rest of the pregnancy and as i am rocking my post-pregnant body. my favorite part is that it is all organic.

now for eden's personal review -

yup! it's good schtuff, mama!

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okay, so now the other fun part is that you - my fellow beautiful pregnant mama goddess that is reading this - can enter to win [up to 3 times!] your own bottle! yippee!

how to enter:

1.) mandatory entry -

'like' avishi organics on facebook
comment below to let me know you did that (one comment). be sure to include your email address, pretty please :)

2.) additional entry #1 - follow avishi organics on twitter. leave one separate comment to let me know you did this.

3.) additional entry #2 - tweet about this giveaway and (include link + @manicmrsstone @avishiorganics) and leave one separate comment below letting me know you did that. please include the tweet url.

good luck!

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can't wait to win it? you can purchase your own bottle here and use the promo code STONE30 for 30% off your order!

xo, mrs. stone

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a beautiful gift of self-reliance

2012-02-14T23:34:00.000-08:00

so there is this lady. she pretty much rocks. her name is julie and she blogs over at long distance neighbors. she is doing a project called 37 good deeds for her 37th birthday and as one of her good deeds she sent me a box of gardening goodies!!! how wonderful is that?!

what is really interesting is that we recently found out that we won't be able to move out of our apartment into a home with a yard for quite a while. so rather than moping i decided to try and figure out container gardening. literally, the very next day, here is a book on container gardening in my mailbox along with the farmer's almanac and organic seeds. a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

p.s. there were more seeds than shown, but Eden was busy playing with the other packets while i snapped a quick picture :)

according to the moon charts in the almanac, march 2-4th are the best upcoming days to start a container garden. so E and i will be working hard on preparations and then will be planting our seeds that weekend!

okay fine, we will go with the moon cycle after this. hahaha. couldn't resist at least one right now.

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thank you, thank you, thank you julie!

i'm so inspired. rather than doing another x before x birthday goal list for my birthday this year, i am going to do a 21 good deeds for my 21st birthday project! passing it forward!

xo, mrs. stone

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show yourself some love, damnit! // #30daysmindandbody

2012-02-14T12:59:00.000-08:00

this picture represents one of my many goals this year to put more time in as a wife and tea-drinker. this would be one of the hubby's and my regular weekly tea dates ($3 each date!) where we get to simply relax, be together, and actually converse (whoa)!

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i'm not big on valentine's day. let's just get that out there.

it might be more fun for me when my munchkin is old enough to appreciate making handmade cards for family, but otherwise the idea seems silly and seriously commercialized to me.

it's a day to show your loved ones that you love them. well, i believe in doing this every day. every moment of every day.

it's not just that, you say? it's also buying them chocolate and roses? sorry, i love my baby too much to buy her a bunch of refined sugar. and unless they are locally-grown roses, it's not happening. i love Mama Earth too.

but man i hate being left out of all the festivities!!!

ty and i talked about how we wanted to celebrate certain holidays with our little ones and we came to the conclusion that valentine's day, each year, will be a celebration of ourselves, the planet, and other beautiful souls. if we have to put effort into showing our own family the love one day each year, then something is wrong.

you know what else is seriously wrong? that we don't make an effort to love ourselves every day.

i know i'm not alone when i say that my kids get all my attention and then i get to struggle in the evenings (their bedtime) to get in some self-attention. most of the time i handle this wonderfully, while other days i'm a monster mom because i'm so frazzled.

so today i am taking time to find ways to love myself more. the more love i have in myself, the more i have available to give to the world. i know self-love is something that a lot of people have struggled with their whole lives and i feel it's so sad. everyone should feel beautiful and wonderful.

i'm probably one of the few people you will ever know of that can honestly say i've had a really wonderful self-esteem for most of my life. i've always know that happiness is within my own control. there were definitely times of struggle in my life when i couldn't control my own life and situation (being underaged), but outside of that i have always known that i, and only i, can control my emotions, feelings, and life.

i knew that when i felt physically drained or just out-of-it that it often had to do with needing to put more attention on my mind or body. eating healthier, moving my body, and taking time to be in the moment are wonderful ways to bring yourself back to balance.

when you love yourself, when you take care of yourself, when you believe in yourself...amazing things can happen. i hope that i can raise my girls to feel the same way.

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so what is my point (besides, love yourself, damnit!)?

well i am teaming up with some amazing, beautiful, wonderful, lovely ladies over the next month (up to my due date, hey!!!) to show ourselves some love and pampering for our bodies, minds, and souls.

i've been practicing prenatal yoga off and on for a couple months now but am quite excited to make a more efficient goal of once a day for the next 30 days - even if only for 5 minutes a day. because believe me, that 5 minutes makes a difference!

what else will i be doing to contribute to my mind and body? well i will be doing several follow-up posts on my #30daysmindandbody challenge, but here is a small list of what i would like to accomplish:

mind/body/soul

[prenatal] yoga each day for the next 30 days. no minimum time requirement.
a green smoothie for breakfast each morning (i already do this about 50% of the time, but love it when i do.)
one meditation (or hynosis) session before bedtime each night.
journaling regularly.
working towards my goals, projects & dreams.
reaching out to others.
loving my beautiful planet even more than i ever have.

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want to join? do it! link yourself up below and write a starter post including your own goals. feel free to use the #30daysmindandbody graphics in this post made by a wanderer's soul and violet bella.

xo, mrs. stone

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printable:

how i'm preparing for my natural birth // part two

2012-02-13T01:12:00.001-08:00

originally titled how i'm preparing for my natural vbac. check out part one here.

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4. positive energy.

i am surrounding myself with vision-board images, positive stories, supportive people, and lovely words. for example i have been working on using the term VBAC more sparingly. it's good to use in certain situations when i'm trying to connect with other mamas with similar stories...but most of the time it freaks people out (you are having a VBAC at home? are you crazy!?).

i am not having a VBAC, i'm giving birth. there's nothing unnatural or scary about it.

here are a few birth stories that i love so far: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. i am looking for more if you are interested in sharing! whether it's by link or guestpost for MMS. ones with an emphasis on homebirthing or hypnosis are a plus!

here is the pinboard that i've created for storing positive images i find online.

5. relaxant triggers.

no, not drugs.

i am finding ways to activate all my senses when i practice my hypnosis and meditations for M's birth day. one way i am doing that is through smell. before i start my meditations in the evening i smudge to clear the energy and then i light some lavendar incense. i have also started experimenting with oils and am finding i connect much better to those types of scents.

i can tell it works well though because once i've prepared this way, i'm already extremely relaxed before even beginning my relaxation practice.

6. education.

one of the mistakes i made with my first pregnancy was expecting my doctors and others to educate me. needless to say i remained completely clueless and had no idea what was going on or what choices i had for myself.

i really do believe that education is power and that power in a natural childbirth experience will be essential.

so i am doing that this time.

here is just a small selection of books i've read in the last two weeks. some of them i loved dearly, while some of them...not so much. either way, i've come away from each one with new knowledge, ideas and insight.

i update twitter regularly with my current reads, if you were curious.

