tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80567250924211309322024-03-18T23:52:31.598-04:00A Hopeful HoodHey, I'm Julie Hood, and I'm glad you're here! Grab a donut or 12 and let's discuss easy recipes, mom life, and all the cheapskate house plant advice you'd ever want.......you know. The usual.Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.comBlogger668125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-9685290459329928582022-05-13T14:39:00.006-04:002022-05-13T14:39:57.315-04:00Friday Pizza Night Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9Lw6Aq0oF8FfjI-3O3i3OZWpJLHP52dtzFIQ9V_SIEaZUAkoQgJZ6gl5YALcamJkmGcjy1rH67buRc9XhJQGfdvFPVRV0VdxuNX6NywaZGnc7QqbhsiPPiiDGZvMpYI3Ms2wVrJ3SNuATzVxG5C_yDgKIzF-ubFBgfyAAvOlKWM5L18OQla_lTWzuQ/s3088/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9Lw6Aq0oF8FfjI-3O3i3OZWpJLHP52dtzFIQ9V_SIEaZUAkoQgJZ6gl5YALcamJkmGcjy1rH67buRc9XhJQGfdvFPVRV0VdxuNX6NywaZGnc7QqbhsiPPiiDGZvMpYI3Ms2wVrJ3SNuATzVxG5C_yDgKIzF-ubFBgfyAAvOlKWM5L18OQla_lTWzuQ/s16000/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-05.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our new family tradition (for the past 6 months or so!) has been to make our own pizza and watch a movie all together. Devin loves making our own pizza because we've gotten very fancy about it, and I like it because it's cheap. No one is surprised. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It took a lotttt of trial and error: store bought crusts failing us, online dough recipes being too sticky, etc. We've finally gotten it down to a science (more like a "science," since my flour measuring is as precise as a child's.)</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>Homemade Pizza Dough: </i></h2><p style="text-align: left;"></p><b>Step 1: </b>Mix the following together in a bowl and let sit for 5-10 minutes, until foamy: <span><a name='more'></a></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>1 tbsp olive oil</li><li>1 packet quick rise yeast</li><li>1 tsp sugar</li><li>2 tsp salt</li><li>2 cups warm water</li></ol><div><b>Step 2: </b>Add 4-5 cups of flour and stir together. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Step 3: </b>Dump onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 4: </b>Add about 2 tsp of oil to the mixing bowl, add the dough ball, and toss to coat the dough. You just want enough oil that the dough doesn't stick to the bowl. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 5: </b>Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 4+ hours. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Step 6: </b>Preheat a pizza stone in the oven to 500 degrees. Then, punch to deflate, and divide into 3 equal balls. Stretch to preferred size on a floured surface (we always prepare the dough on lightly floured parchment paper). You can also use a rolling pin!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 7: </b>Brush the edges of the crust with olive oil, add sauce, then cheese. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 8: </b>Lower the oven temp to 425 degrees. Bake on the preheated pizza stone for approx. 10 minutes. </div><div><div><br /></div></div><div>**How to up your pizza game: Buy a name brand whole milk mozzarella cheese in block form, then shred in a food processor/cheese grater. Use <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/232035/homemade-pizza-sauce-from-scratch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this homemade sauce recipe</a> (warning, it takes hours!). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gI1wWRGBLEOY3mKiuJ-s2nhxtQXSm1eKVGLRGY4txNj4rwStPOjcHX-K9i-OP3bbI0jcDmylx5fh7dw2xSfa-wzhDdw3GcERuKR27HFzeyp-IVkLyY6lViRjO8YK96akSvoyBSbjFjLt-9Q3NPAZ9UnHq5k1QAqDEWZHyqNKk3EH6wTibmZs1qhjOQ/s2436/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="2162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gI1wWRGBLEOY3mKiuJ-s2nhxtQXSm1eKVGLRGY4txNj4rwStPOjcHX-K9i-OP3bbI0jcDmylx5fh7dw2xSfa-wzhDdw3GcERuKR27HFzeyp-IVkLyY6lViRjO8YK96akSvoyBSbjFjLt-9Q3NPAZ9UnHq5k1QAqDEWZHyqNKk3EH6wTibmZs1qhjOQ/s16000/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-0.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9jRnm3cS4VUTNrLqWmduAuNF2YSJPyu83hERh8JoTE3Khi5Rwsbq4efNTzhit8RBIDbdytBZvVo9zBGNOIJST9xgdtKqwgJZxxX3l8b5V7oFtFXhZRAErLLeK5FwTvwROpqHWEskBMY_h6PUANTMuKsQjJrRRBax-1j7FxNcizs0L1RJwIfZJa-DUw/s4032/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9jRnm3cS4VUTNrLqWmduAuNF2YSJPyu83hERh8JoTE3Khi5Rwsbq4efNTzhit8RBIDbdytBZvVo9zBGNOIJST9xgdtKqwgJZxxX3l8b5V7oFtFXhZRAErLLeK5FwTvwROpqHWEskBMY_h6PUANTMuKsQjJrRRBax-1j7FxNcizs0L1RJwIfZJa-DUw/s16000/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-02.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggliiD3L2jf0HIWB6KcYPJTph3LozjQr0E87qBWMxc9dMftziueCQx03OwmdL1p-ixpjMcQEHzFHYPBkH6H9_ylnBRnidkClzvBBGzF1t-YcTXJCjPHQkSi5F_HT4TR6SvcgqrurYEHY1ST--LQKw4XhDne6rQyyUIavsZI5ztTP88hSo64iXrzuFQZg/s4032/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggliiD3L2jf0HIWB6KcYPJTph3LozjQr0E87qBWMxc9dMftziueCQx03OwmdL1p-ixpjMcQEHzFHYPBkH6H9_ylnBRnidkClzvBBGzF1t-YcTXJCjPHQkSi5F_HT4TR6SvcgqrurYEHY1ST--LQKw4XhDne6rQyyUIavsZI5ztTP88hSo64iXrzuFQZg/s16000/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-04.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUVW_TmHBO_6TWYu5QLpV9a5lfyj2pKKtw5bT7zIAr3IjDmE18iS61QQldzyL6C_eEYDDmStf79VBcCC9jV5IwruNi4JFVe8v3h0c-eSoMMWX3-HjM5SrJoLU00P6mpAaqdKvbeBJaTcAXxDwkC4UnmAnovhAALOt9yz_amvYLf2wQbSpKt-82usyhg/s4032/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUVW_TmHBO_6TWYu5QLpV9a5lfyj2pKKtw5bT7zIAr3IjDmE18iS61QQldzyL6C_eEYDDmStf79VBcCC9jV5IwruNi4JFVe8v3h0c-eSoMMWX3-HjM5SrJoLU00P6mpAaqdKvbeBJaTcAXxDwkC4UnmAnovhAALOt9yz_amvYLf2wQbSpKt-82usyhg/s16000/homemade-pizza-recipe-ahopefulhood-06.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Other favorite recipes: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2021/05/sourdough-soft-pretzels-for-less-than-1.html" target="_blank">Sourdough soft pretzels</a>, <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/prep-ahead-breakfasts-for-christmas.html" target="_blank">6 prep-ahead breakfasts</a>, <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/09/apple-cinnamon-oatmeal-bake.html" target="_blank">apple cinnamon oatmeal bake</a></i></div><p></p>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-27998122238848060692021-11-27T15:07:00.000-05:002021-11-27T15:07:03.696-05:00Thankful List 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYFa5r7HEPSxQLSKfcJv015CisyY1MHZ8F1h1qze-UxKEhIfNf2F7L4WM-XOUiXoToA8RIa30lVK9Fl8szNEhELBlebfWlNrsMcxEp9WctNBgOUZGI34Uacbu2LSU1kyFER8_j5IJXycfP5uRaX2SQdGDT3oWdqNso5SYOBiP7BK85Vaq-Z_LIyqJwfw=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYFa5r7HEPSxQLSKfcJv015CisyY1MHZ8F1h1qze-UxKEhIfNf2F7L4WM-XOUiXoToA8RIa30lVK9Fl8szNEhELBlebfWlNrsMcxEp9WctNBgOUZGI34Uacbu2LSU1kyFER8_j5IJXycfP5uRaX2SQdGDT3oWdqNso5SYOBiP7BK85Vaq-Z_LIyqJwfw=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I haven't shared on this space in a long time, but I love that, like a favorite book or old photo album, I can always pick it back up and it'll make me smile. And now, I'm wiping the metaphorical dust off the "publish" button and sharing things I'm thankful for this year! <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>In previous years....</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/11/thankful-list-2020.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2020</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/currently-december-2019.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2019</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2018/11/space-for-being-grateful-thankful-list.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2018</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/11/thankful-list-2017.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2017</a> | </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2016/11/thankful-list-2016.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2016</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2015/11/thankful-list-2015.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2015</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2014/11/a-thankful-heart-vol-2.html" target="_blank">Thankful List 2014</a></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">This year, I'm really thankful for...</h2><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The goodness of God, even in: big pandemic-level challenges, very real mom fears of failure, the unknown.<br /><br /></li><li>Devin and how hard he works for this family: at his regular job, at side projects renovating people's homes, at folding the laundry because I loathe doing it and thus rarely do....<br />
<br /></li><li>Aiden, and how much he loves kindergarten. It's such a confirmation that we're doing the right thing, after attempting to do "homeschool preschool" last year and him HATING every moment of it. I'm so thankful he comes home excited to show us the exact same things I tried to get him to do last year that he hated then and now LOVES (it's fine, I'm over it). I'm thankful he has a teacher who replies quickly to emails and encourages him when he felt excluded that one time.<br /> </li><li>Emma, and how much she loves sparkly things. Without our <i>ever</i> pushing her towards it, she still picks the frilliest, most glitter-covered items to wear every single day. I also love how she doesn't even notice when her glitter dress dips in the mud as she helps me in the garden.<br /> </li><li>Riley, and how much she loves using the new words she's learning. Just in the past few months, she's learned so many new words/phrases like "I want it!" and "no thanks" and "Aiden do it" and "waffle." I'm so thankful that last year's caution/masks haven't impacted her joy for meeting new friends.<br /> </li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQR1ujqgo7B/?utm_medium=copy_link" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The pool</a> (which I haven't shared about much because it feels so splurge-y but it's something I don't take for granted and have to add because 2021 was the best summer yet!)<br />
<br /> </li><li>The friends who point me to Jesus.<br />
<br /> </li><li>The friends who make me burst out laughing at socially inappropriate decibels.<br />
</li><li>The friends who, when invited over for a play date, go "Wait, your kid coughs? Mine, too! No, I'm not cancelling!"<br />
<br /></li><li>Getting rid of THOSE DANG GNATS IN MY 40+ PLANTS.<br /> </li><li>My mom babysitting every single Saturday so Devin and I can go out, just us. She has invested <i>countless</i> hours in spending time with her grandkids and at the same time, has invested in my marriage. She makes it guilt-free and says that WE are doing HER a favor by "letting" her babysit!!<br />
<br /> </li><li>Still, Target drive-up. Made it on the list last year, made it on the list this year.<br /><br /></li><li>Garden fresh jalapeños.<br /><br /></li><li>Also, pickled jalapeños. </li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1BoJR81nodrI-GH9WBVgmlXp_ccqIq7zKtSVBPXFGNWcS4k7t4LL6nFlGAtr_jg-CoKTeMk09UUXzKcpQtt360PmCyORZH7Cz8m0LqSvh_PTotBOWU9lmLzYuZa1TLr49nCmHi1JiO_A0gOejyNRNrrZfXiYhEh3WPexXbvy8S20cGYU750uGGt1w7A=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1BoJR81nodrI-GH9WBVgmlXp_ccqIq7zKtSVBPXFGNWcS4k7t4LL6nFlGAtr_jg-CoKTeMk09UUXzKcpQtt360PmCyORZH7Cz8m0LqSvh_PTotBOWU9lmLzYuZa1TLr49nCmHi1JiO_A0gOejyNRNrrZfXiYhEh3WPexXbvy8S20cGYU750uGGt1w7A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicJrZg4keDayp_jvJt1kv3bWNKsAzTWrBMSRtvNzRpbB_H6vUT9Tt68zQ3OG35VoZuj105oETOWPiiYO0YkGMSkUTyE4RWl8Ijscwd8CgRTB6KSVNPzs1IoTOzTfBX5IUhnnWx9Wz-skWpCW15EF4-tleiN_nfufv3FpAPr4vaKkiPcoqH7gEJ8OAmbA=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicJrZg4keDayp_jvJt1kv3bWNKsAzTWrBMSRtvNzRpbB_H6vUT9Tt68zQ3OG35VoZuj105oETOWPiiYO0YkGMSkUTyE4RWl8Ijscwd8CgRTB6KSVNPzs1IoTOzTfBX5IUhnnWx9Wz-skWpCW15EF4-tleiN_nfufv3FpAPr4vaKkiPcoqH7gEJ8OAmbA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmhB-FuQYSliUeUOcd_9UQh14LnfpyHYfTsaarJSoJOdpxZlHxxy8FZeLKJ_qqK8m92EYRuvDvKhe5MSfMMjcH5pWSI30tP-qU5jKNb5bZDuGg0TYeYFRYsf7BQnBpqY_OXZM0bUc7Yjtdns1lzIiKHlLih5n8zZ395lKQloleAzabJvfMJJ8tHeiFyg=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmhB-FuQYSliUeUOcd_9UQh14LnfpyHYfTsaarJSoJOdpxZlHxxy8FZeLKJ_qqK8m92EYRuvDvKhe5MSfMMjcH5pWSI30tP-qU5jKNb5bZDuGg0TYeYFRYsf7BQnBpqY_OXZM0bUc7Yjtdns1lzIiKHlLih5n8zZ395lKQloleAzabJvfMJJ8tHeiFyg=s16000" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">What are you thankful for this year?</h2></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-377296527896224702021-10-05T05:00:00.001-04:002021-10-05T05:00:00.172-04:00Sending My First to Kindergarten<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojFyjit6J3QZAoOHcv9XHEz_ckq_c5SoZSH4k7LVXmWd7qnj5wDm9i8cJ_8oZQafoFpBpvKfQTyTH4LYhW7rUCsRWjeJYbI4ZB3WArP2qHsTPPxWZFPgr8jqa3NRjZ5jFB4N_YhqnFegP/s2048/IMG_2608_jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojFyjit6J3QZAoOHcv9XHEz_ckq_c5SoZSH4k7LVXmWd7qnj5wDm9i8cJ_8oZQafoFpBpvKfQTyTH4LYhW7rUCsRWjeJYbI4ZB3WArP2qHsTPPxWZFPgr8jqa3NRjZ5jFB4N_YhqnFegP/s16000/IMG_2608_jpg.JPG" /></a></div><br />Aiden started kindergarten! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Devin and I talked through school options a LOT. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We have strong feelings about how society's priorities are shaping public elementary school curriculums in a way that we don't love. Aiden <i>hated</i> "homeschool preschool" during covid. I only asked him and Emma to do one reading activity and one math activity with me each day, and Aiden specifically <i>really</i> hated doing it. So that took homeschool off the table for me, though I was <i>neverrrr </i>a fan of homeschooling. </div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />(Spicy take! Thanks to studying English Education 7-12 in college, I firmly believe you should be a qualified professional and not just a loving mom to teach your child school subjects. Sorry!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But Christian schools are insanely expensive and in a few years we'll have all three kids in school. Do we make Aiden switch to public schools when his sister starts kindergarten because we couldn't afford more than one kid in kindergarten? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So we landed on public school, surrounding Aiden with prayer alongside staying in tune with what the school is teaching him. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And he's loving it! He came home on day 1 telling us he made a best friend named Jack, he has bus friends, he loves telling us what "special" class he had during the day and who he played with at recess. (It's also been a great way to meet our neighbors as we walk to the bus stop every day!) We've talked with him about how most people believe different things than we do, how he needs to stand up for what is right, how he needs to speak up if there's a problem or if someone else is being hurt. There's a lot of heavy things we've talked about, not even including the fact he has to wear a mask every single day all day because of a pandemic! I asked after the first week, "Is it hard to keep your mask on all day?" and he replied, "Ehh, it's not a big deal." And it really isn't! He doesn't even take it off when he gets off the bus until I ask him to!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's so scary sending him out to school every day. But I'm praying for him every day and trusting God for his future in a way that I haven't had to yet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbZ9QOjQG__3a6e-YmKUyg5ULWDC2UEMCMpV7_nbqLZM2GnC_gw4wjQ6L-_19ZteJBhUttXdzWItGZBkOXyUn531Gr8RM1cyBMuHDTYmSBECnybDZ6SGImWau_KTRx734K3w_NqYzuF-w/s2048/IMG_2610_jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbZ9QOjQG__3a6e-YmKUyg5ULWDC2UEMCMpV7_nbqLZM2GnC_gw4wjQ6L-_19ZteJBhUttXdzWItGZBkOXyUn531Gr8RM1cyBMuHDTYmSBECnybDZ6SGImWau_KTRx734K3w_NqYzuF-w/s16000/IMG_2610_jpg.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl52OhmTbgB-wMjRuVZ0JX8BSqLvTSM07FY39QapT6jUUPhGrgZ-TUhWzaGddPtJgRE9nOcg94WCshqjUTh_1hhj_qDYgqMAxNdmm7wXEmFlYl5-CPOf0G-C0hTjbs9ZK029xdYj7xsmA/s2048/IMG_2613_jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl52OhmTbgB-wMjRuVZ0JX8BSqLvTSM07FY39QapT6jUUPhGrgZ-TUhWzaGddPtJgRE9nOcg94WCshqjUTh_1hhj_qDYgqMAxNdmm7wXEmFlYl5-CPOf0G-C0hTjbs9ZK029xdYj7xsmA/s16000/IMG_2613_jpg.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>How would you (or did you) feel when your first starts kindergarten?</b></h2>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-31475253887761677722021-09-30T19:45:00.002-04:002021-09-30T19:45:24.828-04:00Colorado Adventures <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjne5UY7Fq1jlO4NUoPCktROJyd7Q7mjiWPIxqYx3VPSMUZRzLiO794lAA2Vx5oaJjQwEQzNQpnc5EZl7K9gFoocRkTBu5pWJkZ2NDCdS2wvh5bJkiqcHHnQKSCsoLsW0HQtFsYVKTRNraz/s16000/Colorado-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a while! I've been taking a bit of a break from online things, but I don't want to totally let go of this space. It's been such a fun creative outlet for me for literally ELEVEN years. And I'm not a quitter, so I can't quite totally let go. