Blog Love Friday! 2015 April 10

You may have noticed that there was no post last week. It was Good Friday and I was spending the day with family and friends. I will admit that I haven’t been to a church service in over a decade but we still gather with family and friends during Christian holidays.

Good Friday is spent with my dear friend at her annual “Cish & Fhips” dinner. Yes, you read the spelling correctly … we are funny like that. Dinner consists of multi-generational household, two additional families, and a crew of friends. There have been years where the group was “small” (11 people) and years where it has been big (20+) but no matter the size it is something we look forward to. Oh, and did I mention that we play BINGO after dinner? Yes, we gamble on a religious holiday … we are funny like that. No matter your age, it is fun to yell BINGO and win a $1 prize (big risk takers aren’t we?).

Even if you are not religious, I hope you were able to spend the day off enjoying time with your loved ones. And now, here are some stories that may inspire you in Sprouting Balance.

SPROUTING CREATIVITY:
Five of the Best Adult Colouring in Printables | Fat Mum Slim
Have you noticed that colouring can be soothing? Instead of colouring in another Mickey Mouse page, try a more geometric image. (Or am I the only mom that is sick of colouring in cartoon characters?)

4 Apps to Archive your Kids Amazing Artwork for Eternity | The Pioneer Woman
It takes no time at all to be overrun by children’s artwork. We keep a handful of pieces that are special to us and the rest get tossed. Horrible parents aren’t we? I know that the chances my child will want to look at her preschool artwork when she is 20 years old are slim. And at that point in time, the paper will be faded and the piece will be crinkled. Instead, we take a photo of the item and keep it in our Google Drive. The link to the folder is shared with family so grandparents, aunts, and uncles can look whenever they desire. If you like to make photo books, include some of the artwork amongst the photos of your child. I believe that this method honours their work but ensures your home is not cluttered.

SPROUTING HEALTH & WELLNESS:
White Bean and Chicken Chili Soup | Hip Foodie Mom
I made this recipe before Easter and it is a keeper. The spice is just right – flavourful but not spicy. I made a few adjustments based on what we had in the cupboard; don’t be afraid to change a recipe to suit your family’s taste buds or your wallet!

5 Tips That Make Meal Preparation Easier | Eating Made Easy
Amelia’s one sentence rang true to me: “When I first became a mom, I tried to maintain my lengthy kitchen routines – but instead of relaxing me, the process stressed me out. I couldn’t keep up, and cooking quickly became a chore rather than a pleasure.” I am trying hard to make cooking enjoyable by finding new recipes and using short cuts like pre-cut veggies. Making healthy meals is extremely important for our families and we all need to learn tricks to help this happen.

SPROUTING [P]INSPIRATION:
Looking for some ideas on recipes, organization or things to do with your Lil Sprout? Come check out my Pinterest page and the things that inspire me to become more balanced.

In the comments, please share articles that you read this week that helped you SPROUT some BALANCE! And remember to follow us and SPROUT a conversation on Twitter – @sproutbalance