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do you have any positive stories, links, images, or other energy to share? what about educational resources that inspired you?

xo, mrs. stone

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almost 35 weeks {MATERNITY SERIES}

2012-02-11T01:31:00.000-08:00

so we are 35 weeks along on monday. whoa!

yes - i realize these are instagram pics. i don't think i've picked up my dslr camera at all these last two weeks. i've been so busy preparing for baby and trying to manage taking care of my toddler full-time as well. so blogging and photographing daily life via a real camera have not happened. not going to apologize because, well, this is the blog of a full-time mama. it's life ;)

i've been reading book after book after book and can't even believe what i've learned. my favorite book so far has been ina may's guide to childbirth. i'm on the last chapter but i can definitely agree that anyone that owns a uterus and plans to do anything with it should read this book. i will go into more detail later when i review all the crazy amount of books i've been reading. the hubs and i also set up our new bedding (switching from a queen to a king), got ahold of a birthing ball, booked an amazing midwife, and got our bikes set up. so the bike thing isn't related to baby but it's pretty awesome just the same.

i feel like i've been completely obsessed with this lately. i guess after mariann is born i will finally relax and take a 6-week nap ;)

i still don't really feel like a whale yet. i may say i do for dramatic effect but my only complaint is that in the mornings when eden is jumping on the bed she steps on my boobs...and honestly i don't think that has anything to do with having a round belly. so no complaints. i feel amazing and i am going to miss this when mariann is born but also can't wait to hold that little mermaid in my arms.

as for our birth plan, well, we just aren't talking about it with family. and honestly i don't think any family reads this blog. but we have officially set up our home birth and unless i decide 10 hours into labor that i need a hospital (not happening), we are having a baby in our bedroom! whoot! we get our birthing pool on my due date since we have to pay weekly and i really don't think little m is going to show up until a few days after.

oh i'm so excited!

xo, mrs. stone

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giveaway winners!!!

2012-02-11T01:07:00.000-08:00

1.) congrats to jenny o for winning the homemade vanilla extract via d.i.y. cupcake. love love love!

2.) congrats to alma for winning the 2012 creating your goddess year workbook and planner i was giving away over at violet bella! i hope you love your planner and i hope you share your adventures with it! i'd love to see :)

pssst! next week i will be giving away one more copy of this planner here at MMS as well as posting each day about the awesomeness that is happening from my own :)

xo, mrs. stone

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recent pins.

2012-02-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

i think i'm going to do this little project as a candle-holder for my reiki energy-charged candle for mariann's birthday!

hey, if eden gets a reading corner, then i want a meditation corner!!!

i'm not going to lie - ty and i were very set on naming our second daughter luna. we decided to instead name her after her grandmothers but are seriously looking forward to giving the name luna to our next little goddess lady.

i would love to find or make a pair of moccasins and then making matching pairs for my goddess babies!!!

whoa! seriously need to do a shoot like this for mariann, as she will be my little mermaid baby (born in the water!!!).

can we live here? please?

i love this tattoo art. i want to design a hummingbird tattoo with this same feel.

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{all images via my pinterest boards}

xo, mrs. stone

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{10 INSPIRING THOUGHTS} childbirth vision-board

2012-02-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

i realize i've been kind of obsessed with childbirth lately.

i have 3-6 weeks until i have my second child. holy.freaking.crap! here are images that i'm surrounding myself with as a positive influence. i'm really developing what i want for this birth and have decided to only include completely supportive and positive people in the planning process (so that means not a lot of family, haha). some people may find it odd how much i'm obsessing over preparing myself physically, mentally, and spiritually for this event. i'm kind of shocked at myself. but this will be an extemely spiritual event that i feel will help me cross that barrier into 'yes, i am strong and i can do anything.'

i have been following my heart, my soul, my intuition, & my instincts. i know that i'm on the right path even if others disagree with me.

{all images via my childbirth dreamboard on pinterest.}

xo, mrs. stone

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{DOUBLE RECIPE} agave-glazed butternut squash & roasted almonds

2012-02-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

ingredients: 1 whole butternut squash, olive oil, ground sea salt to taste, ground pepper to taste, sage to taste, & agave.

directions: preheat oven to 400 degrees and cut butternut squash into cubes. peel the skin off if it is not organic (tisk, tisk!). lay on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. lightly season with salt, pepper, and sage. bake for 15 minutes or until you can easily poke a fork through the squash. after dishing into bowls, lightly glaze with agave or humane honey. enjoy - because this is sooooo delicious!

a good side-dish to make this a complete meal is roasted almonds!

to make your own incredible roasted almonds: preheat your oven to 350 degrees. spread a single layer of raw almonds on an ungreased baking sheet. put in preheated oven and let roast for about 10 minutes. be careful not to let them burn!

i put just a teeny bit of ground sea salt on top of them for the baking process. i also let them cool down completely before munching (they are just sooo much better that way).

yum yum!

xo, mrs. stone

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trees of winter // photo-art shoot inspired by the season

2012-01-31T11:00:00.000-08:00

i hope you will enjoy a little exerpt from my nature-inspired photo shoot this last month. one of my 20 before 20 goals was to do another photo shoot simply for the sake of art. ta da!

xo, mrs. stone

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recent life...

2012-01-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

recent life has been pretty awesome. i haven't been very inspired in my blogging or socializing this past week, but that happens occasionally. i've been doing amazing with creating plans and such for upcoming events (such as my natural hypno VBAC). i met up with my doula for the first time this week and have done tons of other super-productive things...which is quite unlike me ;)

here are some instagram snaps from this past week.

1.) 32 weeks pregnant and huuuuge! 2.) eden and me being dorky. 3.) a sweet read. 4.) eden pretends to be yoda. 5.) stuffed-animal naptime at our place! 6.) eden making mama lay on yoga mat with her so she can't do her prenatal yoga. aww/ugh. 7.) i got my childbirth crystal-grid in the mail! 8.) eden on the way to visit our midwife. 9 & 10.) shopping and visiting the crabbies to send our love. 11.) oops i fell asleep with the monster rather than taking advantage of my evening alone time. 12.) finally organized our gardening containers into one box. 13.) just the hubs and i. 14.) current reads. 15.) amazing food. yup i will share recipe this week. 16.) eden and i getting ready to meet the doula. 17.) creating an actionable to-do list to get our moving process along successfully.. & 18.) just eden and me.

xo, mrs. stone

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painting on a rainy day // creating art together.

2012-01-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

so this painting was supposed to be an ocean scene with a whale...but Eden had other ideas. now it looks like a cool planetary something-or-other. oh the joys of creating with young ones :)

xo, mrs. stone

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plants that naturally filter toxins from the air you (and your kids!) breathe.

2012-01-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

So before I say anything, I'd like you to read the following -

Modern scientific research has shown that the indoor environment can be as much as 10 times more polluted than the outdoors.

The United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 threats to public health.

Today, people spend as much as 90% of their lives indoors.

Freaky, right? Yet, it totally makes sense. Almost everything we use now is, or is created with, the use of harmful toxins. That's seriously messed up especially when you consider the little babies running around the house. They don't need that crap!

What is my point? Well my point is that there are some really nice ways to help offset the most common household chemicals. NASA has put their seal of approval on several houseplants that are known to naturally filter the air that you (and your babies) breathe in the home. Even better news is that I know a really lovely lady who makes them easily accessable at a reasonable price.

Green Your Air is an eco-friendly mama-owned business that sells air-purifying plants such as Fortis, Luminosus, Draco, Viridis, and Confero that are known to filter toxins such as benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene and tuolene. These toxins are emitted from common household items like your computer screen, adhesives, wall coverings, paint, and particleboard. Yikes!

I have checked out this business and would highly recommend it to everyone. It isn't even suprising to me that something as simple as a plant - a beautiful piece of Mama Nature - could help protect us from our self-created harm.