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />To that end, I wanted to share some really sweet memories with my little family as we travelled to Colorado summer 2021 to see my dad's side of the family. There were 17 adults and 9 kids in the mix! We all stayed on/around my aunt and uncle's house in Buena Vista. We had giant family dinners, family breakfasts, one 4-mile hike that the kids could do, too...it was wonderful. The kids were 1 years-old to 12, and despite the giant gap it was the perfect range. They played hide and seek together, playing outside and walked around my aunt and uncle's pond together. It was the sweetest!<br /></div><span><i><a name='more'></a></i></span><div style="text-align: left;"><i>(I talk more about Colorado in this post about <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2016/10/hiking-with-baby.html" target="_blank">hiking with a baby</a> and <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2016/08/why-hiking-is-best-vacation-activity.html" target="_blank">hiking on vacation</a>!)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While there was lots of extended family time, Devin and I did take some time just the 5 of us to see Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon Park (not the amphitheater one; everyone always asks! haha). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We didn't spend tons of time in either of those places, but just walking around for an hour or so felt like being on another planet. It's SO BEAUTIFUL EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. If everyone I loved and my church moved to Colorado, I would absolutely move there in a heartbeat. ;) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And just for the sake of getting it all out there: flying from Philly to Denver was TUFFF. 2 car seats checked, suitcases, 3 wild kids, plus trying to keep masks on? Nope. Riley was not into staying in one plane seat with my for 3.5 hours, understandably. And while I tried to contain her on my lap, I also got to try and keep Aiden and Emma entertained. (SHOULD HAVE JUST BROUGHT TABLETS, NOT ACTIVITIES AND COLORING BOOKS. Oops.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx8tCl4d8PQhaIc4IqxaX3gWhD_TwSbbvaBhCC9d_hdTtFKTGDdkXcPXzs8YO9iK5S6-pHuZVNCDlc69r0Qgn9NH8gWwnWS956GsvZucuhXTEC7MkORfJWrLY3Z07Pn6EgjX3taZsXa1V/s2048/Colorado-ahopefulhood-03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx8tCl4d8PQhaIc4IqxaX3gWhD_TwSbbvaBhCC9d_hdTtFKTGDdkXcPXzs8YO9iK5S6-pHuZVNCDlc69r0Qgn9NH8gWwnWS956GsvZucuhXTEC7MkORfJWrLY3Z07Pn6EgjX3taZsXa1V/s16000/Colorado-ahopefulhood-03.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj1gwUkFohhY682-8qboR9YiDCWKdApBl2TZVMZDJpDrftQdJOwRMebNdm2qoExQPTVJG60fEwbu3mKE2XlfzY3xzI1jBV3X1o5S_3c_qR4O8A_pa_0X60WwTYWr1Ghj83ux9z8pEtAtp/s2048/Colorado-ahopefulhood-04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv-SAoCETcCYFRr9iIFSDw6Ad5pyNa0nIX1sbQHKSAEtV4kbrCtT07AL9jUeY1fTacUOyjxJZuiBnx9SXBjSBuAt4zu758l3InjTHRYRIzam6xaWr7cAFq-ktSNQMObklGObSnNO8pvMZ/s16000/Colorado-ahopefulhood-016.JPG" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What is your favorite place to visit?</b></div></b></h2>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-14729277922665671422021-07-07T07:16:00.001-04:002021-07-07T07:16:14.675-04:00Simple Summer Adventure Checklist <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXriB15xP38UQ4-L0UPJfaFTcRX252Y7hcAme8eRw-euRAQ-U2sPebHRYw1tf4xYNjGp6dCsrEr9ps8h8UvMDUzDjZRg0T0opajFQrPTMrMB-i2tqO0Pi21BhdHiRtRTn2oVIuZsj53kPm/s2048/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXriB15xP38UQ4-L0UPJfaFTcRX252Y7hcAme8eRw-euRAQ-U2sPebHRYw1tf4xYNjGp6dCsrEr9ps8h8UvMDUzDjZRg0T0opajFQrPTMrMB-i2tqO0Pi21BhdHiRtRTn2oVIuZsj53kPm/s16000/IMG_1701.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am so happy summer is here, even if it means I'm generally a sweaty mess! Back in June, I was thinking about how fast time flies and wanted to make a list of SIMPLE things that I wanted to do with my kids before school starts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is not a Pinterest mom's list of matching outfits, difficult crafts, expensive vacations. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />No, no. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a quick list that you can make location-specific to where you are!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NgI7wEQB4Lh7MM2K7mz4efbhM0tkSqmK/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Download your printable here. <span><a name='more'></a></span></i></span></a><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Categories</h2>Outside:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Local trails to walk/hike</li><li>Local biking trail</li><li>Berry picking</li><li>Pick wildflowers</li><li>Plant wildflowers</li><li>Backyard camping</li><li>Pool day with friends (search for local splash pads, too if a pool is hard to find!)</li><li>Bonfire + roast marshmallows</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;">Inside:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Tie-dye</li><li>Rainy day movie in a fort</li><li>Make juice/smoothie popsicles</li><li>Bake banana bread</li><li>Volcano experiments/eruptions</li><li>Visit a new library</li><li>Rearrange the furniture</li><li>Bowling (check kidsbowlfree.com)</li></ul>Day Trips:</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Beach day trip (or a lake or whatever's near you!)</li><li>Zoo trip, bonus points if a library/friend has a membership and you can go for free!</li><li>Trip to a local lake</li><li>Kids museum</li></ul><div>And here's my actual list, handwritten and messy and personalized to us!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ75xBGOt0FPVZgB6tagCspuE_q7LffOI_As6Y6e0U7QajMBTTWlD1gtL6-KV-S4TJLFYE3Kak9qqmfwQQb0VwOh2Tov1dvW3RogDoQP0Bs8BKCfh4LvjOKk9YBzzbefO2JUsuA_isOc23/s2048/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ75xBGOt0FPVZgB6tagCspuE_q7LffOI_As6Y6e0U7QajMBTTWlD1gtL6-KV-S4TJLFYE3Kak9qqmfwQQb0VwOh2Tov1dvW3RogDoQP0Bs8BKCfh4LvjOKk9YBzzbefO2JUsuA_isOc23/s16000/IMG_1822.JPG" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b><b>What are you planning for the summer?! What would you add to this list?</b></h2><p></p>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-20495388101726060712021-06-21T06:57:00.000-04:002021-06-21T06:57:04.576-04:00Things Aiden and Emma Say<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI2hfNjxRX-CSvxwYxbWTHas7NlTJXDha62gvCWnDHf3ixqVIHFtjjU1gzzvQCzsV971UUi3qPmjZNEB-PBVLqcM-cZ-HkpL2wYuyeNyiEeoXTRBDaNohj2vFIPQG93Q50KZjAO7mIKuG/s2048/things-emma-and-aiden-say-01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI2hfNjxRX-CSvxwYxbWTHas7NlTJXDha62gvCWnDHf3ixqVIHFtjjU1gzzvQCzsV971UUi3qPmjZNEB-PBVLqcM-cZ-HkpL2wYuyeNyiEeoXTRBDaNohj2vFIPQG93Q50KZjAO7mIKuG/s16000/things-emma-and-aiden-say-01.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have not written one of these in foreverrr, and the Notes app list of funny stuff they tell me is getting long. So, I figured I'd share them here so I can look back on it and chuckle! When Emma started talking at one and was speaking in full, grammatically correct sentences by two, she really only said logical stuff. But ever since she turned three, she's been saying the craziest things. Most of it is questions and thoughts out of nowhere (see below about a bean bag that is FOR SUMMER when it was February???!!!). They also share a room, which makes them best friends but it alsooo makes them discuss the craziest stuff after we put them to bed (see below about the circulatory system freakout.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More Things Aiden Says: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/11/things-aiden-says-vol-6.html" target="_blank">Vol. 6</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/07/things-aiden-says-vol-5.html" target="_blank">Vol. 5</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/01/things-aiden-says-vol-4.html" target="_blank">Vol. 4</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2018/06/things-aiden-says-vol-3.html" target="_blank">Vol. 3</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2018/04/things-aiden-says-vol-2.html" target="_blank">Vol. 2</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2018/01/things-aiden-says-vol-1.html" target="_blank">Vol. 1</a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhBwK5Cl3e_IdKTQzmrVgCUWDgutIKuBCDPQ1-1FUbe8NFhQ8vZPOAI4hyzpYO96cX_YRuh9tuMWAGubFqaktR3jBq8mSSetTVQz25dW_MQGom2BDEV1dxWKAU4J1HSh6C5xjrr3g9n8V/s2048/things-emma-and-aiden-say-02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhBwK5Cl3e_IdKTQzmrVgCUWDgutIKuBCDPQ1-1FUbe8NFhQ8vZPOAI4hyzpYO96cX_YRuh9tuMWAGubFqaktR3jBq8mSSetTVQz25dW_MQGom2BDEV1dxWKAU4J1HSh6C5xjrr3g9n8V/s16000/things-emma-and-aiden-say-02.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: I call him my monkey swimming penguin brother. <br />Me: Who, Aiden?<br />Emma: Yeah, because he is swimming like a penguin and because he always climbs like a monkey on Wyatt's [their cousin] climbing dome. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: A queen</div><div style="text-align: left;">Me: Sorry, you have to be born into a royal family to be a queen. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: Ok, a princess. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Me: Ok so basically...you want to be in charge of making all the country's rules?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: No</div><div style="text-align: left;">Me: You want to live in a castle and wear fancy dresses?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: Yep. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Aiden, building a fort with me, Riley, and Emma around: I don't want this spot cluttered up with girls. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma, brings in a pink bean bag chair into the living room, IN FEBRUARY: this is for summer</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma's logic and non sequiturs: speaking of pumpkin Joe Joe's, when can we watch Brave?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma's bedtime stalling routine last May included her screaming, "MOMMYYY MY FOOT IS RED!!!" and when I went in to check on her, Aiden's explaining how blood pumps to her feet and that's why they're red. She is FREAKING OUT about the blood inside her foot. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: Daddy, I like your truck better than Mommy's old car and Mommy's new car. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Devin: Why, sweetie?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: Because it has the tools that I like the best in it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: My toy is broken. I'm just going to leave it here for that God will fix it. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Me: ummm that's not how that works, God CAN fix it but he doesn't just come and fix our toys. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma, as if we are crazy: Ok. I'm just going to leave it here. God will fix it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Aiden: Emma, you may not frighten Riley. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: What does frighten mean?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Aiden: It means making Riley jump in shock, surprise, and fearment. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma: What's apple pie?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Aiden: It's just a dessert that I don't like that's for old people. WAIT. I'm thinking of pumpkin pie. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s0KIj-uT6G8QHsvYldL_exTtVy36PPW4xfWVYhMI9rTFujnmFpJd5FDHppzqvmi2WNQKGv1MIqdtihhB13WlVRcbrYyFLEgyhxCZfmeeBe7dTkjhdcq6GQFIL5InF6FnIRwng4biaKRg/s2048/things-emma-and-aiden-say-03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s0KIj-uT6G8QHsvYldL_exTtVy36PPW4xfWVYhMI9rTFujnmFpJd5FDHppzqvmi2WNQKGv1MIqdtihhB13WlVRcbrYyFLEgyhxCZfmeeBe7dTkjhdcq6GQFIL5InF6FnIRwng4biaKRg/s16000/things-emma-and-aiden-say-03.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What funny stuff have you heard kids say? </b></span></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-16295096453022800412021-06-02T05:30:00.001-04:002021-06-02T05:30:00.233-04:00Thriving Plants with Treleaf<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNEZ0FVER_pojqv1cSJjh7-Qhb1g0EJcQaasQJwozwWx9mZ28Qe59mRWbz9NmCkJ3D2C6_iucFgsXLo59QuxOy1ggISbp5sHPsEYIdJPpXOckBAD2xWmmcf8G7sK8QWJ-UE8h4MPVGHQV/s1500/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNEZ0FVER_pojqv1cSJjh7-Qhb1g0EJcQaasQJwozwWx9mZ28Qe59mRWbz9NmCkJ3D2C6_iucFgsXLo59QuxOy1ggISbp5sHPsEYIdJPpXOckBAD2xWmmcf8G7sK8QWJ-UE8h4MPVGHQV/s16000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-03.png" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> Thank you, <a href="https://treleaf.shop/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Treleaf</a>, for sponsoring this post. All opinions are honest, of course, and are my own. </i><i><br /></i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome, new plant aficionados and experienced crazy plant ladies. This post is for all of us. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Remember pothos? I shared about it in my list of <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/02/hard-to-kill-houseplants.html" target="_blank">hard-to-kill, easiest-to-have houseplants. </a>It still remains my happiest houseplant, and because you can <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/03/turning-your-plants-into-more-plants.html" target="_blank">propagate</a> it, all you have to do is buy ONE and you end up with many. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/04/simple-tips-for-keeping-plants-alive.html" target="_blank">Simple tips for keeping houseplants alive</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/03/turning-your-plants-into-more-plants.html" target="_blank">Propagating 101</a></i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What I didn't realize until recently, is that pothos are happiest when they can climb! In this photo, you can see how big my pothos are (despite the tiny little planter they're in!) because they're climbing up my wall, resting on little finish nails (which are hidden behind their leaves). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJnIwC4JjM5qjCIRCQmVDO_mW6swxJl_C-5pYNO5j0s7wEnIGKnjnEbZWBxOAmfOjOaMEBOcTMwFr_pGnyef7X3dLcf8hUut3FH8K022dfHN0DzrwL7_pZs_CPeebq82-r-VS7VXnu0h6/s1242/trellis-pothos-ahopefulhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJnIwC4JjM5qjCIRCQmVDO_mW6swxJl_C-5pYNO5j0s7wEnIGKnjnEbZWBxOAmfOjOaMEBOcTMwFr_pGnyef7X3dLcf8hUut3FH8K022dfHN0DzrwL7_pZs_CPeebq82-r-VS7VXnu0h6/s16000/trellis-pothos-ahopefulhood.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://treleaf.shop/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Treleaf </a>is a woman-of-color-owned business that makes trellises that are PERFECT for your pothos (or anything that likes to climb!). Wandering Jew plants, philodendron, English ivy, you name it. The Treleaf trellis is sturdy, beautiful to look at, and keeps your vine and climbing plants happiest. I got <a href="https://treleaf.shop/collections/staked-trellises/products/palmella-plant-trellis-inspired-by-the-palm-leaf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Palmella trellis from Treleaf</a> which came packed in 100% recyclable materials, along with a handy matching watering scheduler. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt0gfKqNkFs2wubq93Ly-boX1NUWyLGAYUT3Ua2_PWHNrZNWmqK_LekdzX1HMyVvFaBDwIwQ8Q7sGLySRekQkdFPvSaaLeehiIvXEQW2fel39UVO3H3AqAoiJE5VrZIsKQug4-kYSOkeH/s1500/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt0gfKqNkFs2wubq93Ly-boX1NUWyLGAYUT3Ua2_PWHNrZNWmqK_LekdzX1HMyVvFaBDwIwQ8Q7sGLySRekQkdFPvSaaLeehiIvXEQW2fel39UVO3H3AqAoiJE5VrZIsKQug4-kYSOkeH/s16000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq_oDoFDkZdh05LLROsFg64CVYhvKOOyoPlAbeRF5x-R6u4Br6mvt99AVO5_BGVDKtQWr9107TZoM8UNFYTdZcGQqefPj3EBF9qiK8gSWuAXLFrqQdBMgwYy1PFXCzJb1jur86Cbbuj12/s1500/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq_oDoFDkZdh05LLROsFg64CVYhvKOOyoPlAbeRF5x-R6u4Br6mvt99AVO5_BGVDKtQWr9107TZoM8UNFYTdZcGQqefPj3EBF9qiK8gSWuAXLFrqQdBMgwYy1PFXCzJb1jur86Cbbuj12/s16000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-02.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9VHZmQQasFZXGlAMq1m7xpnFPHpDpPXwQ7SWCXX3ccOPJBwTCno4QVoUDJaxcu5EDBqoxapJktQWRFh-nPVlh7-UT-FnlELBfxA5egYvsx76UTrcGbOyP52_KMYs28N2wOgEXDLeEYLD/s1000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9VHZmQQasFZXGlAMq1m7xpnFPHpDpPXwQ7SWCXX3ccOPJBwTCno4QVoUDJaxcu5EDBqoxapJktQWRFh-nPVlh7-UT-FnlELBfxA5egYvsx76UTrcGbOyP52_KMYs28N2wOgEXDLeEYLD/s16000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-06.