Meet the ladies in charge -

Some of you may already know the lovely Maryam of Milk-Friendly, but if you don't then you should connect with her. She is offering the discount code, MRSSTONE25, for 25% off all Green Your Air plants until January 31st. These plants would be great for freshening up the air in your space, preparing for new baby (hint, hint ;), or as a gift to friends and loved ones!!!

xo, mrs. stone

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{GIVEAWAY // U.S. ONLY} homemade vanilla extract from d.i.y. cupcake

2012-01-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

how to enter:

go check out jennifer's blog and leave a comment, give her some feedback, or just say hi!

then, of course, come back here and let me know that you did.

Optional Additional Entry (leave a separate comment)-

Tweet about this giveaway!

i will pick a winner during the first week of February. please only U.S. entrants for this one.

xo, mrs. stone

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{BE MY GUEST} d.i.y. cupcake shares how to upcycle old bottle caps!

2012-01-26T01:05:00.000-08:00

Hi all, Jennifer here from D.I.Y. Cupcake, my blog about being a stay a home {mostly} mama and artist & D.I.Y.er. Today I'm going to show you how to upcycle old bottle caps into classy push pins and magnets!

This is a super fun and simple upcycling project for those who want to use trash and turn it into art!

What You'll Need:

Bottle caps {did you know most recycling programs will NOT accept these?!}

Magnets

Sand Paper

Strong glue {hot glue, super glue, or epoxy glue}

Thumb tacks

Epoxy resin {available at hardware stores} or mod podge {available at craft stores}

1 inch hole puncher {available at craft stores}

Hammer {for thumb tacks}

Nail {for thumb tacks}

Magazine or images {to put into the center of the bottle caps}

After a big event we usually have lots of bottle caps lying around, I always save them, since they're not accepted into our recycling program. I have even asked local bars if I can have their stash from the end of a night for projects like this and of course they gave them to me!

First gather all your bottle caps, then select your images to hole punch and gather a nice collection of letters, designs or even small images to fill the hole.

Once you have your bottle caps and your inserts, you're ready to prep. for assembly.

For the magnets it's easy. Just drop your inserts in!

After adding the image, glue the magnet onto the sanded surface of the bottle cap using hot glue, epoxy or super glue.

For the push pins it's a little extra work, take a nail and hammer in into the center of the bottle cap.

Then, insert the thumb tack...

Set flat in basket or push into a flat cork board.

I used a basket as a working surface so the push pins could rest flat on this surface to dry.

Add Mod Podge using a paint brush. Make sure to use a thick amount to properly cover the insert.

After you add mod podge your magnets or push pins should look like this.

If you're using epoxy, mix the epoxy following the directions on the box {mix equal parts},

stir using an unwanted brush and cup.

Pour mixture into the bottle caps, careful this part can be messy!

Now, just wait for them to dry!

Here are the push pins and magnets drying.

The white ones are mod podge but will dry clear.

The clear ones are epoxy filled and will dry {after 24 hours}, but still look wet.

Done.

You can't really tell the difference at a distance, but you can in the detailed images below.

Epoxy Magnet

Mod Podge Push Pin

Epoxy Push Pin Set

Happy Bottle Cap Upcycling!

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Head on back here around noon today for DIY Cupcake's giveaway :)

xo, mrs. stone

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32 weeks! {MATERNITY SERIES}

2012-01-24T23:56:00.000-08:00

i didn't realize how serious these pics looked until just now. haha, oh well. i had a couple smiley ones but they looked a little too 'i'm freezing my ass off but trying to look nice' for my taste.

happy 32 weeks to me! i can't believe how close we are getting to the big day. i still have so much nesting to do before she can arrive. we need to find a new place, move, figure out where and how we are going to birth, and all the other fine details.

updates since last time:

1.) little one has officially gone from being marian ostara leann to mariann ostara. i love it soooo much!

2.) i am deep into my hypnobirthing studies at this point and am loving it.

3.) i have taken the steps to make sure i'll have a doula at the birth! much needed.

4.) tyler and i discovered that we don't have to birth at the hospital if we don't want to - our insurance covers any midwife we want and we can do a homebirth if we so choose. so now we are weighing the pros and cons of doing this and trying to make those decisions now. personally i'd love to do a homebirth. the absolute only thing holding me back is the fact that i'm having a VBAC. if it weren't for that i wouldn't even think twice about it. but i really love the idea of getting to birth in the water or on my own comfy bed at home, and then just being home! no having to get comfortable in a cramped and uncozy hospital room, no driving 1/2 an hour back and forth, no waiting rooms, no nurses, and no hospital food (they aren't very forgiving to whole-food vegans). it really wouldn't be difficult to convince me to do a homebirth and i guess i am now just looking for other mamas that have had a successful HBAC (homebirth after cesarian) to help encourage me.

p.s. i will be posting part 2 of how i'm preparing for my natural vbac sooooon!

xo, mrs. stone

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get to know a mama! // rebecca of our simple souls

2012-01-22T22:19:00.000-08:00

hey everyone! so i would like to introduce you to this lovely lady that i am so glad i've connected with in this beautiful community. she is the voice and the creativity behind the blog our simple souls and her etsy business the dedication company. i asked her to answer several questions about herself as well as a few business-related questions for your reading pleasure :)

What is the most fulfilling part, for you, of running a business based on dedicated pieces?

I love the idea of creating jewelry for people that is a functional accessory but also a representation of something special within their lives. I hear a lot of tales about why my customers are selecting my jewelry. Whether the piece represents themselves, their child, their wedding day, a birth a death or a special accomplishment every story moves me.

Which product from your shop is your personal favorite?

I love so many! I particularly love the vintage sliding block pieces. They are a great way to wear someones initial but they also can be worn on the other side which blank for a simple, minimal necklace. There are three designs but this one here is my favorite.

What single piece of advice would you give to other moms who hope to run a business from home?

Persevere! I am the designer, photographer, ad copy writer, blogger, shipping/receiving, stylist, PR person, etc. for my business. It all takes a lot of work, much more than 40 hours a week. But I love what I am doing and I have put my heart into everything - it is my own. Hard work pays off over time and as we all know time slips by faster than it should. If you spend that time working hard, honing skills, developing your brand you'll have built up something great as a result of your ability to persevere in no time.

What is your #1 favorite part of motherhood?

Do I have to choose just one? In and around the everyday joys, trials and tribulations of being a parent I often think of the big picture when it comes to being a mother. It is fascinating (and sometimes overwhelming) to think that I am helping to raise another human being. I get to watch my son grow into his own person, I get to witness him discover the things he loves and see him form his individuality. It is completely unbelievable to me. I can't wait to see what Sylas becomes! To take it down a notch I totally love it when he falls asleep draped across my chest. There - I snuck in two.

When did you know that you wanted to live a more simple-inspired lifestyle?

John and I were both raised in simple, no frills families. This type of upbringing stuck with us and has lent itself to simpler intentions for the length of our relationship. We have a small home , we drive our cars until they cannot run anymore, we recycle anything that could possibly have another purpose - the same things that a lot of folks do to keep it simple. For us, things were really kicked into high gear after Sylas was born. It was the ideal time to apply the concept of simplicity to every facet of our lives. Since then we've been sifting out the mental and physical clutter by concentrating on de-cluttering our physical space (our gargage is next!) and focusing on getting rid of relationships that fall on the toxic side. We also made an intentional choice to not buy into all of the chaotic practices that society tends to impress upon us. We want to do what feels right to us and not have the sense to 'keep up with' everybody else. That concept has been challenging but very liberating.

What are some of the more recent simple-living practices you’ve adapted into your home life?

This year is all about maintaining what I've mentioned above and adding in a big focus on buying local and organic as much as possible. This past summer we tried our hand at micro gardening. We also participated in a CSA and networked with a local farm to source local food. We are going to greatly expand upon that moving forward in 2012. We also want to simplify our daily schedules even further so that we are more harmonious in the home. Since I work at home it can be difficult to put the work away and I want to be intentional about that more and more as the year goes on.

Have you encountered any negativity from family and/or friends based on your choice of an attachment parenting lifestyle? How have you dealt with this in a positive way?

Thankfully we haven't encountered anything too negative. Sylas is now 18 months old and I've had people remark that it is 'weird' to co-sleep and people sometimes ask if Sylas is 'still sleeping in our bed'. Once in a while someone will inquire about if he is 'still' nursing. I try to give gentle answers to any those types of questions and then move on to another subject. What is normal to us isn't always normal to the next person and we're okay with that. If someone doesn't agree with our parenting style that is totally fine - everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Which Our Simple Souls posts are your fave? (1-3 links)

I've been blogging since 2009 and it all started out as a way to document my work but it has turned into so much more. Over the years our blog has traveled through many phases. This post is one of my favorites because it challenged me to write about something really personal. I don't typically do that on our blog. As I wrote the post it began to illustrate to me what our blog has become - a place to document all of our joys in life. Our blog continues to evolve into a collection of all of our joys. For me those joyful things are my business, design, fashion and music. For John it is food and music and for both of us it is our documenting our experiences as a family. That post defines what the future holds for Our Simple Souls and I am really looking forward to the evolution of our piece of the internet.

Tell us one thing that not very many people know about you.

Thanks to my parents great taste in music I have grown up to be a scholar of classic rock.

awesome!!! head on over and check her out :)

xo, mrs. stone

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this week // a whole lot of YES + links to love on.

2012-01-21T23:24:00.000-08:00

images from a day in our life - posted to my new instagram account! whoa! you can follow me if you want (manicmrsstone), but you have to ask :) i warn you, though...i am a picture-lovin' mama.

ever have a week that, like, trumped all other weeks? well this week prepared us for that week. everything has been blissful - and i know, i just know, it is going to get even better next week and the one after. in case you are wondering how...it just is. we will be checking out homes soon to finally move away from apartment living. don't get me wrong, i think apartments are the most brilliant creation of community living - but i look forward to having a yard to grow an organic garden and hang-dry laundry in. i'm looking forward to being able to practice violin again without having my walls banged on my the neighbors who probably think i'm killing cats (let's just say that i'm not the best violinist - it's more of a stress relief activity). i'm so excited for this and i just know it will work out beautifully for us. one day we may own a home but for now i'm just excited to rent one and watch my kids play in the grass in our front yard. *happy sigh*

now for some awesome reads from this week -

i'm totally going to have to try out this tutorial to make cloth diapers at home!

check out these tutorials for basic seams and hems. i'm definitely following this series.

here are some lovely tips for participating in a craft fair.

a couple ways to use dr. bronner's magic soap - i looooove that stuff. we use it for everything.

seeing people preparing their gardens for spring brings :D to my face.

oh man! check out this tidbit on natural & homemade laundry detergent. we've been using 7th Gen. detergent forever, but i can't wait to try this stuff.

5 ways to make healthy vegan food taste yummy.

vegan pregnancy q & a part one & two.

a blog i'm really loving lately.

greening and cleaning week? yeah!

zen and the art of photography.

50 questions that will free your mind.

inspiration for those who are taking control of their birth.

lavender sugar, anybody? i think yes!

{source // blessed bee}

some lovely deals...

this enchanted pixie - promo code MANICMRSSTONE for 20% off.

la belle vie - promo code FREENEWYEAR.

green your air - promo code MILKFRIENDLY for 25% off (ends today so get on it!).

...and funny stuff!

xo, mrs. stone

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BABY GAGA // my favorite clothing shoot ever...so far

2012-01-20T23:08:00.000-08:00

{sweater & dress // hand-me-downs. boots & tights // thrifted.}

xo, mrs. stone
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last call for february sponsors + portrait-editing & ad services!

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

it's that time again! february is going to be an awesome month full of all sorts of hell yeah (we are moving into a house! a real house!) . it is also my last month as the mother of one child. lots of preparing and dreaming to do still!

i'd love to partner with you and your like-minded blog or shop! hit me up :)

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Ad sizes (pictured below)

XL, 200x250 - $15

- includes prime ad space, solo interview + inclusion in sponsor highlight post, solo giveaway, product review, guestpost, etc. (reserved for february and march)

L, 200x150 - $10

- included in sponsor highlight post, group giveaway, product reviews, guest post, etc.

M, 200x100 - $5

- included in sponsor highlight & guest post.

S, 97 x 97

(trade only)

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

email me at ManicMrsStone{at}live{dot}com if you have any questions or would simply like to send me a 97x97 ad in exchange. go ahead and shoot me an email to ask about prices, barter/trade offers, etc! if you are ready to reserve a spot now then go ahead and pay below or send payment via paypal to ManicMrsStone{at}live{dot}com.

*update 1/29/12 - the XL ad has been reserved for March as well. if you'd like to reserve it for April, let me know ASAP!

Reserve a February Ad Space Now!

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

and now for some pretty stuff!
here is some recent work i've done for a lovely lady that will be a MMS sponsor starting February! i thought i'd go ahead and share these (with her permission of course) and let you know that this service is available to everyone! i do anywhere from basic to "fancy" photo-editing and retouching and i can create buttons for your advertising needs :) i have an Etsy shop for these services that i've been slowly putting together in my spare time over the last several months. i hope to have it officially launched before Mariann's arrival. for now, though, feel free to email me at ManicMrsStone{at}live{dot}com if you'd like in on some of this awesomeness.

current rates for buttons are $5 for two or $10 for five buttons of your size choices. portrait edits depend on what you are wanting done (basic retouching, professional editing, etc). when the shop launches there will be other services available such as blog headers/design/and more.

and another one!

heart-shaped leaves

xo, mrs. stone

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{10 INSPIRING THOUGHTS} insanely yummy food.

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

o.m.g.

so my 10 inspiring thoughts this week are pretty much a bunch of delicious dishes that i've been oggling all week. i found this incredible blog called love food eat that is full of vegan recipes. i'm inspired for so many different reasons! first of all, i realize a lot of these are very sugary treats (i don't know about you, but i'm trying really really hard to cut sugar out of my life again - it is pretty much total crap for the balance of your body and mind) - but i couldn't resist.

i've been wanting to integrate food more into my blogging for a while now. i have a strong passion for vegan nummies and nutrition. that will be one of my big goals when we move into our new place is to do more food blogging & photography. it's really too difficult in our current place because we do not get any sunlight into our apartment except for about 1/2 hour per day. being a mama you could understand how difficult it would be to plan beautiful meals around that 1/2 hour a day to get pictures of. it just doesn't seem right to post the recipes without the photography.

oggle, click-over, oggle some more, create, and enjoy. i sure am.

{one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, & ten.}

p.s. i post to my "yummy recipes to 'veganize'" pinboard quite a bit - go check it out.

xo, mrs. stone

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january sponsor love!

2012-01-19T22:43:00.000-08:00

go check 'em out!