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8mTPl8hgVsShOTC_-oLZROrFeKgltOmXI8weO01PK6a5qLnDDH7YYIB8nGQRTXTwDCkYEdMcUoVbAYgGtvFVhfUHhPm_45k5zHiOvQtB_YKkNQF3qM9UizMhmzF5-o26J94TPxp69-2h/s1500/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-07.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8mTPl8hgVsShOTC_-oLZROrFeKgltOmXI8weO01PK6a5qLnDDH7YYIB8nGQRTXTwDCkYEdMcUoVbAYgGtvFVhfUHhPm_45k5zHiOvQtB_YKkNQF3qM9UizMhmzF5-o26J94TPxp69-2h/s16000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-07.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M7oqbljKykaErgJ_hh5vov8A4_oarGS1JZItFCySnwo06F4Gx-rctHojABBm75x60yR9OIvX1av0tnzYVsSGhUoB-PIQ2H_2m9rBTJfZH9JQ-bxenvaHWNiHiwWwOTkXqyW_PjA8x66Q/s1000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M7oqbljKykaErgJ_hh5vov8A4_oarGS1JZItFCySnwo06F4Gx-rctHojABBm75x60yR9OIvX1av0tnzYVsSGhUoB-PIQ2H_2m9rBTJfZH9JQ-bxenvaHWNiHiwWwOTkXqyW_PjA8x66Q/s16000/treleaf-trellis-ahopefulhood-08.png" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">Check out <a href="https://treleaf.shop/collections/staked-trellises/products/palmella-plant-trellis-inspired-by-the-palm-leaf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this trellis</a> and other <a href="https://treleaf.shop/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Treleaf</a> items to help your houseplants thrive!</h2>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-16074014849829587502021-05-31T13:19:00.002-04:002021-05-31T13:19:39.224-04:00Happy 29th Birthday, Devin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogicS0hkwMSePOf2af5Ozr66UJ8ari94JZrpVD_hsmFnRqBxrFkhNFX9U8vjTNQ6qWjs295cSriYEehyphenhyphen_ImwjP5JiEYpBP82UZ2OgDH8FRh1l_FpckOkYdD5TJIfI2TBhI2hJSM0VM14m/s2048/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogicS0hkwMSePOf2af5Ozr66UJ8ari94JZrpVD_hsmFnRqBxrFkhNFX9U8vjTNQ6qWjs295cSriYEehyphenhyphen_ImwjP5JiEYpBP82UZ2OgDH8FRh1l_FpckOkYdD5TJIfI2TBhI2hJSM0VM14m/s16000/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>To the guy who, in the last year, made us laugh a lot, worked hard so I could stay home with the kids, built a playhouse for the kids, funded our pool installation (more on that soon!), wrestled with the three kids even after long days at work, and served God. </div><div><br />We love you, Devin!</div><div><br />(And here are some fun snapshots of a recent trip to Graeme Historic Site & Park, which Devin suggested we visit......and then had us listen to the audio walking tour where we learned about a governor in Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Being almost thirty is VERY fun 😉)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/05/happy-birthday-devin.html" target="_blank">Devin's 28th birthday</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2016/05/happy-24th-birthday.html" target="_blank">Devin's 24th birthday</a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipchE7rO8jtZCnM45eZ6ZXiQENpUWz6FCeSQQN0k3zpimjUq2xsOdZbVffGTAbxV8BIice0blvSjZsb6dzS7R8voLFF00mEGzdNu8Ap9zJLjuI8yGCS3Y2PgrFjLw4HSE3kHbMVQH8UsOq/s2048/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipchE7rO8jtZCnM45eZ6ZXiQENpUWz6FCeSQQN0k3zpimjUq2xsOdZbVffGTAbxV8BIice0blvSjZsb6dzS7R8voLFF00mEGzdNu8Ap9zJLjuI8yGCS3Y2PgrFjLw4HSE3kHbMVQH8UsOq/s16000/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHEyox2deiEUpM_9o6kRHigBEf6gPs5PiCGv7QeZw0IwVAtha-cLvD4gHXU_8N6qMCzxB_GpTVuuAO2geogFltwChP-BrcRpcR1QHdY_fYvY4SMMQLATld_VOSA04z3ch3o8rw297qX9o/s2048/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood-04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHEyox2deiEUpM_9o6kRHigBEf6gPs5PiCGv7QeZw0IwVAtha-cLvD4gHXU_8N6qMCzxB_GpTVuuAO2geogFltwChP-BrcRpcR1QHdY_fYvY4SMMQLATld_VOSA04z3ch3o8rw297qX9o/s16000/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood-04.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZH8n7YwTtf0G1BCcPL3XTYDIs7gDfQpJjWK42qFLoB3mSdhfL2NAHcIMjQFMO8ip7Ru08elXVlgzLNnuCiEdEORcviuvwgMpNKYBOtjN8v-urbzNGgH0ci3cmR9XbdFIx2IFn-51buf6/s2048/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZH8n7YwTtf0G1BCcPL3XTYDIs7gDfQpJjWK42qFLoB3mSdhfL2NAHcIMjQFMO8ip7Ru08elXVlgzLNnuCiEdEORcviuvwgMpNKYBOtjN8v-urbzNGgH0ci3cmR9XbdFIx2IFn-51buf6/s16000/Devins-29-birthday-ahopefulhood.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-66748558498782728872021-05-24T12:48:00.005-04:002021-05-24T12:51:45.757-04:00Family Beach Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Zr68Y-ySnPR_6DtGcuvHyu4TlpspoRwq1IpGUKWxHljgniPr1GEH1pgu_GkNbo8D7Wg2YEJNy7crj8XoZKD0qab0EaoXySMjlkGTQ7dUTAM1dM-LlQmruBQozyZMknsN1ofdZnjiRoYp/s1400/1-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Zr68Y-ySnPR_6DtGcuvHyu4TlpspoRwq1IpGUKWxHljgniPr1GEH1pgu_GkNbo8D7Wg2YEJNy7crj8XoZKD0qab0EaoXySMjlkGTQ7dUTAM1dM-LlQmruBQozyZMknsN1ofdZnjiRoYp/s16000/1-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood-1.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>My parents, my 3 siblings, me and my kids all ventured to Belmar, NJ this past weekend for a belated Mother's Day beach trip for my mom. Poor Devin had to work so he missed out, but there will be plenty more opportunities for him to help me slather sunscreen on the kids and keep Riley from dipping sandwiches in the sand. 😉I didn't take enough pictures (literally didn't even manage to get one of my mom with my kids!), but here are the few snapshots I got. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/09/snapshots-from-our-quarantine-cation.html" target="_blank">Last summer's vacation</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/11/adventures-in-outer-banks-nc.html" target="_blank">Outer Banks in Fall 2019</a> |<a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/06/snapshots-from-ocean-city-md.html" target="_blank"> Ocean City, MD Summer 2017</a></i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br />Aiden loved the ocean and despite the water being 59 degrees, he ran and chased waves for hours. Emma wouldn't go in the ocean last summer unless Devin/I were physically holding her up in our arms, and this summer? She got her feet wet, and didn't even scream when a wave knocked her over! </div><div><br />Riley loved the sand, wasn't a fan of the cold water, and was so happy all day despite not getting a nap!</div><div><br />Some favorite moments: my dad pushing Emma on the beach playground swing, Aiden rushing into the ocean with Becky, Emma spontaneously hugging Lisa repeatedly, and Riley making silly noises with Dan, my mom and I sitting at the water's edge and watching my little ones play. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldDPXaCXap7azqJtNaTVOHVj9dIVcDLQYLx6SKVn15A5Z_ldMeQwAlhmZXtUcmlVblnMfVgFZvSnJijHjyZgBwenly3OSYTjyjTOTBxLIFGcgCxj41s3IgBaFv6NJtlZpIaH-ZM5a0bzL/s1400/2-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldDPXaCXap7azqJtNaTVOHVj9dIVcDLQYLx6SKVn15A5Z_ldMeQwAlhmZXtUcmlVblnMfVgFZvSnJijHjyZgBwenly3OSYTjyjTOTBxLIFGcgCxj41s3IgBaFv6NJtlZpIaH-ZM5a0bzL/s16000/2-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood-1.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR5pFmGdOZjHBOaVEjSHgftt2JzWNOVhSjHAlX9BpnztAOa_bxmpYY29IRrlFfEJJmpyF5qNvxxKUpBT7LQ7eDnhap1O1EIWkjVuw87he2KvYvL0w1TMthzyiROR__og31HuHzFED4CxX/s1500/3-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR5pFmGdOZjHBOaVEjSHgftt2JzWNOVhSjHAlX9BpnztAOa_bxmpYY29IRrlFfEJJmpyF5qNvxxKUpBT7LQ7eDnhap1O1EIWkjVuw87he2KvYvL0w1TMthzyiROR__og31HuHzFED4CxX/s16000/3-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JDwfOGISCp4PRfL4ZVYoF51WrJtJErRtQ37M4zNcaxtlgWIkeEpSFw1MM4utaj9lW49TGrffdK5D4He2-l96viQ1xfIn8rY9u9zhN3aIZops0OdqslKOYSShElb6Ipc47fcPGR07ARKS/s1400/4-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JDwfOGISCp4PRfL4ZVYoF51WrJtJErRtQ37M4zNcaxtlgWIkeEpSFw1MM4utaj9lW49TGrffdK5D4He2-l96viQ1xfIn8rY9u9zhN3aIZops0OdqslKOYSShElb6Ipc47fcPGR07ARKS/s16000/4-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VIBwTSQCZ0yWiVnjj3Ph4lwtPi7qWc8F_k_rkFI_S2T_GQr-aYvsJZtkig9OWuBPVFF2L0smefzBVRr_S25OCyS142q67NhUEtWBzgphNESpOpaHKJzMhkEvba_ECLNuiziY2rekwodk/s1200/5-1-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VIBwTSQCZ0yWiVnjj3Ph4lwtPi7qWc8F_k_rkFI_S2T_GQr-aYvsJZtkig9OWuBPVFF2L0smefzBVRr_S25OCyS142q67NhUEtWBzgphNESpOpaHKJzMhkEvba_ECLNuiziY2rekwodk/s16000/5-1-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBE7NDi3s7cRh2fqw6XYaid9vGPNp0Hm7DNjLqOmt6BcnbguDm_rSSZ1ez8cC2xwqpr8cgfHSDE8Hp5ZTxaToLaa5runJoOBE-YX8jOGEB6fs4A0XWoqEzKugXIOQIkG71O8Ece0EM2L_/s1200/6-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBE7NDi3s7cRh2fqw6XYaid9vGPNp0Hm7DNjLqOmt6BcnbguDm_rSSZ1ez8cC2xwqpr8cgfHSDE8Hp5ZTxaToLaa5runJoOBE-YX8jOGEB6fs4A0XWoqEzKugXIOQIkG71O8Ece0EM2L_/s16000/6-family-beach-day-ahopefulhood.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">^obligatory awkward family photo after I forgot to get one on the actual beach! 😆</div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Are you a beach person? </h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">What's your favorite part of a beach day?</h2>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-33779022241798614902021-05-12T12:37:00.010-04:002021-05-12T13:02:20.958-04:00Sourdough Soft Pretzels for Less than $1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wUVi3sPCT7EdNEhhAN1wotIpCYKZks8tDHKaf3Lza-0njLFZ5xtJWYoPA8tsC8X-qA40FiYIA1pK1uN7THVZVZSHUId2StF2Zw2j0uBZUm5pe_q_MA3ndg06EGQkHa-lyCNf74B9ASYH/s1300/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-06.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wUVi3sPCT7EdNEhhAN1wotIpCYKZks8tDHKaf3Lza-0njLFZ5xtJWYoPA8tsC8X-qA40FiYIA1pK1uN7THVZVZSHUId2StF2Zw2j0uBZUm5pe_q_MA3ndg06EGQkHa-lyCNf74B9ASYH/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-06.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Hopefully it's made very clear that I am PRETZEL OBSESSED. I shared <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/04/super-easy-pretzel-bites.html" target="_blank">this pretzel bites recipe</a> (after my first pretzel twists looked <i>terrible</i>) which is shockingly easy. And in case you're like me and want a challenge (and also love your sourdough starter), let's talk about how delicious and inexpensive sourdough soft pretzels are!<span></span></p><p><br /></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Assuming you have a sourdough starter: this whole endeavor will be $2.33 for probably 4 batches of pretzels? That means to follow this recipe and make about 12 soft pretzels, it will cost you FIFTY-EIGHT CENTS. </p><p><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/05/another-simple-breakfast-casserole.html" target="_blank">Simple Healthy Breakfast Casserole</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/03/homemade-everything-bagels.html" target="_blank">Homemade Everything Bagels</a></i></p><p>That's with Aldi prices, people. Why shop anywhere else? I am the shameless, unpaid hype girl for Aldi forever and ever amen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng3S-h3211NnPKLPMY4XYdVDeWOJoayCacb060ITEyR0-jqkYX_vBealyy3h4a_id7J_vzFBU1rDGyinyYUJzE_wKtf2amQeyiogrD7HK85a5ukglpUZCmXSJUb20VKLb2V3f_rgfp1AC/s1500/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng3S-h3211NnPKLPMY4XYdVDeWOJoayCacb060ITEyR0-jqkYX_vBealyy3h4a_id7J_vzFBU1rDGyinyYUJzE_wKtf2amQeyiogrD7HK85a5ukglpUZCmXSJUb20VKLb2V3f_rgfp1AC/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-01.png" title="sourdough soft pretzel twists" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>What you need: </b></h2><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>half cup of baking soda: $0.55 for the whole box at Aldi</i></li><li><i>4 cups flour: $1.29 for 5lb bag</i></li><li><i>2 teaspoons Salt: $0.45 </i></li><li><i>Optional: 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey!): $2.19 for 4lb bag </i></li><li><i>1 egg, stirred</i></li><li><i>Sourdough starter</i></li></ul><h2 style="text-align: left;">What you do:</h2><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Mix together half a cup of active, bubbly sourdough starter with about 1 cup warm water, 4 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt in a large mixing bowl. I mix by hand just because it's easier. If the dough sticks to your hand too much, add another tablespoon of flour. If the dough is too tough to knead and fold, add another tablespoon of water.</li><li>Cover the dough with a wet towel for 8-12 hours. I usually mix the dough before bed, and first thing in the morning, start to make the actual pretzels. </li><li>In the morning, pull a piece of dough out that's just smaller than your palm. Roll it into about a 16" rope, and twist into a pretzel shape. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCtGEkl6Ljs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here's a video if you need help!</a></li><li>Once again, cover the twisted pretzels on your baking sheet and let them rest for about an hour. </li><li>While the pretzels rest, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and start to boil a pot of water with half a cup of baking soda. </li><li>An hour later, boil each pretzel twist for 30 seconds. </li><li>Brush with the egg. </li><li>Bake for 10 minutes, until slightly golden brown. </li><li>Change the oven setting to Broil and bake the pretzels for 1-2 more minutes until they reach the perfect level of golden brown that you want. </li></ol><div><i>Bonus: after brushing with the egg, sprinkle with salt or everything bagel seasoning (also from Aldi!!).</i></div><div><i>
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</i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY1cIwOVcQDsfW61EUJ8Aph8VxOTNIgUiXO_cQeaPttbkBz5PBlnhBqWucCQEqZy5U1v_ZVbQO1QaIIk4T-gHjzOYEP1WngBXo3ifElo-7KMjnA7zj3npikarDJlN5Srm-EmLMFFBwlYu/s1300/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-05.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY1cIwOVcQDsfW61EUJ8Aph8VxOTNIgUiXO_cQeaPttbkBz5PBlnhBqWucCQEqZy5U1v_ZVbQO1QaIIk4T-gHjzOYEP1WngBXo3ifElo-7KMjnA7zj3npikarDJlN5Srm-EmLMFFBwlYu/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-05.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS-71DpkbyARhIGJF6fv1eYb4tNZET0mIWiNa4i50LfxSzY4MfatrngAnAwhj5Y-jqbzDp7-3VO9rN1aFGMdS4AFmB5DRU4tlOqNzuShqRzgLkwFb1HzyP2x2sfCWrxu3O_-83NgqIVOM/s1500/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-02.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS-71DpkbyARhIGJF6fv1eYb4tNZET0mIWiNa4i50LfxSzY4MfatrngAnAwhj5Y-jqbzDp7-3VO9rN1aFGMdS4AFmB5DRU4tlOqNzuShqRzgLkwFb1HzyP2x2sfCWrxu3O_-83NgqIVOM/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-02.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDm7SETAoxo47jkZZ2z0lVzt_IZfTAcuaxyRZFtTDquDiDyY6hsCzyt5ZiLTQ8EgSJyGFPjzIxmU-TisVyPRTGoggf8e__nBBbH5iQd-GzTRvHGg-0YRTTXzeZDnCxkUyowapHk_0zjwA/s1300/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-04.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDm7SETAoxo47jkZZ2z0lVzt_IZfTAcuaxyRZFtTDquDiDyY6hsCzyt5ZiLTQ8EgSJyGFPjzIxmU-TisVyPRTGoggf8e__nBBbH5iQd-GzTRvHGg-0YRTTXzeZDnCxkUyowapHk_0zjwA/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-04.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiu7JrNQmJiBza67RCDe3vVW9aLNliy7QVbfzadIpZG-JIz0YGLVVqVL1DlK_BH7ge_Io3HJOmzmu1TjDLnmTCyWolmSnVw38hMU3wyKwBD374hYTikKEfE3ltQtDrsUVXtZBXT-JRxOy0/s1000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-07.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiu7JrNQmJiBza67RCDe3vVW9aLNliy7QVbfzadIpZG-JIz0YGLVVqVL1DlK_BH7ge_Io3HJOmzmu1TjDLnmTCyWolmSnVw38hMU3wyKwBD374hYTikKEfE3ltQtDrsUVXtZBXT-JRxOy0/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-07.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc4p8gfMXSZC6sgxWFM9URY2CO87K5KQeI2lo4D2JHIZRlEpLw3ThI04fpAZ1jv5i0rYm_36eaFDEW3S_k-JGQ3C5APDx-yAsuWbwVgLszUJ4ljj4tOhfZqnOGNWIoAI2qMQUn1rRpJqe/s1500/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-08.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc4p8gfMXSZC6sgxWFM9URY2CO87K5KQeI2lo4D2JHIZRlEpLw3ThI04fpAZ1jv5i0rYm_36eaFDEW3S_k-JGQ3C5APDx-yAsuWbwVgLszUJ4ljj4tOhfZqnOGNWIoAI2qMQUn1rRpJqe/s16000/Sourdough-soft-pretzels-ahopefulhood-08.png" /></a></div><br /><div>I was inspired by all the recipes at <a href="https://littlespoonfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Spoon Farm</a>, so if you're looking for more sourdough inspiration, check her blog out!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Helpful tools:</b></div><div><br /></div>