I blog about food, fashion, music, family - and anything else I love. // BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // SHOP //
I'm Beckah, very much in love with Marc and our two girls, Ocean and Luna. I write about simplicity, raw foods, zen living, and all things bohemian. // BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK //

Hello there :) My name is Rachel, I'm the person behind the shop La belle vie. I'm a 16 year old vegetarian from Alabama, I have been making things since I was around 11 and I think it's just about my favorite thing to do in spare time. // SHOP // { use promo code FREENEWYEAR }

Hey! I'm Polly, I'm a full time crafty mama to my three home schooled kiddos. We live in the valleys of North Wales, where we spend our days exploring the outdoors and crafting. Drop by the blog and say hello! // BLOG // SHOP // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // { 25% off with promo code: MRSSTONE }

Green Your Air is an eco-friendly plant company, that hopes to help new moms create clean spaces for their homes with our air filtering plants. // SHOP //

It’s here! The uber popular Creating your Goddess Year Workbook & Planner is back for 2012! HURRAH!

Over the last three years, thousands of women have used this workbook with the most amazing results. It’s the best planning tool available to help you make 2012 an absolutely incredible year!

It’s filled with over 100 pages of worksheets & a printable calendar to help you dream, manifest, set your intentions, plan & cultivate your amazing new year. The workbook has been lovingly handwritten & rainbow illustrated… perfect for you to print out, soak up the rainbow colours of & get thoroughly inspired by!

You’ll get clarity on what you need 2012 to be. What you want to create during it. And most importantly, how to make it happen. // SHOP //

I'm a vegan mom to twin toddlers. My daughters keep me super busy, but I try to make time everyday to make delicious, healthful, vegan meals for my family. Then I share my recipes and stories about my silly girls on my blog. // BLOG //

Hello! I'm Melissa, a stay at home mom of three {three and under} and wife to Brandon, teacher/soccer coach. I blog about products and things I love, beer and wine, my family, crafts I attempt and even some food now and then. I'm silly and a little crunchy, and you might even laugh when you read my blog because I attempt to be funny. I feel like I'm finding myself in this blog journey, I hope you follow along! // BLOG // TWITTER //

I'm an earthy mama to a sweet babe. We stay at home, even though I teach art a few hours a week. We craft and I garden, bake and paint. I share my projects and thoughts on my blog. // BLOG //

Hi! My name is Samantha and I am just a tea drinking, picture painting, craft making, hula-hooping, aspiring lactation counselor, earth loving, natural parenting mama of two. {who wishes she spent more time practicing yoga} // BLOG // FACEBOOK // TWITTER //

// BLOG //

xo, mrs. stone

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clean with green // multi-purpose solution

2012-01-19T00:24:00.000-08:00

for my 10 inspiring thoughts this past week i mentioned wanting to make some eco-friendly & toddler-safe cleaner to use in the home. and...well...here you go!

needed: empty spray bottle, 1 cup water, 1 cup white vinegar, and 2 drops essential oil of choice (i used eucalyptus because it is what i currently have).

directions: mix ingredients in spray bottle and shake it up, baby! spray on counters and wherever for a lovely clean home w/out chemicals :)

xo, mrs. stone

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remember your inner child.

2012-01-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

we almost missed this giant puddle in the middle of a side parking lot. we were just going about our daily life when hello there, puddle - mind if we have a jump?

sometimes it's difficult to remember your inner child. sometimes it's too much work to pull away from the hustle-and-bustle of life to enjoy the small things. i'm so glad we didn't miss this one. Eden was so happy (and then so cold and wet, but still blissed out). our first thought was that it was very chilly outside and it's not the best idea to jump in water without a change of clothes. but you know what? that's just too many mind (The Last Samurai, anyone?). less mind, people. more fun.

xo, mrs. stone

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how i'm preparing for my natural birth // part one

2012-01-15T22:08:00.001-08:00

1. self-hypnosis for birth!

so we had a Hypnobabies miracle that you can read about here.

i am not going to go into the full details of what hypnosis is, but this program teaches you how to use self-hypnosis for having a baby in the calm, natural, and beautiful way that women are supposed to have babies. you read the booklet for six weeks and listen to the audio every day. today i started week one and by the time i finish week six i will almost be considered "full term." so right on time! i'm very excited about this and feel it will be extremely helpful in my success having a natural vbac.

my first experience with self-hypnosis was a.m.a.z.i.n.g! the program guide states that each person will feel hypnosis very differently. you may feel very heavy relaxation, feather-light relaxation, not much difference, etc. i was like a hundred-thousand pounds of relaxed. i got so damn heavy that i felt like an anchor. so far, from what i'm reading and listening to i really believe that i'm very in touch with my subconscious. i've always been extremely open-minded and spongy (absorbing new ideas and such) like a young child. it's sometimes a burden but most of the time i'm very proud of this ability. i ~~think~~ know that this will be extremely helpful in my hypnosis-for-childbirth studies and practice.

this is quite different than meditation...hypnosis is meant to cause deep relaxation and numbness. yet at the end of a session i come back to full awareness and energy. it's pretty sweet! i'll post more updates throughout the next few weeks!

2. yoga!

i started prenatal yoga a couple of weeks ago! i am using a dvd called Element: Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga. i have ~~chuckled at~~ tried more than 5 other prenatal yoga dvds but they were all too cheesy for me. this one is not at all. i really enjoy doing my half-hour each day and not feeling like an idiot.

i may not be very good at yoga. i really have no idea if i'm even doing it right because i don't have an instructor in front of me, but it's empowering nontheless. i feel wonderful after each session and can't wait to do it again. i am glad i started now because i know that this will help so much with Marian's birth. Eden also really enjoys our daily yoga routine. she's a little pro by now!

in the midst of the toy tornado debris, little E keeps her center and so finds zen.

3. perineal massage!

i bet you're glad i didn't include a picture of that!

considering that i am going drug-free for this birth, i'd really like my vag (excuse me...my perineum) to not get all ripped up or have to have an episiotomy last minute. soooo, like a good little mama-to-be-again, we are pwepping da pewenium for da gweat stwetch of dewivery (Baby Mama, anyone?). some benefits are as follows:

Perineum becomes more supple and elastic and as a result reduces the possibility of perineal tearing or an episiotomy.
Prepares you for the feelings of pressure and stretching when your baby's head starts to crown. Having a idea of what these sensations are like enables you to relax and as a result this can lead to a quicker birth. Tension will delay your baby's descent.
New emotional feelings may be bought to the surface. This will allow you to discover and discuss these feelings with your partner before the birth and can help you to grow a deeper appreciation of each other. Some emotions you may feel are fear, uncertainty, overwhelming love, excitement etc.
Perineal massage during labor helps to ease the tissues around the baby's head as it is crowning and clearly benefits both mother and child. This area is very sensitive during the birth so it is often more helpful for the mother to use perineal massage during this time.

click here for the source + much more information.

not going to lie - the first time hurt like a mother--. i could've been doing it wrong or maybe it's just a lot like losing your virginity...except that it's not same thing at all because it's not sexy and you don't have to rush back to school at the end of the lunch hour *giggle*.

more to come! any advice or experience using these techniques to prepare for having a baby?

xo, mrs. stone

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sunday surf + movies to watch + [finally] creating almost zero garbage!