<div class="shopthepost-widget" data-widget-id="4460528"><script type="text/javascript">!function(w,i,d,g,e,t){d.getElementById(i)||(element=d.createElement(t),element.id=i,element.src="https://widgets.rewardstyle.com"+e,d.body.appendChild(element)),w.hasOwnProperty(g)===!0&&"complete"===d.readyState&&w[g].init()}(window,"shopthepost-script",document,"__stp","/js/shopthepost.js","script")</script><div class="rs-adblock"><img onerror="this.parentNode.innerHTML="Disable your ad blocking software to view this content."" src="https://assets.rewardstyle.com/production/bf7556aff078341a8b5f737ec9c34286d9b04640/images/search/350.gif" style="height: 15px; width: 15px;" /><noscript>JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.</noscript></div><div class="rs-adblock"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">What fun things have you been baking/cooking lately?</h2></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-47414316121636695762021-03-26T14:09:00.003-04:002021-03-26T14:09:34.873-04:00Easter Memory Verse Cards for Toddlers<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1qtYV4MbKVGF9MH2mufF0SskHkLDhyhnOIC0clGhgt7hlRHMawJtepqyd6Sj6jc2lNxx00-HH8NIqkfEb_EWL-TBX7rMGxNhMdVtQtKKQD573khCGbxcY5aKv92LiCOXNAm572pqJfqH/s2048/Easter-memory-verses-for-toddlers-ahopefulhood-02.JPG"><img alt="Easter-memory-verses-for-toddlers" border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1qtYV4MbKVGF9MH2mufF0SskHkLDhyhnOIC0clGhgt7hlRHMawJtepqyd6Sj6jc2lNxx00-HH8NIqkfEb_EWL-TBX7rMGxNhMdVtQtKKQD573khCGbxcY5aKv92LiCOXNAm572pqJfqH/s16000/Easter-memory-verses-for-toddlers-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" title="Easter memory verses for toddlers" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have been loving this Easter/Lent season with a five-year-old and three-year-old. They are really <i>getting</i> it and asking good questions (at breakfast this morning, Emma asked about the blood on the doorposts in Passover!). As we read through the Gospel's retellings of Jesus entering Jerusalem, his trial, his death and resurrection, there are key verses that stick out that encapsulate such truth for the kids to latch onto. Also, yes, I do try and weave as much gospel truth as I can into our everyday fun, seen <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMzmWNWAGHc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> (but please laugh with me at how much I streeeetch to make that happen! haha!)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're also (still!) enjoying <a href="https://rstyle.me/+nTQZqo8W9ETCGgxomyHPaQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Is The Gospel </a>by the team at Kids Read Truth, and here are even <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/05/faith-favorites-for-kids.html" target="_blank">more faith-inspiring favorites for kids</a>. <br /><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Favorite Easter memory verses for toddlers and preschoolers:</h2><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>John 11:25 </b><b>I am the resurrection and the life</b></li><ul><li><i>For context, read through the whole story of Jesus and Lazarus to set up the bigger picture for this verse and Easter in John 11. </i></li></ul><li><b>Matthew 28:6 </b> <b>He is not here! He has risen, just as he said he would!</b></li><ul><li><i>For context, read Matthew's account of Jesus rising from the dead in Matthew 28. </i></li></ul><li><b>John 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. </b></li><ul><li><i>For context, read Jesus' teaching in John 14:1-11 alongside John's account of Jesus' feath and resurrection in John 18-22. </i></li></ul><li><b>Matthew 16:16 You are the Christ. You are the Son of the living God. </b></li><ul><li><i>For context, read through Matthew 16:13-28 where Peter declares who Jesus is and Jesus predicts his death. </i></li></ul></ol><div><i><br /></i></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/10whpUpgbZyosAKa5sCkFhlZ7GC808nLn/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download the memory cards here</a> (and for black and white, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hII8m4fmNPDmj_cRt5tqAmhpdBuEAMn_/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">download this</a>). </i></h2><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxTyaCtq6iLqdMQYsskwbMeDGmzqJgC7IzN3WMzVftD3Q93Yi83Grx7TfKmew_Z88kFR0vg9JLuc38aW1RmIjmEJoV5KG8V8PpYqSghV5qleZcA_2Gudo-2vUn2Kp6gxieDfYLIRLvEFS/s2048/Easter-memory-verses-for-toddlers-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxTyaCtq6iLqdMQYsskwbMeDGmzqJgC7IzN3WMzVftD3Q93Yi83Grx7TfKmew_Z88kFR0vg9JLuc38aW1RmIjmEJoV5KG8V8PpYqSghV5qleZcA_2Gudo-2vUn2Kp6gxieDfYLIRLvEFS/s16000/Easter-memory-verses-for-toddlers-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div>I had so much fun flipping through the Gospels to pick out these verses, but of course there's so many more to choose from. Read through the story of Jesus' death and resurrection here:</div><div>Matthew 21-28</div><div>Mark 14-16</div><div>Luke 22-24</div><div>John 11-12, 18-21</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>What are your favorite Easter traditions?</b></h2></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-15921365891964207052021-03-16T06:30:00.002-04:002021-03-16T06:30:03.672-04:00DIY Garden Starters with Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedWDj5sgvt90bLz6dOj8kOvDvhdzpDKaydKdIPD9bN3aFnUipODvR5x237g_qDniTS39Zmw_4Jmt2c5fMwgB5YTiZBtkFA3fQLwM1ePyQvSS2BWbufpMLRXBI4kwZ6nZxn2KDMWoIOUH3/s1000/garden-seed-starter-with-kids-ahopefulhood-03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedWDj5sgvt90bLz6dOj8kOvDvhdzpDKaydKdIPD9bN3aFnUipODvR5x237g_qDniTS39Zmw_4Jmt2c5fMwgB5YTiZBtkFA3fQLwM1ePyQvSS2BWbufpMLRXBI4kwZ6nZxn2KDMWoIOUH3/s16000/garden-seed-starter-with-kids-ahopefulhood-03.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a really budget-friendly spring activity to try with your kids, and it will lead to your own selection of fresh veggies! Last summer, I had my first ever vegetable garden. Up til last summer, I thought vegetable gardens were ugly and why would you want that in your outdoor space?! Flower gardens? Pretty. Spindly vegetable plants? No thanks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then I realized how EXCITING it is to see your little seeds sprout, to plant those sprouts in the ground, and to gather fresh cucumbers a few months later. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, I'm hooked. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/04/simple-tips-for-keeping-plants-alive.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/04/simple-tips-for-keeping-plants-alive.html" target="_blank">Related: Simple tips for keeping houseplants alive</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/03/5-planter-ideas-for-indoor-plants.html" target="_blank">Upcycle planter ideas for indoor plants</a></i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last March/April, when our area was totally shut down, Aiden, Emma, and I planted cucumber seeds and tomatoes in whatever old recycling things we could find. It was exciting to see the seeds grow slowly and get ready to plant in the ground! This year? We're doing the same thing except I've expanded our list of vegetables to try planting. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">What we used:</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+JGijJklMDAhBVzxbADSg-w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Garden soil</a> (<a href="https://rstyle.me/+P7qwGVYHk8DizcNVr3AFPQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">seed starter dirt is even better</a>!)</li><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+9ZwGwhJsptOL2tcTMTsrHQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seeds</a>: Carrots, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans </li><ul><li>Here is a pack of <a href="https://rstyle.me/+9ZwGwhJsptOL2tcTMTsrHQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">30 types of vegetables for only $23</a> on Amazon prime!</li></ul><li>Small containers:</li><ul><li><span>Use things from your recycling bin! </span></li><li>Old yogurt cups, a frosting container, produce containers with the holes at the bottom</li></ul><li>Permanent marker + popsicle sticks to label the small containers</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div></div><div>We spent about $7.50 on dirt and about $20 on seeds. That's less than $30, and you'll get fresh vegetables all summer!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">What we did:</h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Prep your workspace with a big container of dirt for the kids to scoop out of on a serving tray. </li><li>Poke holes in the bottoms of your small containers for good drainage.</li><li>Open the seed packets and have a few for the kids, out and ready to grab</li><li>Show them one example before letting them try: "first I scoop the dirt, then I poke a hole, then I drop the seed in, then I pinch the dirt shut."</li><li>Let them at it! Emma got really into this, which is why she is in most of my pictures. Aiden was entertained for a little while, but then he just wanted to go play. </li></ol></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br />
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text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>What spring projects are you doing this year?</b></h2><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><br /></div></div><br><br>
<div class="shopthepost-widget" data-widget-id="4403923"><script type="text/javascript">!function(w,i,d,g,e,t){d.getElementById(i)||(element=d.createElement(t),element.id=i,element.src="https://widgets.rewardstyle.com"+e,d.body.appendChild(element)),w.hasOwnProperty(g)===!0&&"complete"===d.readyState&&w[g].init()}(window,"shopthepost-script",document,"__stp","/js/shopthepost.js","script")</script><div class="rs-adblock"><img src="https://assets.rewardstyle.com/production/97d333a5533460e95e1450629f19012a6cf92d42/images/search/350.gif" onerror='this.parentNode.innerHTML="Disable your ad blocking software to view this content."' style="width: 15px; height: 15px"><noscript>JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.</noscript></div></div><br>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-38762901005231438692021-03-01T14:15:00.005-05:002021-03-01T14:15:58.542-05:00Joy in the Snowfall <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgBxjGO3SgG3upMHOsZpvUt_al1AF699FItbN6u2OD8gQTvFA-Glx_uVR59AU3yh7oItwaIYFOk-dPzbdAI9xiIuEda4ZqPsqhqb5r7Gi6GEyT0pk1zKpJyzASLHltD_1W-T-2yvoXMGC/s2048/DSC_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgBxjGO3SgG3upMHOsZpvUt_al1AF699FItbN6u2OD8gQTvFA-Glx_uVR59AU3yh7oItwaIYFOk-dPzbdAI9xiIuEda4ZqPsqhqb5r7Gi6GEyT0pk1zKpJyzASLHltD_1W-T-2yvoXMGC/s16000/DSC_0916.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week, we had probably our last big snow of the season. When Riley went down for her nap, Aiden, Emma and I headed out for some last big snowy fun before it melted later in the week. This has been a fun year of snow almost every week for a month...and while I normally hate how the snow makes travel difficult and cancels events I want to go to, in a pandemic world, there's nothing to miss out on because of a snowstorm! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Plus, the kids love it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, the big kids. 😆<br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This playhouse has now seen every season of fun: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/05/project-playhouse.html" target="_blank">Devin built it last spring</a>, the kids slid down in their bathing suits all summer, we used it in the fall, and here we are in winter: sliding down the big slide into piles of snow. (Not pictured of course! haha). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's also crazy to think that last February, there was no snow outside our windows, and <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/02/currently-february-2020.html" target="_blank">Aiden and Emma were "holding" newborn Riley</a> (with the help of her Boppy pillow!). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week was really difficult, and I felt very "stuck" in the Covid-cautious, grandparent-protecting lives we're living. But as I look back at these snapshots of moments filled with laughter in the fluffy snow, how can I not thank God for his kindness and his love, even in the hard times? I'm so grateful for these kids, our health, this yard, and the simple joy of snowfall for us to spend time in together. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Q88zBtKfeetMODlOuHYbVRSk0lK0c0FV76MQ2VoLYp14CXEydYCoSylklXBWC-OXKnrokcrDAARU6yxxKTLmlsWPA_8J85RxlojENenA6YANcMPg-6TuwbWswZf4_KHDyIGB7vvROnIz/s2048/DSC_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Q88zBtKfeetMODlOuHYbVRSk0lK0c0FV76MQ2VoLYp14CXEydYCoSylklXBWC-OXKnrokcrDAARU6yxxKTLmlsWPA_8J85RxlojENenA6YANcMPg-6TuwbWswZf4_KHDyIGB7vvROnIz/s16000/DSC_0914.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I3krV2dcn6QAw4hAWsM84s661ljuQGoSdfiVixHzwpjccZxkK8EKNPzLYedDT3m4cN31rKH6n0wBk4dwRUzaPN9M4yslxkLTn3bHvdcru6QK37GBy02n2hbcMFrivM3GdR4TGG1PK3CP/s2048/DSC_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZBdP1_Q6EcWpw22sgNS88SUJ2LQ7MQpTwGBoRIG0NFZQeNghZbHfKESgUox7OFF7LJM2z5DnAyoXfyaNHjqRNs50WIGOr6O029m9H-YC-JcGBpVuPdFKBEgT75HXkYKnLmBE6jRhlXBQ/s2048/DSC_0952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZBdP1_Q6EcWpw22sgNS88SUJ2LQ7MQpTwGBoRIG0NFZQeNghZbHfKESgUox7OFF7LJM2z5DnAyoXfyaNHjqRNs50WIGOr6O029m9H-YC-JcGBpVuPdFKBEgT75HXkYKnLmBE6jRhlXBQ/s16000/DSC_0952.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This last one is just a tribute to me living my most awkward life while my five-year-old is TOTALLY over taking pictures and just wants to smash snow with a t-ball bat. Typical. 😉</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What are you grateful for this season? </div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-37361875795996742382021-02-10T13:55:00.005-05:002021-02-10T14:34:54.871-05:00Happy 5th Birthday, Aiden<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzbt4Wn9IeA4pB2Dp1h5AChi9tRg_YGXiuFDUj7I84XRjcPInr8tRZz6weNEj0QMFgXbR4a4wo4IxYkAY6BEhK20Ia4NnHRSdY2e36KKzzK2PHDcRvFz5z8W8IljkoDOmKGA7R2onKPkL/s640/Aiden-is-Five.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzbt4Wn9IeA4pB2Dp1h5AChi9tRg_YGXiuFDUj7I84XRjcPInr8tRZz6weNEj0QMFgXbR4a4wo4IxYkAY6BEhK20Ia4NnHRSdY2e36KKzzK2PHDcRvFz5z8W8IljkoDOmKGA7R2onKPkL/s16000/Aiden-is-Five.jpeg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Aiden, </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Days after your little sister <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2021/01/our-riley-kirsten-12-months.html" target="_blank">Riley turned one</a>, you turned F I V E. And because I can't help but look back...here you are at <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/01/a-letter-to-aiden-12-months.html" target="_blank">1 year</a> / <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/01/happy-3rd-birthday-aiden.html" target="_blank">3 years</a> / <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/02/happy-4th-birthday-aiden.html" target="_blank">4 years</a>. (Apparently I didn't write about you turning two? Maybe because <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/02/tips-for-transitioning-from-one-to-two.html" target="_blank">Emma was 4 months old and life was crazy</a>!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />January babies are so sweet because it's cold out and you can stay home and snuggle your little one without missing out on all the fun summer plans (who has winter plans??? No one, right?). So, thank you for making January festive and fun, forever!</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />You are my photo-hating adventurer who loves doing "experiments" with baking soda/vinegar/oil/dirt/sand, expertly climbing a tree terrifyingly high, and running ahead of me on a trail. You love playing with Lego guys, superhero action figures and army men. You're articulate and tell insanely long, intricate stories, and your best friend is Emma. When you two fight (which does happen!), I've heard you say "that made me feel angry because..." and it blows my mind that you can put how you feel into words when really, in my mind, you're still so little!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />You have no interest in doing "preschool homeschool" activities with me, so of course I'm a little nervous about kindergarten next year. Without a pandemic, you would have been in preschool 4 mornings a week and very prepared for writing and sitting down to learn in kindergarten. And while part of me is sad you didn't get to have that preschool experience, the upside is that it's been SUCH a gift to have this whole "school year" all together at home. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We've been able to play whatever we want at home together, meet up with friends wearing masks outside, and plan whatever activities you want. Whereas we would <i>normally</i> have had preschool scheduled and inside library story times and children's museum trips, the pandemic pushed us outside to go on hikes and nature walks on trails we otherwise wouldn't have discovered. In the summer, you crossed creeks and climbed trees, and now that it's winter you don't even complain about the cold as you run ahead on the trails and play in the snow until your mittens are soaked through. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been such a joy to have so much "extra" time together this past year. I'm so glad I get to be your mom. </div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-36890324609452297732021-01-21T10:08:00.003-05:002021-01-21T10:08:35.109-05:00Our Riley Kirsten // 12 Months<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx7ywRsBiRQf5Z0iY2D9r2wA4v_Mcf70-I9UkiRn-XGygXjsXrrwgyNbMCGdOpGxiw63Esr9PJTnUn3SA7MKLh9FshM2RZbQOo2UmNhQ1XTUApItZp0EbEoQoKAOIOO07JyaK0E9TfBvc/s1400/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx7ywRsBiRQf5Z0iY2D9r2wA4v_Mcf70-I9UkiRn-XGygXjsXrrwgyNbMCGdOpGxiw63Esr9PJTnUn3SA7MKLh9FshM2RZbQOo2UmNhQ1XTUApItZp0EbEoQoKAOIOO07JyaK0E9TfBvc/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A whole year with Riley?! Just like that, SHE. IS. ONE. Here is <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/02/rileys-birth-story.html" target="_blank">Riley's birth story</a>, (gah! newborn Riley! so little!), and here's <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/05/our-riley-kirsten-3-months.html" target="_blank">Riley at 3 months</a>, <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/08/our-riley-kirsten-6-months.html" target="_blank">6 months</a>, and sort of around <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/11/currently-november-2020.html" target="_blank">9 months</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>She's in such a fun stage of crawling fast, pulling up on everything, trying to take her first steps (which hasn't happened yet). She babbles nonsense words but then has started saying "baby," "dada," and "YES" consistently. She's sturdy enough to hang with the big kids in their room as they play, and she's great at going up and down stairs on her own. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/10/starting-solids-with-our-third-baby.html" target="_blank">Starting Solids + Homemade Baby Food Idea</a>s | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/07/how-to-choose-stroller-from-3rd-time-mom.html" target="_blank">Choosing the Right Stroller for You</a></i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>(Oh and if you notice, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ1hnIXg-HF/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the eye injury I mentioned here</a> looks great even though you can still faintly see some bruising...just to warn you!)</div><div><br /></div><div>She's wearing 12-18 month sizes and weighs 19 pounds, if someday I want to look back and see some hard and fast data points that are very important and matter in the longterm. Clearly. </div><div><div><br />But it feels weird to have our last "first birthday" party. Our last baby is <i>one</i>. We feel great about life with 3 kids, but there's still a heavy "wow, this is it, the last ____" with each milestone. Stick around and you'll probably hear me whine about 'my last baby is starting kindergarten!' etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a much more positive note, here are Aiden, Emma, and Riley in their element: playing together, really excited to be all together, and not interested at all in looking at a camera all at the same time. </div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Z5POmfjJgPojfqc-9w9b7Qg_1Xa2TnDeKSBnuToTMWXcfFH5O4g7aZJ_hrbioxJoZyATc5aTQ4dLFt0jgYS5HcbEXJ7x60wDUlpo3z8opKBh1poTy7lwksFo0Eee3B6oIOPgoXJyho1/s1000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Z5POmfjJgPojfqc-9w9b7Qg_1Xa2TnDeKSBnuToTMWXcfFH5O4g7aZJ_hrbioxJoZyATc5aTQ4dLFt0jgYS5HcbEXJ7x60wDUlpo3z8opKBh1poTy7lwksFo0Eee3B6oIOPgoXJyho1/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-02.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNWdLZ1HV-49g9-Fwo6_9dMU0OrY9Cz_TPao3hd_M4_U55nR9QsaRMgkojjCsjOASwvP5AGVLDNpZTezmA6_48XLjJ5QlGdxsu2OqETI9Gs1RQ9KTZQShH9LtJroCOfYVtnuUbxBppwvF/s1500/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-03+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNWdLZ1HV-49g9-Fwo6_9dMU0OrY9Cz_TPao3hd_M4_U55nR9QsaRMgkojjCsjOASwvP5AGVLDNpZTezmA6_48XLjJ5QlGdxsu2OqETI9Gs1RQ9KTZQShH9LtJroCOfYVtnuUbxBppwvF/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-03+%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrlkUV4Sgd5HXpiXMScZTcmHDyoC1t-5KqWJYVdUJDSa2oorIAAo3n3wNK8mDnpBJoKm80gV3hYRjQ9Jsi3vXl6OXJWl0JdlPNDsqeLU7giPFyLrUGs3-ArMhAzzg6O4g95ipiX_svYJX/s1500/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrlkUV4Sgd5HXpiXMScZTcmHDyoC1t-5KqWJYVdUJDSa2oorIAAo3n3wNK8mDnpBJoKm80gV3hYRjQ9Jsi3vXl6OXJWl0JdlPNDsqeLU7giPFyLrUGs3-ArMhAzzg6O4g95ipiX_svYJX/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-05.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUOD5dgFtD2EDS8t4PvDB65pbqJvXXLMZ9cC7ph6rmPwPfMjkjFpssoipzaQROh1mbDfuD5AEVQ0mK4-pPXpsEYQ4dH-nDuqFarP6o5JF0enR98UAerfL6H8gNdeDcKKOQk5twzu2hyphenhyphendL/s1400/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUOD5dgFtD2EDS8t4PvDB65pbqJvXXLMZ9cC7ph6rmPwPfMjkjFpssoipzaQROh1mbDfuD5AEVQ0mK4-pPXpsEYQ4dH-nDuqFarP6o5JF0enR98UAerfL6H8gNdeDcKKOQk5twzu2hyphenhyphendL/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-04.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VOFg26wo8Gwr7fehxUr8WNyZlY-kan_AUMWHsl_99cmfqwh6Pkj3iuVNVcZFEqINlA7sOBW47BQjOh4A8J2ra09TYOG5eqWjcYAOvX4zKpsPQAGf5Rgws_HJgVGS8BOrU6g4vuPS6nja/s1000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VOFg26wo8Gwr7fehxUr8WNyZlY-kan_AUMWHsl_99cmfqwh6Pkj3iuVNVcZFEqINlA7sOBW47BQjOh4A8J2ra09TYOG5eqWjcYAOvX4zKpsPQAGf5Rgws_HJgVGS8BOrU6g4vuPS6nja/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-03.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vrLnMqil3jD96BsQXeyWWUGwCF4oniuI-ZOIUdxzTzvEkU3xQ68FgLHQ-924wBzMnmkV-bmmgQtIIaWvvCJzz76pL6Fsp11MtpCHN2SPD3YY8AQfw9UFgCRDlWBW0ISYUR_m6l7Y8R5O/s972/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-06.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="972" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vrLnMqil3jD96BsQXeyWWUGwCF4oniuI-ZOIUdxzTzvEkU3xQ68FgLHQ-924wBzMnmkV-bmmgQtIIaWvvCJzz76pL6Fsp11MtpCHN2SPD3YY8AQfw9UFgCRDlWBW0ISYUR_m6l7Y8R5O/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-06.gif" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOW8FQO5bgxy9C98yhiCWKyBTt6YiVVCvcQ6j7bV8HLFq1DI-8aCmPO-W_KHO4pImjMUq8lBdeRW590kPB_9AwwiWfPaI54ojLtWNgmQp8RVOs7AUi77s2qUrVKqHECObdCgazkDaSk13/s1000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-07.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOW8FQO5bgxy9C98yhiCWKyBTt6YiVVCvcQ6j7bV8HLFq1DI-8aCmPO-W_KHO4pImjMUq8lBdeRW590kPB_9AwwiWfPaI54ojLtWNgmQp8RVOs7AUi77s2qUrVKqHECObdCgazkDaSk13/s16000/Riley-12-months-ahopefulhood-07.png" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">What are you celebrating these days?</div></h2>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-16341422390679598352021-01-13T13:11:00.005-05:002021-01-25T14:06:01.005-05:00Advice from A Second-Time Homeowner<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYu7r9C7Phyphenhyphenkd0395l7rAqC_huwNY8g3sY5aJVJiEvbmC3rlYpmsgSzjguMUABrHHPXy1B5I0of1ZgrperxDTRjqwJFEZkn8ph0dvBxHyfyE2rpwN326QanEu9G8JjyIzY_4OTcRPcPdqU/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1942" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYu7r9C7Phyphenhyphenkd0395l7rAqC_huwNY8g3sY5aJVJiEvbmC3rlYpmsgSzjguMUABrHHPXy1B5I0of1ZgrperxDTRjqwJFEZkn8ph0dvBxHyfyE2rpwN326QanEu9G8JjyIzY_4OTcRPcPdqU/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">This post has been sponsored by Lexington Law. All opinions are honest and my own. <a href="https://www.lexingtonlaw.com/disclaimer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexington Law Disclaimer</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Buying <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/07/home-tour-living-spaces.html" target="_blank">our second house</a> was SO MUCH EASIER than buying <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/05/our-first-house.html" target="_blank">our first house</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me back up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Devin and I were 19, engaged, and looking to buy a house to live in as newlyweds. We had some money saved and didn't want to rent an apartment if we could find a small, cheap house to buy. But you know what you need to buy your first house? Good credit, credit history, and a company willing to give you a mortgage. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Though Devin made good money as an electrician and I was finishing up college to become a teacher (remember when I ended up <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2014/09/hola-me-llamo-senora-hood.html" target="_blank">teaching high school Spanish</a>?!), and we had money for a small down payment, the interest rates on the high-risk mortgages were going to make owning a home unaffordable. We literally had ZERO credit history...oops!</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Real talk (and this feels like getting vulnerable, so go easy on me, Internet!): my parents didn't want to see us flush money down the drain on an apartment while we built up our credit scores, so they took out a home equity line of credit on <i>their </i>house. They bought <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2011/10/traveling-home-to-see-our-house.html" target="_blank">our first house</a> in cash from that line of credit, so we paid our "mortgage" to my parents. Our first house was $100,000, and when we moved 8 years later, we sold it for $205,000. We completely paid my parents' line of credit back and put a huge down payment down on our second house. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our solution as first-time home buyers was unique, but our problem was not: having no credit history (or bad credit!) can stand between you and owning a home. You can save for a down payment, but if you want a bank to give you a mortgage with reasonable interest rates, you need a long history of good credit. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So what should you do? You can stay on top of your credit with help from <a href="https://www.lexingtonlaw.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the team at Lexington Law</a>, and you can start by taking out loans that you can more than afford to pay back. Whether that's a car loan, a student loan, etc. Start building good credit early! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7gxMxlxMmOjvkLjxmzF9qZGvh4BBFW_a7jObSna6u2U7mMaU0YJaMU65MrYlghlNQ3DJS_D3TyTptUqKeUA4mJQI90BBLqONL9Vl7vnGo534KDoHuofImLhvct_CFwYcZsVC5unU9Bc4/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7gxMxlxMmOjvkLjxmzF9qZGvh4BBFW_a7jObSna6u2U7mMaU0YJaMU65MrYlghlNQ3DJS_D3TyTptUqKeUA4mJQI90BBLqONL9Vl7vnGo534KDoHuofImLhvct_CFwYcZsVC5unU9Bc4/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-001.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bBbFBBe0bJ7ZRNkRvjBhh7I0p1AnnNPh9myu7djNK2SoY_PPc5W_UYcGtb_QulPVTrN4ON4-WgnWXuSVYJYMCEN2RzIYu1bTkDrCRtvtu3FVkszfCxrOL4Hue_mzSNxMwlRSATD7-vxz/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-03.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bBbFBBe0bJ7ZRNkRvjBhh7I0p1AnnNPh9myu7djNK2SoY_PPc5W_UYcGtb_QulPVTrN4ON4-WgnWXuSVYJYMCEN2RzIYu1bTkDrCRtvtu3FVkszfCxrOL4Hue_mzSNxMwlRSATD7-vxz/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-03.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHuy7Gifkr6k7Y7ZGYwbJRy90VKHtezKfcjVjBAycdSzm9B3ai53jp_wDEYkiGqaKKvg27BzusEsndMDUDYkG9hQT27ucR6T3S-rHWJKsBW7ZO45kK0xIQ-veQxGXF6hRSbIjMxTGARiF/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHuy7Gifkr6k7Y7ZGYwbJRy90VKHtezKfcjVjBAycdSzm9B3ai53jp_wDEYkiGqaKKvg27BzusEsndMDUDYkG9hQT27ucR6T3S-rHWJKsBW7ZO45kK0xIQ-veQxGXF6hRSbIjMxTGARiF/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whether your goal is to build better credit, remove incorrect items from your credit history, or simply get credit coaching, <a href="https://ooh.li/21f4a5a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexington Law</a> is ready to work with you. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am so grateful for the help my parents' help (like so, so grateful. I hope that comes across because I don't want to sound entitled!). But by the time we were buying our second house, we had years of credit history and it was way easier to get a mortgage with low rates. But if I could do it all over again, I'd start working to build credit early so that buying our first house could go as smoothly as buying our second! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70rv2m8p7N295kD6kh4Z6uFPS6SNyBJsiRT9aUFxa-KiK0KQr-TKvhhVgwzt40i9iIRk90VYWK79wXJfEPOxYcYBFwJudze0MswH0swOq7U6yDHl7Kw7PKIgysheSHGrPqYfav_3SkYBM/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-04.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70rv2m8p7N295kD6kh4Z6uFPS6SNyBJsiRT9aUFxa-KiK0KQr-TKvhhVgwzt40i9iIRk90VYWK79wXJfEPOxYcYBFwJudze0MswH0swOq7U6yDHl7Kw7PKIgysheSHGrPqYfav_3SkYBM/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-04.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zL0Whs95O6bYpgQIivUuXfPpRRZ9SADEXGSQOwpKp6ZfTsdUTfIcWKI5hhsFiAH95I00Em2lVgFCiCy5uBP35_t1W8J4iQh_NJe4OzN8pZOkZc1aIfgeE-VM4m4LYv8h55ZYNDddAXm_/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-05.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zL0Whs95O6bYpgQIivUuXfPpRRZ9SADEXGSQOwpKp6ZfTsdUTfIcWKI5hhsFiAH95I00Em2lVgFCiCy5uBP35_t1W8J4iQh_NJe4OzN8pZOkZc1aIfgeE-VM4m4LYv8h55ZYNDddAXm_/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-05.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJfU2nOKiknSrJWpl3gUVUWoGv_r9ycvIAceAEyXKhi_SPbbF61IKNedReQmjtujfulFLm8fJqZ8a9U54c1pMkKxdj9mplIKgcoMiKl8uqwVf4nGWqYnNx_PrdFKrmLeBdRI9P0Zxty-X/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJfU2nOKiknSrJWpl3gUVUWoGv_r9ycvIAceAEyXKhi_SPbbF61IKNedReQmjtujfulFLm8fJqZ8a9U54c1pMkKxdj9mplIKgcoMiKl8uqwVf4nGWqYnNx_PrdFKrmLeBdRI9P0Zxty-X/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-06.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTvOflY9K_mXtoYpGdrA9SbCIdyBYbuOYcRix56Lfn7PavKAZ71vDuThhV9sjmWzSipsgwsodOU8tdt9V4zRF3ymhI_EoTxkBlxZuk9qB-fm4LwqZKYIKOsqtKsUJ1zfQ_TkKZMS-omGL/s2048/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-07.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTvOflY9K_mXtoYpGdrA9SbCIdyBYbuOYcRix56Lfn7PavKAZ71vDuThhV9sjmWzSipsgwsodOU8tdt9V4zRF3ymhI_EoTxkBlxZuk9qB-fm4LwqZKYIKOsqtKsUJ1zfQ_TkKZMS-omGL/s16000/Planning-ahead-lexington-law-ahopefulhood-07.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>See how wild the first house renovations looked its early stages: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2012/01/its-progress-in-case-you-couldnt-tell.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2012/05/two-weeks-til-move-in-day.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn more at <a href="https://ooh.li/21f4a5a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexington Law</a> about how you can take control of your credit history. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">What do you wish you'd planned ahead on? What advice would you give your younger self?</span></i></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-56490409926893988182020-12-16T06:00:00.001-05:002020-12-16T06:00:00.545-05:00Christmas at the Hood House | 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5g1X1KG6RrE_SVR3e7e5sE2fBIjfI38k2_bSgEurjfJxOCZDun3Vxhkv4Ol1fo5c9tgptrkObM1g0LRuF0Wa1Yn7mZhvyAOC9VfR1NI21dMlFHm53ZsWSjJ5VvGvP19A_p45xTVnL8KX/s2048/DSC_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5g1X1KG6RrE_SVR3e7e5sE2fBIjfI38k2_bSgEurjfJxOCZDun3Vxhkv4Ol1fo5c9tgptrkObM1g0LRuF0Wa1Yn7mZhvyAOC9VfR1NI21dMlFHm53ZsWSjJ5VvGvP19A_p45xTVnL8KX/s16000/DSC_0510.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Me, to myself: Don't let the Internet tell you that you need to spend a ton of money on Christmas decorations. <div><br /></div><div>Me, on the Internet: Here are my Christmas decorations!!<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm adding my voice to the clamor of Here's Our Most Festive House Stuff, but really it's super ironic because the list of my "Christmas decorations" is this: </div><div>--Christmas tree</div><div>--stockings, just recently hung that might still move to a different spot</div><div>--3 nativity sets my kids scatter EVERYWHERE</div><div>--tiny $5 Target dollar spot tree for my kids' room</div><div>--1 strand of outside Christmas lights</div><div><br /></div><div>THAT IS ALL. </div><div><br /></div><div>So why even document this?! </div><div><br /></div><div>Because I love to look back and see what our house looked like, how old the kids were when..., how things have changed from year to year. If you need a laugh, check out what <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2014/12/christmas-at-hood-house.html" target="_blank">our Christmas setup looked like in 2014</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1WD1298uYJg0VoJtvkXVrOsX0RmAOL_ONaENBPTXmHgBGMNe-XcfyCzE6B1sZ5kmwQwwKeF14WF4kRVlW_jMJH7Gwk8WFAwpITni_kzrQTPxhKfhy4EA4bo48nry8b9mkhxvhfbzE4Kp/s1500/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1WD1298uYJg0VoJtvkXVrOsX0RmAOL_ONaENBPTXmHgBGMNe-XcfyCzE6B1sZ5kmwQwwKeF14WF4kRVlW_jMJH7Gwk8WFAwpITni_kzrQTPxhKfhy4EA4bo48nry8b9mkhxvhfbzE4Kp/s16000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-01.