2012-01-14T23:54:00.000-08:00

leaf earrings // la belle vie (and omg, i looove them!)

sunday surf - "We are not separate from this world and from the precious web of life here." this was a great post! looking for more inspiration? why should you avoid fluoride? "i love you" and other things to say to your kids. 12 lessons from children. this is a must-read. the top 5 regrets people admit on their deathbed. really inspiring. check out this planet wise hanging wet/dry bag giveaway! this d.i.y. family tree is soooooo cute. current etsy love. movies to watch -

watch Dirt! The Movie full-length for free here.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead - Official Trailer from Team Reboot on Vimeo. this week's favorite cell phone snap -

{eden cuddling mama after bathtime.}

what the heck else i did this week -

Ty and i visited a buddhist monastery for the first time ever and took a beginners meditation and zen class with the monks! that was an exciting (and totally intimidating) experience. we will be going every week until the baby is born :) we also switched Eden out of her disposable training pants back into her gdiapers. when she's at home she runs around naked anyways so i figured 'training pants' were kind of pointless for out-and-about ventures...so back to the gdiapers we went! the most exciting part about this is it almost completely eliminates our household garbage! we can literally narrow down to our compost bin and our recycling bin now! i also decided to do homemade cloth for Marian rather than deciding between brands. so we will do gcovers and homemade inserts! whoot! great week...

xo, mrs. stone

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I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!
For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.

Happy Surfing!

10 inspiring thoughts // simple ways to love & appreciate your planet

2012-01-14T09:53:00.000-08:00

#1. eat whole vegan foods. try to eat in season and eat locally. it is so natural for your body and it's a wonderful way to balance yourself and feel more in-tuned to nature. the meat and dairy industries are also kinda destroying the planet and controlling our polititians - so remove that support!

#2. plant a tree!

#3. don't be disposable. just because you throw something away doesn't mean that it's gone. quite the opposite, actually. we are currently trying to make our 'garbage' bin non-existent. the only thing we throw away right now are my daughters pull-ups so this weekend we are going to find a way to do cloth with her once again (the reason we stopped is because we don't have a washing machine).

#4. make your own chemical-free cleaners! you shouldn't have chemicals around your kids anyways...

#5. the term reusable isn't just for big shopping bags. don't forget to use reusable or biodedgradable produce bags too!

#6. compost! if you are looking for a way to show gratitude to your planet for nourishing and sustaining you, consider returning your leftovers to the earth rather than stuffing them in a landfill.

#7. ride a bike! or just go on a walk. just get outside once in a while and feel the sun and wind on your face. you'll be more appreciative of what Mama Nature gives you.

#8. join, create, or build on your community - friendships and socialization improves your mental and physical health. it helps you to be accountable to others in your actions and creates a sense of responsibilty to more than just yourself.

#9. garden! it's another beautiful way to give back to your soil.

#10. meditate. the world is a busy place and we are chaotic beings. taking time each day to focus on being in the moment and removing all that chaos from your mind means that you will be more refreshed and better able to give to the Universe.

xo, mrs. stone

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tour de la casa // the reading corner

2012-01-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

{sesame street sign, book shelf, coffee table, chair // all from goodwill}

i'm pretty much in love with this corner. it's not done yet, but there are only a few more adjustments i'm going to make. one will be to add more of her artwork to the walls and two will be to replace the numbers mat with a soft-on-bare-feetsies rug. i'm not sure when i'll be able to accomplish this (especially considering that we are moving in a month or so), but it'll be perfect! E really loves this corner and uses it many many times each day.

xo, mrs. stone

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30 weeks! {MATERNITY SERIES}

2012-01-11T23:13:00.000-08:00

yoga pants // victoria's secret, thrifted. tank top // a beautiful gift from a beautiful friend. penguin socks // a yule gift.

so guess what? yesterday an angel dropped Hypnobabies off at my front door - as in a radiant mama that i met at my fave alternative bookstore because i stepped out of my comfort zone and said hi (it's unlike me to socialize with strangers). this is absolutely amazing in so many ways i can't even describe. Ty and i had been saving for this program for months, but of course, bills happened. a 2nd birthday happened. Hypnobabies money quickly disappeared.

so as my lovely readers probably already know, i'm very into dreamboards, affirmations, inspiration, creating goals, and putting my thoughts into the Universe. well at the end of every month i create a small dreamboard (more like list form than actual images) of things that i hope to happen for the following month. it's like New Years every 30 days for me and it's much easier to break down big goals this way. for january my biggest goal was that i would aquire the Hypnobabies program by the second week of january. i had no idea how since our savings was kaput. i just wrote it down, visualized it and believed it wholeheartedly. if i didn't figure it out by the second week of january, i feared, we would not have enough time to work on it and practice before Marian arrived. the next day is when we went to the bookstore for some crystal admiring to waste time on Ty's day off of work. then yesterday i am holding the entire program in my hands. am i in good karmic standing with the Universe or what?!?! does anyone else realize that this is the second week of january? so, i'm putting a thank-you out there for a wonderful lady showing up in my life this last couple of weeks. yay! now it's time to find a way to pay it forward, huh?!

so next week i will be posting about my progress so far working with the program along with a couple other things i am doing to prepare for my natural birth in March!

it's been a great week, to say the least.

other than that, pregnancy is still going wonderfully. i'm in full planning mode for Marian's birthday. i've taken the steps to get a doula. i'm not totally sure that will work out but i'm hoping for it. my lovely sister~~-in-law~~ (might as well be my full sis) will also be taking the week of Marian's 'guess date' off work to be a part of the process!

i'm floating in the clouds right now. there are so many wonderful things to be thankful for and so many wonderful people in my life - including this online community. i love you guys!

xo, mrs. stone

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the two of you.

2012-01-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

i love you guys so much. you make me whole.

xo, mama & soul mate

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7 days of macrobiotics for a balanced family

2012-01-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the January Carnival of Natural Parenting: Experiments in Natural Family Living

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have reported on weeklong trials to make their lives a little greener. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

WHAT WE DID:

So the holidays are full of scrum-dilly-umptious (is that the correct terminology?) treats like cookies, candy canes, and cocoa that adds loveliness to the season. I’m not going to lie though; it sort of takes a toll on the body. Who knew that refined sugar could throw your mental and physical self out of balance? Hmm…

So we went crazy! We decided to eat nothing but macrobiotic (brief explanation below) meals for 7 days. Of course I had to be gentle because my munching hasn’t been perfect lately and doing a sudden and extreme diet change while pregnant isn’t the best idea. But it all worked out and I’m alive and feeling dandy.

At first, of course, it sucked because I wanted the sugar. I wanted the sugar. I wanted the damn sugar!!! But luckily there is a lovely and natural alternative to sugar often referred to as fruit. So I may have had a little more fruit that most practicing “macros” would have allowed, but luckily there are no real rules. And Eden loves fruit as well so we pigged out together. And (yay for me!) my toddler pretty much takes whatever I give her, so I didn't have too many problems getting her to eat the food each day.

HOW WE DID IT:

1. Looked through our books for delicious recipes to use (some archived recipes below).

2. Created a week-long meal plan.

3. Wrote out grocery list and went shopping (list below). Most of these items we already had, but I thought it'd be nice for you if I wrote down all the 'basics' of getting started on this adventure.

4. Planned ahead.

5. Ate some freakin’ food!

6. Seriously craved sugar and was sort of cranky.

7. Got over it and felt way better physically and mentally.

8. Finished the week and decided to continue eating at least a couple of our favorite “macro” meals each week from now on.

Recipes from the blog archives -Minty peach tea, Lentil soup, Gomashio, and Adzuki beans and squash

My favorite macro- ingredients:

· Leafy green veggies such as spinache and kale. There is nothing like some greens to boost your mood and energy.

· Kombu and Spirulina. They are full of minerals, vitamins (like b12!), and calcium.

· Umeboshi plums. They always make me feel better after a sugar-binge.

· Quinoa. It is one of the best forms of protein in the plant world, so of course we eat it a lot!

· Local fruit. Because it’s delicious, that’s why.