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThIuvjS07gbUrpeuFB_q7RZzyTLWobb4chmiwKWgur3SHCveuQtevsIeV17MiCR1780k0TZAf7sXtcONsR6HKz7ewZ5MCxopj3qULkudb1MnS3An_gL8BdSHNsvjkiAl0wKMdS-BGfa-z/s1000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThIuvjS07gbUrpeuFB_q7RZzyTLWobb4chmiwKWgur3SHCveuQtevsIeV17MiCR1780k0TZAf7sXtcONsR6HKz7ewZ5MCxopj3qULkudb1MnS3An_gL8BdSHNsvjkiAl0wKMdS-BGfa-z/s16000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-03.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKOAZGLgxpaZavyZFXXsSFRvkAOqM1Dc-di7Euuryo2nKra5KedDuLOQ38eMuMcXTppbZNaPpafQYfdYKEPHZINgXNaX3L81nQ7YWzEfussJ1udOYvVG30YkSeeBQdy4PLPVSUKhyUiiz/s1000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKOAZGLgxpaZavyZFXXsSFRvkAOqM1Dc-di7Euuryo2nKra5KedDuLOQ38eMuMcXTppbZNaPpafQYfdYKEPHZINgXNaX3L81nQ7YWzEfussJ1udOYvVG30YkSeeBQdy4PLPVSUKhyUiiz/s16000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-04.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL5z_uAFqmlb5Mu-xXvRdySPT6Mm-Jbq4vT3XVT9KUoH6UsBXfY8OFTh_zZ5WbCLZBAZcffCE5ds9KKcW4lk_FA7YeRnxT6qEg5Qtimgt3YoSkqbTIPuHieScF16vF906qiKlV_1KAG35/s1000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL5z_uAFqmlb5Mu-xXvRdySPT6Mm-Jbq4vT3XVT9KUoH6UsBXfY8OFTh_zZ5WbCLZBAZcffCE5ds9KKcW4lk_FA7YeRnxT6qEg5Qtimgt3YoSkqbTIPuHieScF16vF906qiKlV_1KAG35/s16000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-06.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I spent naptime one day cleaning up around the living room (since that's the only room with the decorations!), and after naptime was over I invited the kids down for some selftimer pics so "PLEASE SAY CHEESE SO GRAMMY HAS A PICTURE OF US." This is the logic I use for most photo of my kids. It's for Grammy or Grandmom Hood! So, smile big! Look over there! At the camera! </div><div><br /></div><div>And of course, that lasted for 0.5 seconds. Aiden's fleecey flannel was "not feeling good on his skin" (??) and he did not want to be in any more pictures. And I respect that! He did show an interest in how the camera took the pictures, so I let showed him how to press the shutter button half-and all the way. And he took the pictures below! There were some artsy photos he snapped of Nativity angels face down on the ground and bright ribbons tied to Riley's swing, but there were also some really sweet things he captured:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfhRVjwN4PVEuEJnrfapiRhpRc_i3qUNd0VS4SjgqI-4XpcvgZ4IlT6nCw-kq7jWaEc8Id0MB2M-sK5bhsvoSPSJtZirNiYpZx0VTXLbhXA86wuMscNcQzlBTrCei9aMUFkuPMXlm8FYQ/s1000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-07.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfhRVjwN4PVEuEJnrfapiRhpRc_i3qUNd0VS4SjgqI-4XpcvgZ4IlT6nCw-kq7jWaEc8Id0MB2M-sK5bhsvoSPSJtZirNiYpZx0VTXLbhXA86wuMscNcQzlBTrCei9aMUFkuPMXlm8FYQ/s16000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-07.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlesQruc4pwzy3AZnP-pfyWn7obWgM_oo7XCCDuaPuNvg0W5nFTIihrMId55Yj39063-p-x3eUJyUEV1NMPrsZCyMFRWFre2pzEP3vmUvL4-c3epQ4PgwtLD173XWEMZFOV2HFahYrOztY/s1000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlesQruc4pwzy3AZnP-pfyWn7obWgM_oo7XCCDuaPuNvg0W5nFTIihrMId55Yj39063-p-x3eUJyUEV1NMPrsZCyMFRWFre2pzEP3vmUvL4-c3epQ4PgwtLD173XWEMZFOV2HFahYrOztY/s16000/Christmas-at-the-Hood-house-05.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>What are some of your favorite Christmas decorations? </b></h2>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-44791831813537571672020-12-14T06:00:00.010-05:002020-12-14T06:00:07.415-05:00Christmas Ornament Craft for the Grandparents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoT2KSwRVmQKU6H4bVGE6RPYGI7iDnGMIHlmfNzOlpJ15VbVmxbutMsPeEDzbLDoOiS0IS1H9xnFmAl18myb2NiUvBUGGlcJ7pOvAaj8XomEwJxW1UkmHaW_qWgSUcUo2sTTGZIW05rk6C/s1400/diy-ornament-truck-christmas-ornament-grandparent-gift-ahopefulhood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas ornament craft to give to grandparents" border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoT2KSwRVmQKU6H4bVGE6RPYGI7iDnGMIHlmfNzOlpJ15VbVmxbutMsPeEDzbLDoOiS0IS1H9xnFmAl18myb2NiUvBUGGlcJ7pOvAaj8XomEwJxW1UkmHaW_qWgSUcUo2sTTGZIW05rk6C/s16000/diy-ornament-truck-christmas-ornament-grandparent-gift-ahopefulhood.png" title="This simple Christmas ornament is the perfect craft for you to do with your toddler!" /></a></div><p>Who loves an ornament with a picture of your kids in it? Grandparents, that's who. Plus, a little truck carrying a Christmas tree and your kids driving it? Maximum cuteness, achieved. (Thank you, Pinterest, for your inspiration.)</p><div>This year, with Emma being 3 and Aiden 4, we really are able to do a lot of fun crafts that I would <i>not</i> have attempted last year. For this ornament craft, your kids can be as involved as you want them to be. Emma enjoyed painting the popsicle sticks and gluing them together (Emma: "dot, dot not alot" Me: "ok but actually you need more glue than that"), and I added the fake tree/photo/twine afterwards. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>You might also like: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/easy-christmas-cookie-baking-with-kids.html" target="_blank">Egg-free easy Christmas cookies with toddlers</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/prep-ahead-breakfasts-for-christmas.html" target="_blank">6 Prep-ahead breakfasts for Christmas morning<span><a name='more'></a></span></a></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg415Z0sqQ-tdZvKVqDK1wnwqQaOYTBJQxq0cYA0gl0ybTpyPrxHWnXtpmLXt5FHVBwkFrJdzEQmt_dVm1KecMT6GKmZONhM20lNUHVEsiqb1YBOaJIddPM1akvuMFd2TJWnlYXOD5rG42o/s800/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Craft supplies for popsicle stick ornament with washable red paint" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg415Z0sqQ-tdZvKVqDK1wnwqQaOYTBJQxq0cYA0gl0ybTpyPrxHWnXtpmLXt5FHVBwkFrJdzEQmt_dVm1KecMT6GKmZONhM20lNUHVEsiqb1YBOaJIddPM1akvuMFd2TJWnlYXOD5rG42o/s16000/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-03.png" title="Simple Christmas ornament to make with your toddler" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Craft supplies:</b></h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Wallet-sized photo (of your kids, your dog, your spouse, your neighbor, whoever)</li><li>Popsicle sticks (we happened to only have the wide kind, but thinner ones look better)</li><li>Red paint or red markers</li><li>Twine, for hanging it</li><li>Kid glue </li><li>ALSO hot glue</li><li>Tape to attach the photo (or you could use a dot of hot glue)</li><li>Some type of black circle to glue on as wheels (we used craft foam scraps we happened to have!)</li><li>Something to use as a fake tree: I literally cut pieces off of our fake-pine front door wreath 😂</li></ul><div><i>I've bolded the steps that your toddler can do with you below!</i></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">What to do:</h2><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>If you're using wide popsicle sticks (like I did!), cut them in half and down to size:</li><ul><li>2 full length popsicle sticks, for the bed of the truck</li><li>2 4-5" popsicle sticks, for the front cab of the truck</li><li>3-4" popsicle stick, for the roof of the truck</li><li>2-3" popsicle stick, for the very end of the truck bed</li></ul><li><b>Paint the popsicle sticks red (or color them with markers)</b></li><li><b>When the sticks dry, glue them together (see the pictures)</b></li><li>Attach the twine to the top of the truck</li><li>Tape or hot-glue the picture on</li><li>Hot glue the fake tree piece to the bed of the truck</li><li><b>Glue on the wheels, whether you use black construction paper circles or black buttons, etc.</b></li><li>Write the year on the back so the grandparents can remember how old the kids were that year!</li></ol><div>That's it! We've already given some of these ornaments to the grandparents (great-grantparents will get theirs this week!) and so far, they seem to LOOOVE THEM. And it's not because this is a quality, professional-looking item. Clearly. See all my photos. </div><div><br /></div><div>But it's a cute thing in a weird year, so why not!?</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9b03ZsOUrp6INs87xssWrAOZ67ioLuepTWk9TzOeqDUGoazw0vj1FtDqgez9YA9hVvgZPKfEVgq-HxPac0hm9h_5J_wuLdKhNeHk3lpgZp6NZ94uKUxUmu65Irc6vC9md6R0k5AsR9uK/s1200/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="craft time for toddler with popsicle sticks" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9b03ZsOUrp6INs87xssWrAOZ67ioLuepTWk9TzOeqDUGoazw0vj1FtDqgez9YA9hVvgZPKfEVgq-HxPac0hm9h_5J_wuLdKhNeHk3lpgZp6NZ94uKUxUmu65Irc6vC9md6R0k5AsR9uK/s16000/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-04.png" title="This simple Christmas ornament is the perfect craft for you to do with your toddler!" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lfVbSlOgiLm1cy1rq-70wQ20lKlY2Z_D79tbBvPFdKqHTYR-35FnYBPbeTkeXKMrEyjEHs8imuU9uZD6almphEWfwtNJ6fc2QP90TezUheA5RE2qw5NAjIU1sGBYKloTz9pWSM4v0Bz4/s1100/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="craft time with toddler using washable glue" border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lfVbSlOgiLm1cy1rq-70wQ20lKlY2Z_D79tbBvPFdKqHTYR-35FnYBPbeTkeXKMrEyjEHs8imuU9uZD6almphEWfwtNJ6fc2QP90TezUheA5RE2qw5NAjIU1sGBYKloTz9pWSM4v0Bz4/s16000/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-01.png" title="This simple Christmas ornament is the perfect craft for you to do with your toddler!" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBGmtzfDi-yWFdsewzfU115sXrHjhIkVQWfrMxkq1fA5Fz3YgXyUQUw_4xdLRgFBtsQXXvijurhcl4SnUAx6BXgsTqLYQqc_B_KFWJuO_gBH1IH8-pawo6uZznxo1aiM27lx1TDTtlPXR/s800/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="popsicle stick craft with toddler for Christmas" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBGmtzfDi-yWFdsewzfU115sXrHjhIkVQWfrMxkq1fA5Fz3YgXyUQUw_4xdLRgFBtsQXXvijurhcl4SnUAx6BXgsTqLYQqc_B_KFWJuO_gBH1IH8-pawo6uZznxo1aiM27lx1TDTtlPXR/s16000/diy-ornament-truck-ahopefulhood-02.png" title="This simple Christmas ornament is the perfect craft for you to do with your toddler!" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See ALLLL the holiday posts <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/search/label/holidays?&max-results=20" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>What fun Christmassy things are you up to this year?</i></h2></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-39121693000619517522020-11-20T06:00:00.011-05:002020-11-20T06:00:00.303-05:00Playroom Organization<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_ckXEPjIpp2WuTjsRcTopjVFhEOTFlmbmYvx4iBmFsJSYJLuHct86cdJM1LVADP6rpB01NWwAVO5ELAtqy2XSDOkSlRZbvWi59d4uEqqR0JibMi2ydwoXcBbJDHJMsqoV4tl9sHFtBSD/s2048/IMG_9212_jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_ckXEPjIpp2WuTjsRcTopjVFhEOTFlmbmYvx4iBmFsJSYJLuHct86cdJM1LVADP6rpB01NWwAVO5ELAtqy2XSDOkSlRZbvWi59d4uEqqR0JibMi2ydwoXcBbJDHJMsqoV4tl9sHFtBSD/s16000/IMG_9212_jpg.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">This might be a total joke if you've seen my kids' rooms and the playroom, because those rooms are USUALLY messy. The toys are everywhere, totally mixed up. (Seriously! See below for what the playroom generally looks like before we clean.) But those few days when the kids clean up with me, there is a specific system that helps them know where things need to go. Plus, with the holidays right around the corner, it's a great time to sort through what we have and what can be given away. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Before we jump in, let me admit that this is my least-often shown corner of my house. It's not cute or trendy, because I'll be the first to admit: we have too many toys. But while simplicity might not be my strong suit (thanks, two sets of local grandparents!), there are a few things I've learned from mom friends about how to store the toys you have. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/01/neutral-nursery-for-baby-3.html" target="_blank">Neutral Nursery</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/05/project-playhouse.html" target="_blank">Project Playhouse</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/08/home-tour-bedrooms-etc.html" target="_blank">Home Tour</a> </i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">How to organize your playroom and kids' toys: </h2><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Step 1:<br /></b>Group like toys together. Balls, all together. Dolls, together. Action figures/army guys/super heroes, all together. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Step 2: <br /></b>Get bins of a variety of shape. We use the <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-80275887/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ikea Kallax system</a> and the <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/trofast-storage-combination-with-boxes-white-s29042877/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ikea Trofast set</a> because you can choose what size of bins. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Step 3: <br /></b>Label your bins with pictures! I haven't written on our fabric bins, but our plastic ones? YES. Since my kids can't read yet, I drew a little picture of the toy on the outside of the bin so that they can clean up and find the right bins on their own. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Step 4: <br /></b>Practice cleaning up alongside your kids. I tell Emma, "Can you find all the dollhouse pieces and put them in THIS bin?" and give her gentle reminders if she forgets what she's looking for. Meanwhile, I'll ask Aiden to collect all the Legos and put them in another bin. <br style="text-align: left;" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi7kTDoFqGvUouo9YN55qmp9mYDiuZ0AWw6iR56tsqMom86cGFCgL09KpQLvl8SS6YXJU6Gn7_uhA3NTXZCeUgzQtkqLUibDtoms4Nt2OA37FFPdZGgyGja0ewEaCZXFcOCAbCNXuHwr3/s2048/Toy-storage-ahpoefulhood-03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi7kTDoFqGvUouo9YN55qmp9mYDiuZ0AWw6iR56tsqMom86cGFCgL09KpQLvl8SS6YXJU6Gn7_uhA3NTXZCeUgzQtkqLUibDtoms4Nt2OA37FFPdZGgyGja0ewEaCZXFcOCAbCNXuHwr3/s16000/Toy-storage-ahpoefulhood-03.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76Kx4no24lO_YbkYj8-j4BZUwKqxmGQpGflWqZB5GuJ19DwxiSFB8ZNohVMMhUAZ2eNUndyyHpy_K3vKgNwsqPTMy7jJ_JZ9RSKIJJIaGNjvUHGh-Y1BICSQ51bfQZ-zumVpAXYRJUi5G/s2048/toy-storage-playroom-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76Kx4no24lO_YbkYj8-j4BZUwKqxmGQpGflWqZB5GuJ19DwxiSFB8ZNohVMMhUAZ2eNUndyyHpy_K3vKgNwsqPTMy7jJ_JZ9RSKIJJIaGNjvUHGh-Y1BICSQ51bfQZ-zumVpAXYRJUi5G/s16000/toy-storage-playroom-ahopefulhood-01.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOosTDn3CeKMgvecenB8itWcbvukYYFJN0tGocpx0_QsciLcslD7OVBCgcL6bNz3_xvNIK8MEHbwSBhuUYE17vX4eSzc-8ORRPawxvuPW3AVuGcW0SoNH_QgdOQFtB-1BhRezpEuq1rhWY/s2048/toy-storage-playroom-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOosTDn3CeKMgvecenB8itWcbvukYYFJN0tGocpx0_QsciLcslD7OVBCgcL6bNz3_xvNIK8MEHbwSBhuUYE17vX4eSzc-8ORRPawxvuPW3AVuGcW0SoNH_QgdOQFtB-1BhRezpEuq1rhWY/s16000/toy-storage-playroom-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>How do you keep toys (or your own things!) organized in your space? </i></p>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-9522302753808351932020-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:002020-11-18T06:00:05.388-05:00Getting Ready for Cozy Holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aOU4oCJV835DLQz27uB93I-spn7KPbd8VNt5QB7OA0rDOzU216lsTjhJrIRXPW6zLzalWIPQMZ2t58kyERtMZDkDpNOaCOOcZS44CXDw_5jfm6KKUltMe4iIx-hb-Nlt69TLmGVu5rbK/s1300/iffei-matching-christmas-pajamas-ahopefulhood-01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aOU4oCJV835DLQz27uB93I-spn7KPbd8VNt5QB7OA0rDOzU216lsTjhJrIRXPW6zLzalWIPQMZ2t58kyERtMZDkDpNOaCOOcZS44CXDw_5jfm6KKUltMe4iIx-hb-Nlt69TLmGVu5rbK/s16000/iffei-matching-christmas-pajamas-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*This post is sponsored by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A7141123011%2Cp_4%3AIFFEI&ref=bl_sl_s_ap_web_7141123011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iffei Official</a>, and I genuinely love this company and what they make! Affiliate links included.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Normally I'm a strict no-Christmas-before-Thanksgiving type of girl because I want to keep gratitude front and center for as long as we can, leading up to Thanksgiving! But this has been a weird year and (in case Pennsylvania has another full-on shut down!) I've even started Christmas shopping. WHICH IS SOMETHING I NEVER DO IN NOVEMBER. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You might also like: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/prep-ahead-breakfasts-for-christmas.html" target="_blank">6 Prep-ahead breakfast bakes for Christmas morning</a> </i>| <i><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/easy-christmas-cookie-baking-with-kids.html" target="_blank">No-egg Christmas cookie recipe for toddlers</a> </i>| <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/simple-diy-advent-calendar.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">DIY Advent calendar</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">This year, our holidays might look different than we had hoped: some people will have giant gatherings and not think anything of it, and others might spend the day alone. Whichever side you fall on, you can still get ready for being cozy this Christmas season, even if it wasn't the way you expected it to look. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last year, I was so excited for my first set of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A7141123011%2Cp_4%3AIFFEI&ref=bl_sl_s_ap_web_7141123011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iffei</a> Christmas pajamas and they were my Aiden and Emma's FAVORITES the whole winter long. (Check out <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/12/cozy-festive-pjs-for-family.html" target="_blank">that post here.</a>) The quality is incredible and both kids' PJ's still look great even though they were worn to death last year....no tears or holes at ALL! And, because I sized up last year, Aiden and Emma can both wear the last year's pajamas again this year. But poor Riley would have been left out!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So this year we got another set! They are just as warm and cozy as last year's, since these <i>aren't</i> 100% cotton pajamas that will shrink in the wash or get weirdly stretched out. The poly-blend is so soft! <a href="https://www.iffei.com/category/Matching-Pajamas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iffei</a> also sells up to size 10-11 in kids sizes, so we'll be set for shopping with them for years to come. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've loved Iffei's bathing suits (<a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/07/summer-2019-staples.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CE32aA8g9jz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>), and their family pajamas are just as great. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We ordered <a href="https://rstyle.me/+60hwDzz_t0iLuiFUZRjbpw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this pair of pajamas</a> you see in photos, but I also was really into <a href="https://rstyle.me/+DMaOn2j_zAcGtCdEWaY2CA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this pair</a> and <a href="https://rstyle.me/+dztgHfe-TpHAL0-KZqjkRg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this pair</a>! See their whole collection <a href="https://www.iffei.com/category/Matching-Pajamas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> (most of which ship free with Amazon Prime!). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVN-t_e9Wp8kiy-hY4PlBTvgL015l3wmxIKOwHPL2XvSQc1gUzFsBNWQsh_UBIBQDSR8kPJTTRjzDUflZvt_OpU-wyj7ssc3DE4QnF85AfLGnIEQ7pNJGejpmmWcryavKqCRMenJDBHP9/s1000/iffei-matching-christmas-pajamas-ahopefulhood-02.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVN-t_e9Wp8kiy-hY4PlBTvgL015l3wmxIKOwHPL2XvSQc1gUzFsBNWQsh_UBIBQDSR8kPJTTRjzDUflZvt_OpU-wyj7ssc3DE4QnF85AfLGnIEQ7pNJGejpmmWcryavKqCRMenJDBHP9/s16000/iffei-matching-christmas-pajamas-ahopefulhood-02.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><span style="font-size: medium;">What cozy things are you planning for this year's holiday season? </span></i></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-29838843778222009782020-11-06T14:16:00.002-05:002020-12-08T13:44:16.767-05:00Thankful List 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEUtP_GP-JTDSolcbkOo3iAjM4CdOyzNw1BgAmhw4btHm1YdC1I84f_p7p-EcUV_ZqompS1qxGwuU2kq-tFbphImZztI9pPOHdtNnmJrYyw-kYnYSBd8efqWiGeKrZfytWy-MozSGLSTV/s1300/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEUtP_GP-JTDSolcbkOo3iAjM4CdOyzNw1BgAmhw4btHm1YdC1I84f_p7p-EcUV_ZqompS1qxGwuU2kq-tFbphImZztI9pPOHdtNnmJrYyw-kYnYSBd8efqWiGeKrZfytWy-MozSGLSTV/s16000/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is something I've shared in past years and it just felt right to write it up now, instead of Thanksgiving week. Tense election weeks should end with grateful lists, can we at least agree on that? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my kids' first memory verses was what Paul wrote in Ephesians: to always give thanks to God. (Read that whole chapter of Ephesians <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205&version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.) I LOVE that we have a season to reflect on this idea, the idea of being <i>content</i> in a world that constantly shows us ads of cute things that say we don't have enough already. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Plus when it's been a hard year of feeling isolated at times, frustrated, misunderstood, or <i>whatever</i> you and I might be feeling...I'm just going to take a minute to step back, get some perspective, and be a little extra thankful. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/11/helping-kids-cultivate-thankful-heart.html" target="_blank">Free thankful list coloring sheet for toddlers/kids</a> <span><a name='more'></a></span></i></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What I'm thankful for this year: </span></b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>God's generosity to show his goodness in a year that was <i>so unexpected</i></li><li>That my grandmother passed before the pandemic dragged on for so long. She was in a nursing home and would have been <i>so</i> isolated, but instead, God mercifully called her home in April. (I wrote a little more about it <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/04/god-is-in-control-and-other-things-ive.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</li><li>Devin. Yep. Enough said. </li><li><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/02/rileys-birth-story.html" target="_blank">Riley being born</a> safely and quickly--best start to a dumpster fire year!</li><li>Aiden's creativity in coming up with intricate storylines for his action figures.........even if it takes no less than 6 minutes for him to explain the whole plot line. 😉</li><li>Emma's love for wearing dresses (the more sparkles the better) that doesn't keep her from hiking and being outside. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCWfX7dArSd/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Exhibit A</a>. </li><li>The short 7 minute drive to a local nature preserve filled with woodsy <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAS5qpA4ui/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hiking trails</a>, meadow walking paths, and gentle creeks that are really the main attraction for toddlers because who <i>doesn't</i> want to rock-hop/build a dam/skip rocks?</li><li>Nursing Riley for 9 months and counting, even if my saggy old mom boobs will never be the same...</li><li>Morning coffee</li><li>Also, afternoon coffee</li><li>High waisted jeans</li><li>Things that make laundry smell good. (<i>Are</i> they full of chemicals? Because it <strike>feels </strike>smells worth it.)</li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPx5RRApY7/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soft sweatshirts</a> that tell the truth (kindness <i>is</i> free.)</li><li>Birth control. My heart but also my house ARE SO FULL. So yes yes, our family is complete and birth control is back on the thankful list like it was pre-Aiden in <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2014/11/a-thankful-heart-vol-2.html" target="_blank">2014</a>. </li><li>The times our dog barks to go outside and <i>doesn't</i> poop inside. </li><li>Reliable disinfectant</li><li>Puppy pads for my old-man dog and his leaky bowels</li><li>All the times Devin cleans up inside dog poop so I don't have to</li><li>Target Drive-up</li><li>Target Drive-up (it needed to be mentioned twice.)</li><li>Firepits</li><li>All. The. Plants. </li><li>Friends willing to mask up and hang out outside. </li></ol><div>All my thankful lists: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/11/thankful-list-2019.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2018/11/space-for-being-grateful-thankful-list.html" target="_blank">2018</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/11/thankful-list-2017.html" target="_blank">2017</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2016/11/thankful-list-2016.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2015/11/thankful-list-2015.html" target="_blank">2015</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2014/11/a-thankful-heart-vol-2.html" target="_blank">2014</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. <a href="https://rstyle.me/+33cU6syfmt_i0v2Xf1lH4g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these dresses</a> are what my girls are wearing--a two pack of dresses for $14? Yes plz.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5P-bcmFxqLecNjAt-RRhtRObJtC1Otb_9FlFeZCsm0OBy0YhMaEQCHfbPrBotFCQ48kDj63_RDa2Tf43mf83b9iI8mG0BFx5LuQ2mJDeqVBFOOLksp9nQ_U9rlXhcWvTU-vTrbYq2YtM/s1300/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5P-bcmFxqLecNjAt-RRhtRObJtC1Otb_9FlFeZCsm0OBy0YhMaEQCHfbPrBotFCQ48kDj63_RDa2Tf43mf83b9iI8mG0BFx5LuQ2mJDeqVBFOOLksp9nQ_U9rlXhcWvTU-vTrbYq2YtM/s16000/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3OrppbvqPDNNR1gyBKfiwtvhyphenhyphen3f2fT3t_YCYqj_4oy1gg_rHfi9Vj_jLugak4Szf_FMdvXCtcWpNjxKd_gU2Ekhtd1_Rk7FYxsxKj6SFATC_9agc6LzWp37W7f3US__T6L0fGFuyT8_9/s800/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwl-wgzUA8lSqFGqwmPiKE3xaQy6PrtDCdRPO-ocBwepwPJkeAtMC1UE9xyj2IE4mEhQSwAgWCj7ezBIp1kGQLig7kpFpXIaajZ7znC4Ke0flSnfiMpWfmgl90vy1tLDtRm46izM759Op/s16000/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood-05.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVvzUrNcMY2Ecf-BW0pjZfDjn2WiiMHhNRq0-naJPu6H9wTuqx3hNmhIDVrvLSPxER4_JLY2sAvO2MGTPiFyn3_hWDe8HJ736hQNZgIuDfMaJMF0ZONP5RScEpQ-LauBvmYCvE5bRhZHT/s800/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood-06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVvzUrNcMY2Ecf-BW0pjZfDjn2WiiMHhNRq0-naJPu6H9wTuqx3hNmhIDVrvLSPxER4_JLY2sAvO2MGTPiFyn3_hWDe8HJ736hQNZgIuDfMaJMF0ZONP5RScEpQ-LauBvmYCvE5bRhZHT/s16000/thankful-list-2020-ahopefulhood-06.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">What are you thankful this year?</span></i></div></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-44065893509809492062020-11-04T14:57:00.006-05:002020-11-04T14:57:46.701-05:00Currently | November 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkkVsUzXJLpJaScJzWtW90FNDDpHJ5ZITGA0fAiFldqGN2h-cN8dUeR8WFadSz2A80Rn1lvBSEEsNxjuA5M9UZBs2oFNCCKvl0rIg98yfbl-XPk-bYRtPT5_j-7qQ418EEkWwmCRYxcd9/s1300/November-2020-currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkkVsUzXJLpJaScJzWtW90FNDDpHJ5ZITGA0fAiFldqGN2h-cN8dUeR8WFadSz2A80Rn1lvBSEEsNxjuA5M9UZBs2oFNCCKvl0rIg98yfbl-XPk-bYRtPT5_j-7qQ418EEkWwmCRYxcd9/s16000/November-2020-currently.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>*Affiliate links included. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy November! It's only Wednesday but voting yesterday made the week feel really big. (Can you describe a week as "really big?" Hmmm. Let's move on.) All October, I was LOVING the gorgeous fall leaves here in Pennsylvania, and now that it's November I'm loving the crisp air and the season of gratitude!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm jumping in with Anne on my favorite link-up, because it's so fun to look back and see what my Novembers looked like in years past: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/11/currently-november-2019.html" target="_blank">2019</a> (super pregnant with Riley | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2018/11/currently-november-2018.html" target="_blank">2018</a> (crockpot soups!) | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/11/currently-november-2017.html" target="_blank">2017</a> (newborn Emma!) | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2016/11/currently-november.html" target="_blank">2016</a> (Etsy shop!)</i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><b style="font-size: large;">Currently I have been...<br /></b><br /></div><div><b>Appreciating</b></div><div>Being outside, exploring local trails with my kids. It's been our favorite activity to do (masked with friends OR maskless on our own) and I have found so many kid-friendly, beautiful wooded trails and creekside walking paths to do with them during the day. </div><div><br /><b>Ordering</b></div><div>More books to read from the library! I finished <a href="https://rstyle.me/+o1U29UOaglFFEOyekBSMeA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Giver of Stars by Moyes</a>, <a href="https://rstyle.me/+JgNIiiOa_xtzh4Td30CRGg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Where the Crawdads Sing by Owens</a>, and am almost done <a href="https://rstyle.me/+S1ZHXdBgtpg4XHTNMEgLxw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Enlightenment of Bees by Linden</a>. What should I read next?</div><div><br /><b>Perfecting</b></div><div>Lasagna. It's the dish everyone can seem to whip up and yet every single time I've tried, something is off. I followed a recipe TO A TEE and it still came out kind of soupy-looking. Tasted fine, but looked like a mess. (Do you have a recipe you trust?! Any tips?!)</div><div><br /><b>Planning</b></div><div>As many socially distant hangouts as I can! (Am I allowed to say that?) I've walked my former college campus with a friend, I've hosted bonfires, I've done zoo trips with friends...it's been great to finally see people a little more regularly as we can wear masks and be outside!</div><div><br /><b>Wearing</b><br /></div><div><a href="https://rstyle.me/+EnXZowehkiouzsr0WYk5Ng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Old Navy sweater</a> (which I am wearing in my last post about <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/10/air-fried-savory-pumpkin-seeds.html" target="_blank">savory air-fryer pumpkin seeds</a>) and my <a href="https://rstyle.me/+66ED8ldMnaUEPVQqjY47Aw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sperry fleece-lined rainboots</a> on chilly, damp days. They are so easy to slip on, they are 100% waterproof AND they are warm. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">What have you been up to currently? </span></i></div><div><br /></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-4082372582441453872020-10-30T13:42:00.004-04:002020-12-08T13:44:28.667-05:00(Air Fried!) Savory Pumpkin Seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BrjGi0fwJOTaaUctOaVez-nYk0a5kZCLuTZzyT0Ye13MXg49SZyVmsQfV0csx20EHmk1K02vD845FF5PNZ9JrpnngXMmPB6Gt09_EEc3VhTi7z-ZeVnPXjFAuceDiARQVjGW4RRoIroG/s1300/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BrjGi0fwJOTaaUctOaVez-nYk0a5kZCLuTZzyT0Ye13MXg49SZyVmsQfV0csx20EHmk1K02vD845FF5PNZ9JrpnngXMmPB6Gt09_EEc3VhTi7z-ZeVnPXjFAuceDiARQVjGW4RRoIroG/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a weird season for me of wanting to be creative, spending lots of time outside and off my phone (despite <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG7dGp6gdRi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all the photos I snap and post later</a>! haha!), and not blogging even though I want to. So if you are reading this, I'm grateful for you! Thanks for sticking around and being so kind to read this oft-foresaken corner of the internet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And yet here I am, blogging finally! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm sitting at my computer, literally eating these pumpkin seeds as I write this. I have to put them away or I'll eat them all in one sitting! These are a really quick-to-make snack and apparently <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-benefits-of-pumpkin-seeds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">are full of nutrients</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had an extra "baking" pumpkin sitting around from Emma's birthday decorations (which I never blogged about! Oops!), so I decided to chop it open and let the kids play with the squishy insides......and they hated it! I was left with a chopped open pumpkin and all the guts. I googled a few different recipes, and then decided my air fryer would be easiest! If you don't have an air fryer, no worries: you can put them in the oven like a peasant. <span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: 14px;">😉</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>More fall recipes: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/09/apple-cinnamon-oatmeal-bake.html" target="_blank">Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bake</a> | <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/09/the-easiest-crockpot-chili.html" target="_blank">Crockpot Chili (featuring baby Aiden!)</a></i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The key to these savory pumpkin seeds is <a href="https://www.traderjoes.com/FearlessFlyer/Article/5492" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trader Joe's Everything But The Elote seasoning. </a> Or add some chili powder or just the salt and pepper, whatever you like! With the Everything But The Elote, it'll be savory but not spicy. I do like things pretty spicy, but with just 3 shakes from that spice jar, it'll have incredible flavor but not feel spicy at all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPE_UlLRHPkuQ4JrqzNd9QvH0LS6jgA1M4Bo80A4Vt4lSsxxxDn7kaaY9AvWGiTlmT1GqV7M5emECsj1yceIDd5EW1jzgJPezb41DY8F8XW8t5cK2VYXsjXZh9cL4UxGtseUe8CNwKKjv/s800/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-02.