SO PLEASE EXPLAIN MACROBIOTICS:

"The Standard Macrobiotic Diet is a template that was created by Michio Kushi, a student of George Ohsawa's, for a presentation he made to the U.S. Congress in the 1970s. They are sound recommendations for developing a sense of balance and strengthening one's health. I mention it here because it is the most recognized set of macrobiotic guidelines that exists. The foods included in the Standard Diet are whole grains, a variety of vegetables, beans and bean products, sea vegetables, soups, pickles, desserts, condiments, and nonaromatic teas. Occasional foods include fish, fruit, and some alcoholic beverages. Normally eschewed are highly refined sugars, chemicalized and processed foods, nightshade vegetables, dairy products, eggs, and most other animal foods.

"However, nothing is forbidden in the practice of macrobiotics because more than anything, macrobiotics is about freedom -- the freedom you enjoy as inhabitant of the universe. You are free to make your choices, and you are free to feel the consequences."

- Jessica Porter, The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics

I started studying macrobiotics at the beginning of 2011 and haven't really stopped. I wrote a mini book for interested friends and family on the topic too, though I have yet to do much with it. I would say when it's not the holiday season or any other special occasion that our family is about 70% macro- and just 30% otherwise vegan muchers (enjoying our fill of fruits, chocolate, chai, and spices). So here is my little doodle with a [super-duper] brief explanation of the macrobiotic theory.

OUTSIDE RESOURCES:

websites:

Macrobiotic Guide

George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation

The Healthy Hip Chick

Eden Organic

recommended books:

· The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet

· The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for achieving a Radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body

· The Macrobiotic Way

Okay, so bring on the questions! I'd love to answer anything you have to ask :)

xo, mrs. stone

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***
Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Make your own moisturizer! — Megan at boho mama whips up a winter skin-friendly moisturizer.
Cold Water Only — Brittany at The Pistachio Project talks about how you do not need hot water to wash laundry.
Family Cloth... Really?? — After lots of forethought and consideration, Momma Jorje finally decides to take the plunge with family cloth.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle : 5-5-5 Things A Day — Luschka from Diary of a First Child writes about decluttering her home in an attempt to create a gentler living space. She takes on a new project where she sets a goal of reducing, reusing and recycling every day.
Pros and cons of family cloth — Lauren at Hobo Mama would love to continue replacing paper products with family cloth … if she could only get over how damp she feels.
Craftily Parenting — Kellie at Our Mindful Life finds that crafting makes her a better parent.
Changes — Laura at Pug in the Kitchen couldn't choose just one area to experiment with, so she wrote a long post about all the fun changes initiated in her life!
Life without Internet: Not all it's Cracked up to Be — Adrienne at Mommying My Way tries to go a week without the Internet, only to realize a healthy dose of Internet usage really helps keep this stay-at-home mom connected.
My Progression to Raw Milk — Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling shares her natural parenting progression all the way to trying raw milk.
mama's new little friend. — Sarah at Bitty Bird tries a menstrual cup to "green her period," and is pleasantly surprised when she falls in love with the product!
Before you throw it out, try homemade laundry soap! — Jennifer at Practical OH Mommy shows visual proof that homemade laundry soap is cheaper, easier, and works better than the store-bought chemicals!
Oil, Oil, No Toil, No Trouble — K from Very Simple Secret talks about her foray into the oil-cleansing method.
I Need a Hobby — Amanda at Let's Take the Metro couldn't decide which experiment to run, so she did them all.
7 days of macrobiotics for a balanced family — The Stones make a [successful] attempt to release the "holiday junking" with 7 days of macrobiotic meals to balance their bodies and souls. Elisabeth at Manic Mrs. Stone includes an explanation of macrobiotics.
Chemical Free Beauty Challenge — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction turned to natural alternatives for her daily beauty and cleaning routine, with great results.
Greening my Armpits!? My Green Resolution — Shannon at The Artful Mama talks about how she decided to give up her traditional antiperspirant and make the switch over to crystal deodorants and definitely isn't looking back!
Going Raw (for a while) — Jenny at Chronicles of a Nursing Mom shares her family's experience with raw food.
Do we get to eat gluten today? — Sheila at A Gift Universe has been trying to figure out if her son does better with or without gluten in his diet … but it's really hard to tell for sure.
Hippies Can Smell and Look Fabulous Too! — Arpita of Up, Down And Natural details her experience of going shampoo-free and overhauling her cosmetics to find the balance between feeling beautifully fabulous and honoring her inner hippie.
Our cupboards are full...but there's nothing to eat — Lucy at Dreaming Aloud takes on the challenge of chomping through the contents of her storecupboard rather than going shopping — but there's something that she just can't bring herself to do …
Elimination Experiment 3.0 — MudpieMama recounts the messy adventures of her baby daughter trying to be diaper free.
Family Cloth Trial — Amyables at Toddler in Tow talks about making and using family cloth wipes in the bathroom for the first time.
Taking a Hiatus — Amy at Peace 4 Parents shares how her experience of much less internet interaction affected her family and how it will change her approach in the future.
Trying Out the Menstrual Cup — Lindsey at an unschooling adventure ditches the tampons and gives menstrual cups a try.
Managing Food Waste in Our Home — Tired of the holiday waste, Robbie at Going Green Mama takes a weeklong focus on reducing food waste in her home, and learns some lessons that can take her through the new year.
Going Offline, Cloth Tissues, and Simplicity — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama muses over her time away from blogging and social networking. In addition, she shares her newfound love of cloth tissues and simplicity.
The Oil Cleansing Method — Erica at ChildOrganics explores an easy, organic and natural way to tackle skin care.
Experiments in Natural Family Living - Natural Toys! — Lani at Boobie Time enjoys the silence of natural toys and being more present with her son.
Discovering a New City and Organic Foods — Amy at A Secure Base describes her family's switch to and search for organic foods for one week.
My Experiment in Homemade Bread — Crunchy Con Mommy tried — and loved — baking her own homemade bread.
Menu Planning: Stop the Excuses — Gaby at Tmuffin stopped the excuses and started planning her weekly meals, drastically cutting her grocery budget and stress level and improving the quality of foods she fed her family.
My First Menstrual Cup — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children was pleasantly surprised with her first experience using a menstrual cup.
My Natural Beauty Regime — Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry shares the results of banishing cleanser and soaps from her bathroom, as well as a couple of natural homemade recipes that have worked well on her skin.
Unplugging and Creating a Rhythm: Our Experiment in Natural Family Living — Dionna at Code Name: Mama focused less on gadgets and spent more time with her family to create a healthy rhythm for the new year.
Experiments in Natural Family Living: 5 First Steps Toward Preparing for a Natural Birth — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama discusses how she tackled the pressing matter of how to begin preparing for a natural birth.
All you need is...vinegar! — Kristen at My Semi-Crunchy Life learns that one household product can replace all the cleaners in her cabinet.
Nope Nada Ixnay Negative Pass Decline — Zoie at TouchstoneZ finds out what shakes loose if she says, "YES!!" to anything anyone asks of her over the space of 10 days.
Reducing our exposure to toxins found in plastics — Syenna at Gently Parenting Twins throws out the melamine and BPA plastics which have been hanging around the kitchen for too long.
Duh! — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares how she began the process of helping her 2-year-old son stop physically acting out.
Experiments in Natural Parenting: Starting, Stopping, and Gaining Perspective — Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings explains how pregnancy brain interfered with her attempts to complete an experiment, but how she gained some interesting perspective as she started and stopped several.
From Experiment to Lifestyle — Abbie at Farmer's Daughter shares her experience avoiding processed foods for a month, and deciding to make it a permanent lifestyle change.
From Disposable Paper to Reusable Cloth – AGAIN! — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle stops flushing trees down the toilet and switches to the softest ever butt-wiping material: cloth.
Extra! Extra! Water Heater Turned Down, Mom Doesn't Notice! — Thomasin at Propson Palingenesis finds an energy-saving experiment that's so easy she didn't even realize it was happening.
Worm Tea — CatholicMommy isn't sure how successful her worm bin will be, but she's having fun anyway.
Miles to Go ... — Rachael at The Variegated Life learns that when it comes to sleep debt, she's in real deep.
My Month With Water Kefir — Paige at Baby Dust Diaries experiments with a new fermented probiotic drink homemade in her own kitchen.
OMG Mom is Home... All Day Everyday: A Week-Long Experiment in Connecting — What a difference a week makes! Ana at Pandamoly is afforded a week off from work and takes the chance to reconnect and reattach with her 16-month-old son through an experiment in simply being there.
Creating Healthy Family Recipes — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares her experiment with healthy, gluten-free recipes and a chocolate muffin recipe that was created during the experiment.
Adventures in Alternative Haircare: No 'Poo — This guest post at Natural Parents Network from Amy at Anktangle chronicles a months-long journey into the world of no 'poo.
My Experiment in Natural Family Living: Natural Family Planning — Birth control options are seriously limited for those of us trying to live a little closer to the earth, so Mama Psalmist experiments with natural family planning.

december favorites + sunday surf

2012-01-08T01:16:00.000-08:00

mmmm, these vegan sugar cookies were really good during the holidays but were also used for E's bday party. pretty much they are just really damn good and you should try making them for yourself ;)

here were the shots from our 2011 holiday family photo shoot.

though i have lots of new years resolutions and goals, here is my main word for 2012.

here were some ideas for celebrating the winter solstice.

check out the silhouette art that i made to go above our holiday stockings! they pretty much rock.

happy 2nd birthday to you, Eden! you are a wonderful daughter and i love you soooo much.

check out my inspiring home dreamboard for 2012! i have been taking an amazing goddess haven ecourse that inspired it.

this adzuki bean recipe still remains one of my favorite meals ever.

our beautiful winter solstice celebration for 2011.

[source]

this article including facts every parent should know was pretty informative. i don't believe much into IQs and such but otherwise i agree with all of this.

you really need to read this and sign the petition. it's super easy (it only took me 10 seconds) and is really important. monstanto is out-of-control!

this was a great article on raw baby food.

here are 20 ways to help parents of newborns. it is right on, too. i hope that we get lots of tribe-love when our little marian arrives in march.

check out this business called happy shirts (facebook page) - they donate one shirt to an orphan in a needy area for every one shirt sold! i wish there were more businesses like this.

getting involved with the arbor day foundation is a good way to follow through on your gift to the planet this year.

you need to do more than just visualize to make your dreams come true.

psssssst! i'm linked up over at hobo mama and authentic parenting.

xo, mrs. stone

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29 weeks! {MATERNITY SERIES}

2012-01-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

a bit late...but better late than never, right? ;)

i am feeling pretty pregnant...but that's nothing new. i'm starting to get a little antsy about the birth because i'm still figuring out that i can't be bossed around by doctors - who knew?! this experience is so different from when i was pregnant with eden. with her i went to the doctor all the time and was so brand-new to everything. with this one i hate going to the doctors appointments (if they didn't let me listen to the heartbeat i wouldn't even go). i feel like the blood tests and such are all total bullshit, to be honest.

but more into that later. i plan to write out E's full birth story over the next couple of weeks as well as a post about the impending birth and my thoughts and plans for it.

back to this last week -

so far i've gained a total of about 10 pounds, which is more than i gained the first time around all together. i'm not suprised though. i'm still really enjoying this. i get a foot in the ribs occasionally and hit in the bladder a lot, but it's still fun. i'm really looking forward to holding this little girl in my arms.

*sigh* i'm so in love.

xo, mrs. stone

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10 inspiring thoughts // looking towards 2012

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

i am extremely inspired by the new year. i love making plans, cleaning the home, and dreaming. i've never been much into the 'new year' hype - until i had eden. now, just like everything else in life, there is so much more meaning and excitement to it for me. it's almost magical. here are just a few [of many many] inspiring thoughts/aspirations i have for 2012. i hope you have as much fun reading about all my manic musings as i have creating them :P

#1. we are almost done organizing and creating a more inspired home for the rest of the year. even though we are moving in the next couple of months we are so glad we've done this.

#2. i really hope to make eden a homemade teepee sometime soon! i will have to post all about it :)

#3. tyler and i are both planning to learn even more practical arts such as soapmaking, sewing, and natural healing arts.

#4. so excited to finally be a mother to two in march! what an amazing transformation for our family.

#5. eden will probably be starting to show more interest in doing things that mommy does as she gets older this year. i'm secretly hoping she has an interest in photography :)

#6. we have lots of fun outings planned and i'd love to make a nature bag for her to go with our outings!

#7. getting another tattoo this summer!!!

#8. starting an herb garden this spring. this will be a nice distraction from constant newborn life (no sleep + constant breastfeeding).

#9. AAAAH! i can't wait to have a real yard. one we can run around in. we will garden, we will picnic, we will spread art supplies on the lawn and paint all day. i'm so excited.

#10. a post-pregnant body. i'm looking forward to the challenge of slimming back down to a cute 20-year-old figure (omg will i be 20 then?! wierd).

what are some [possibly random] things that you are looking forward to this year?

xo, mrs. stone

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sweet mornings + green smoothie recipe

2012-01-05T00:05:00.000-08:00

so this is what our just-crawled-out-of-bed mornings typically look like. we are pretty much just chillin' and making green smoothies. after this we do an hour of story time and then attack some art projects. but this is pretty much my favorite part right here -

today's green smoothie -

ingredients (all organic): 1 banana, handful of frozen blueberries, handful of frozen strawberries, handful of spinache, 1 tbs spirulina, & apple juice/water to desired consistency.

directions: blend the hell out of it and drink up. soooooooo delicious!

archived green smoothie recipe that i also lurve.

xo, mrs. stone

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belly picture + find the name, or not.

2012-01-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

go ahead and say it...[clean that damn toothpaste off your mirror, woman]!!! well, i'll have you know that that mirror has been scrubbed clean. happy new year to my bathroom!

here is a belly pic from this last week. it's not quite this week though...how far along am i, anyways? i think i'm 29 weeks along right now. i will have to do another maternity series picture. i slacked - which is okedoki because i haven't slacked at all until now. lazy week...or busy week. eh, who cares.

so here is our refrigerator yule collage. catching the name announcement? no? that's okay, just scroll below and i'll show you ;)

ta da!!! marian after my amazing grandmother, ostara after the goddess of spring, and leann after tyler's mom, aunt, grandmothers, and grandfather (who was actually leonn in case you were wondering). but it's mostly just after ty's mama.

xo, mrs. stone

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baby gaga // handmade threads

2012-01-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

outfit: dress - handmade by her aunt karen // sweater - a birthday gift from aunt shannon (i think from target) // scarf - mama's [unfinished] handknit beauty...a yule gift for daddy stolen by the boss of the house ;)

can you tell that poor E was ready to conk out from playing so hard all day? she was tiiiiiired. i almost didn't get any good pictures because she started whining and rolling in the puddles.

xo, mrs. stone

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