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPE_UlLRHPkuQ4JrqzNd9QvH0LS6jgA1M4Bo80A4Vt4lSsxxxDn7kaaY9AvWGiTlmT1GqV7M5emECsj1yceIDd5EW1jzgJPezb41DY8F8XW8t5cK2VYXsjXZh9cL4UxGtseUe8CNwKKjv/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-02.png" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Here's what you need:</h2><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Pumpkin seeds, from one baking pumpkin</li><li>1 tablespoon oil (I prefer canola oil)</li><li>3 shakes of Everything But the Elote</li><li>1/8 tsp salt</li><li>1/8 tsp pepper</li><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+1Xo1YyOQ6-OwoWd-h1wzpw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Air fryer</a> (highlyyyy recommend <a href="https://rstyle.me/+1Xo1YyOQ6-OwoWd-h1wzpw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a>! It's a slow-cooker/pressure cooker/air fryer all in one!)</li></ol><h2 style="text-align: left;">Here's what you do: Takes 10-15 minutes total!</h2><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Separate the stringy weird stuff from the seeds. </li><li>Rinse the seeds in a colander for about a minute. </li><li>Toss the seeds with the oil, salt, pepper, and Everything But The Elote. </li><li>Dump everything in the air fryer for 7 minutes on 390. </li><li>Shake the fryer basket or stir with a wooden spoon after a few minutes in the fryer. </li><li>That's ITTTT. </li><li><i>**You can also bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees </i></li></ol><div><i><br /></i></div><div>So easy, right? Wash some stuff, stir some stuff, dump some stuff in a fryer. That's it!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0miWu58H1TgCy0jmP0QyQ8ZITo0uIt4lARBcMvSy_q884rLX4XE_1XrTWe5uBYvpgyP81sM0jeqgGosAvXOZsyQmLc8qF2lR8xCXwUW-M5hj4MFS3Ays7Mo2HMl1F6ETubTgY7S0Kr0VL/s1100/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-06.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0miWu58H1TgCy0jmP0QyQ8ZITo0uIt4lARBcMvSy_q884rLX4XE_1XrTWe5uBYvpgyP81sM0jeqgGosAvXOZsyQmLc8qF2lR8xCXwUW-M5hj4MFS3Ays7Mo2HMl1F6ETubTgY7S0Kr0VL/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-06.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggXd4nX0DzOhGXqIKeLLHn6W2MHV53Nmxo3IJP_UowejsMfux8p1UKyMgPudpjV1jHH2wuynGBzngL_KTPoLgiXlgEJ5OhTuDNrnrSbRJv3CqpL39wglRIqWs8e-k0yFo5l9K4R0NDw-7/s1300/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-03+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggXd4nX0DzOhGXqIKeLLHn6W2MHV53Nmxo3IJP_UowejsMfux8p1UKyMgPudpjV1jHH2wuynGBzngL_KTPoLgiXlgEJ5OhTuDNrnrSbRJv3CqpL39wglRIqWs8e-k0yFo5l9K4R0NDw-7/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-03+%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_LxU_jyrY_XeJwHVD642BQO8Fx0fhLFcu4XOFnW3YYMFp_tmqbRiveD7nFtMhYTgtxc9yH581khuZz8x1GgqFHatpd0NMvPE_iKyZjg-oxnWZtvHEbXk4x8aO76GASvBr9e6F6j-hnGi/s1300/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_LxU_jyrY_XeJwHVD642BQO8Fx0fhLFcu4XOFnW3YYMFp_tmqbRiveD7nFtMhYTgtxc9yH581khuZz8x1GgqFHatpd0NMvPE_iKyZjg-oxnWZtvHEbXk4x8aO76GASvBr9e6F6j-hnGi/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-03.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XY9IUikXeqHGUgsJhRCaAsO2_Wd7-5KYQmxK6wZNbq3SkzuLcnUqFasqaXvy3oiEKJ6yzUIy-E6DNVh082SGEchs_MEwEcvejy6A6Hum0pnKDLY67J5xFDn11gipxN4wugKJb2ewWknJ/s2048/DSC_0242.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XY9IUikXeqHGUgsJhRCaAsO2_Wd7-5KYQmxK6wZNbq3SkzuLcnUqFasqaXvy3oiEKJ6yzUIy-E6DNVh082SGEchs_MEwEcvejy6A6Hum0pnKDLY67J5xFDn11gipxN4wugKJb2ewWknJ/s16000/DSC_0242.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZDD9yQzGNTH4vRe_RaxLk_VLiQz7AWGel37SBIB8xUDRRmzyrr2XOqVpCHuypfRRPEkRu7nm1dMxZAO7_YgdCBWGsZ2-6JdcF1LUFeib-OhuPNDWfjdI4zheAcxRNtQjLBOBTDM4C4tz/s800/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-02+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZDD9yQzGNTH4vRe_RaxLk_VLiQz7AWGel37SBIB8xUDRRmzyrr2XOqVpCHuypfRRPEkRu7nm1dMxZAO7_YgdCBWGsZ2-6JdcF1LUFeib-OhuPNDWfjdI4zheAcxRNtQjLBOBTDM4C4tz/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-02+%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PJ2KYBr6pD1ILnX3fOMgmeUVmdjYtgk6iUOKg9_bDX_-JbMi0v7a_NREbQL17lEJDtai_K-lPL3OLL2xvnl0P2XutNYhZlM3SZkLQU7FnYZbirWOlEcRybanm8a2nYkn22WAQgtWRGSi/s1100/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-04.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PJ2KYBr6pD1ILnX3fOMgmeUVmdjYtgk6iUOKg9_bDX_-JbMi0v7a_NREbQL17lEJDtai_K-lPL3OLL2xvnl0P2XutNYhZlM3SZkLQU7FnYZbirWOlEcRybanm8a2nYkn22WAQgtWRGSi/s16000/air-fryer-pumpkin-seeds-ahopefulhood-04.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><i>What fall recipes are you trying this year? </i></h3></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-42638407957481886802020-10-19T15:15:00.002-04:002020-10-19T15:15:13.606-04:00Emma is THREE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGiTkcTge3D/" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwjH4IPAbN2YZtNX6Gz1p-nvJ_NDNKHB9H7eVtRn8jLYYrjABcIoeCVd9mjnydXJ5ABxs5nZ6aUAnRmFLzOdk_VGRg1i4ui9GXexSgi028zhHoWk-bGtNybd0FNpzLz_kXm8OF2S-4-Kq/s16000/Emma-is-three-ahopefulhood-02.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This sweet girl turned three this month! (More on her pumpkin brunch birthday parties later....including the easiest crockpot breakfast casserole!)</span></div><p><br /></p><p>She's wildly articulate and has big opinions, she can climb rocks in a dress, and she is so kindhearted and helpful. She says things like "Daddy, we played a new game. And Mommy tricked me. She said it was easy, but it was hard." (DIRECT QUOTE WHEN I TRIED TO TEACH HER CHUTES AND LADDERS.) She has described when drinking water goes down the wrong pipe and makes her cough as "it went down my wind-hole." (WIND PIPE. But wind-hole is funnier.)</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>She races to the freezer without being asked to get Aiden an ice pack when he hurts himself. She has self-appointed herself as Monitor of Toys That Are Too Hard For Riley To Play With and will rip one out of her baby sister's hands because IT'S TOO HARD MOM AND SHE COULD HURT HERSELF. (We're still working on gently trading Riley with a soft toy.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Her hair is also longer and I loooove getting to do pigtails and bows and letting her choose what hairstyle she wants!</p><p><br /></p><p>She knows most of her letter sounds, she loves cuddling up to Devin and saying "I just love you so much, Daddy," and she has entire worship songs from the 90's memorized. </p><p><br /></p><p>We love her so much. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGiTkcTge3D/" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUYmACDz3rrGcQW-8J2eGqxmZs0r6oFheqBeIDOKzDLahXEeVWHZ5mttDJc9GlRTt3UWLpO6e4ZT6dMXf92fWMGlo1BVy6cLrXXRw-Nf-jTNgFrzyzI0q7bVZpFMmUrgpdsITlV12mSSj/s16000/Emma-is-three-ahopefulhood.JPG" /></a></div>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056725092421130932.post-62582240915422144162020-10-06T13:37:00.001-04:002020-10-06T13:37:03.988-04:00Starting Solids With Our Third Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWV2kJyJglP9y1uzrYxRyWkh0MsVcPBFNEE_4t8ROL_y33WnrdulbuyQVlUshh9IRTdt7RYWxjHLACK4oyn8QKe47nzckyGDBrsk4jcwAGRw4htnyCom2bwAxGAvprqF-fC6Yy57lkQL9/s1300/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWV2kJyJglP9y1uzrYxRyWkh0MsVcPBFNEE_4t8ROL_y33WnrdulbuyQVlUshh9IRTdt7RYWxjHLACK4oyn8QKe47nzckyGDBrsk4jcwAGRw4htnyCom2bwAxGAvprqF-fC6Yy57lkQL9/s16000/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">You survived the newborn stage of blow-out poops and every-two-hour feedings. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">You made it through the forced tummy time season. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">And now, NOW your little one can sit up on their own and you're ready for the fun of starting solid food with your baby. Maybe you need a little guide for where to begin, or what's the best way to get an avocado stain out of an outfit, or a how-to for getting your baby to consume enough calories to sleep more than four hours at night. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>This is not that guide. </i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This is merely what I've done, what's worked for my family, what's not working, and what I'm loving with giving our third baby solid food. Every family routine is different, so what works for me might not work for another mom and that's totally fine! I personally love making baby food, but my dearest friends use store-bought baby food and that's awesome too. I will cheer you on, in whatever works for you.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Related: <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2019/07/how-to-choose-stroller-from-3rd-time-mom.html" target="_blank">How to Choose A Stroller</a> </i>| <i><a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2017/11/baby-registry-tips-from-second-time-mom.html" target="_blank">Baby Registry Tips</a></i> |<i> <a href="https://www.ahopefulhood.com/2020/01/neutral-nursery-for-baby-3.html" target="_blank">Riley's Neutral Nursery</a></i></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdRy7mnkDQtvVg_vQhPTax24Zeg4sZnua6512iQPDIu1G3KT4EabEPsR3YmKh38Kybh2aJUDvJEohM47uebXzLfiiy-eqkPZU6dqF3GDr6_zD-I_d9ztjZzHhvxNtfDiRV0QBlXbCE_8R/s800/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdRy7mnkDQtvVg_vQhPTax24Zeg4sZnua6512iQPDIu1G3KT4EabEPsR3YmKh38Kybh2aJUDvJEohM47uebXzLfiiy-eqkPZU6dqF3GDr6_zD-I_d9ztjZzHhvxNtfDiRV0QBlXbCE_8R/s16000/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-02.png" /></a></div></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Baby-led Weaning-ish: The Process</b></h2><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Once Riley could <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCB0NBVghbg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sit up in her bumbo seat around 5-ish months</a>, I started putting mashed pieces of banana and mashed avocado on her tray. She struggled to pick it up and it was more just the joy of seeing her learn to put food in her mouth than actually getting her to EAT real food. </li><li>Once or twice a day, I would put some mashed banana/avocado on a spoon and feed it to her so she'd get the taste and the practice of swallowing food. <i>Of course, she gagged at the beginning! It was all so new! But that was totally ok because the gag is a reflex that helps protect her from choking.</i></li><li>After she was comfortable with swallowing mashed banana on a spoon <i>and</i> chunks of banana/avocado she fed herself from the tray, I slowly introduced other "first foods." I'd introduce one food for a few days, and if there was no reaction, I'd start to give her another one. </li><li>I offer things in small chunks on her tray, and she will cry or just stop eating to show me she's done. **THIS IS A HUGE MESS. But I'm ok with that so that she learns to feed herself and doesn't rely on me to be there with a spoon every time she wants to eat. I've heard self-feeding/chewing helps with the muscles in her mouth she'll use to talk! And it makes my life easier haha. </li><li>When we're out, I'll nurse her or feed her small chunks of food (from a mason jar) on a spoon. </li></ol><h2 style="text-align: left;">My own personal list of first foods, in order of what I offer first:</h2><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Banana, mashed with a fork</li><li>Avocado, mashed with a fork</li><li>Sweet potato, steamed</li><li>White potato, steamed</li><li>Pears, steamed unless SUPER ripe and soft</li><li>Apples, steamed</li><li>Butternut squash, obviously steamed of course because nobody eats that raw</li><li>Black beans, cooked</li><li>Scrambled eggs</li><li>**Around 9-10 months, I will start feeding Riley unsalted portions from whatever we are having for dinner. This is the joy of baby-led weaning! They can feed themselves while you eat!</li></ol><h2 style="text-align: left;">SHOP THE POST: </h2></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">Homemade Baby Food: Easier, cheaper, and more fun than you think</h2><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Once or twice a week, I peel/steam a big batch of produce. Usually, this is while the big kids are playing happily in another room OR during "naptime" when I have some free time to myself. </li><li>I peel a few sweet potatoes, chop them into cubes, and steam them in my steamer basket over boiling water on the stove for about 5-8 minutes, until soft. I almost always chop the food into a cube so Riley can easily pick it up. </li><li>While the sweet potatoes (or whatever!) are steaming, I can scramble an egg or start peeling the next food to add to the steamer basket. </li><li>Once the veggie or fruit is soft enough to poke with a fork in the steamer basket, I transfer them to a mason jar. Lots of times, the small cubes of food turn into mush, which is still a grabbable form for Riley to feed herself. </li><li>I keep the mason jar food in the fridge for about a week, and when I run out, I do another big batch!</li><li>Pre-COVID with baby Aiden and baby Emma, when I was going out during the day for play dates/etc., I would prep a TON of steamed food, puree it, and freeze it in <a href="https://rstyle.me/+32VQFX8FkP7cqn8NybMiiA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">an ice cube tray</a>. When we were leaving for an event, I would bring 2-3 ice cubes of frozen food in a small mason jar + a spoon, and by the time I was ready to feed baby Aiden/Emma, the frozen food had thawed and was ready to use. </li><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+OdUIut9yPAoStjmJpVbUhA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This system</a> helps with making your own baby food and I LOVEDDDDD having it. I even use the processor and the immersion blender when I'm cooking regular adult dinners! Plus their <a href="https://rstyle.me/+KJPGXwtraMv7d5uQOCga1g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cookbook</a> and <a href="https://rstyle.me/+mrcwfKMgWhNrQVPFcQ4YLA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">baby food jars with plastic lids</a> are so helpful that I have used them for ALL. THREE. KIDS. (Til I lost some. Which you can tell from the pictures where I don't have all teal lids.)</li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8wABlmUoz7F8p0aB_FdQEN7OJdz-MUaq8nkeuAXhPWuuePj4Xz2uur4GMVU2QpHqY_tLugneA_nMh5ekJ33REoIthgLkuIokxO3jAYKW7opnk5MRdVq13436kPFzh-pXLPZB5LxUuc6O/s972/homemade-baby-food-baby-led-weaning-ahopefulhood-01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="972" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8wABlmUoz7F8p0aB_FdQEN7OJdz-MUaq8nkeuAXhPWuuePj4Xz2uur4GMVU2QpHqY_tLugneA_nMh5ekJ33REoIthgLkuIokxO3jAYKW7opnk5MRdVq13436kPFzh-pXLPZB5LxUuc6O/s16000/homemade-baby-food-baby-led-weaning-ahopefulhood-01.gif" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XKAvi8J3a827kxBv_e52m4ep25bSCYcJ0pteiNtJ0QP7gbCCJJSGOr3QmWSGevSvFVpCUSHNyJYKSWKy5NmzchZxhfEOqF6Q9FoQqHWf6bg3c7rAfEnrwNLU6TGsp8o-BtbeQsO8ZsoQ/s1100/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XKAvi8J3a827kxBv_e52m4ep25bSCYcJ0pteiNtJ0QP7gbCCJJSGOr3QmWSGevSvFVpCUSHNyJYKSWKy5NmzchZxhfEOqF6Q9FoQqHWf6bg3c7rAfEnrwNLU6TGsp8o-BtbeQsO8ZsoQ/s16000/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-04.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcULImk5ynX6MVHR4UIikVNaqcLLZZiJBvGuckK7Ed9iCXdOzyhROyO4WiNlEgW42SOOijzD18qzfl58ug9bnvUv7isNUMF0ZX6MeMzy6rf7-uO71Jbmq8ufS129h_Bu39sSci99f9HR9/s1100/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcULImk5ynX6MVHR4UIikVNaqcLLZZiJBvGuckK7Ed9iCXdOzyhROyO4WiNlEgW42SOOijzD18qzfl58ug9bnvUv7isNUMF0ZX6MeMzy6rf7-uO71Jbmq8ufS129h_Bu39sSci99f9HR9/s16000/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-06.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wBAuus9BQzHaYM2_7ltuvS62fw1rCzTVDMGahwtLmgNzV9KQLr6r7XCE8RtFbR2cgORHI1CODQQ39pzkbH6TyFn5F-6P-SCHVynhcrWR9FO-ke11gdtsH9mej2i76OaZblf4HLvLcktn/s800/homemade-baby-food-ahopefulhood-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wBAuus9BQzHaYM2_7ltuvS62fw1rCzTVDMGahwtLmgNzV9KQLr6r7XCE8RtFbR2cgORHI1CODQQ39pzkbH6TyFn5F-6P-SCHVynhcrWR9FO-ke11gdtsH9mej2i76OaZblf4HLvLcktn/s16000/homemade-baby-food-ahopefulhood-01.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1hvLcUnUfRXpMtOv8UMPYQjMGacDtwVGMHLd2N7-Me6lhE5Corjk-d1_3rSQqXOKAp-9coeizaJGgszq3MvxUfGrXvHmEVmvPTJGcEovEYPTEkBofuRtAEpjeNQR7nYRlLftsdO-k8SF/s2048/DSC_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1hvLcUnUfRXpMtOv8UMPYQjMGacDtwVGMHLd2N7-Me6lhE5Corjk-d1_3rSQqXOKAp-9coeizaJGgszq3MvxUfGrXvHmEVmvPTJGcEovEYPTEkBofuRtAEpjeNQR7nYRlLftsdO-k8SF/s16000/DSC_0182.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLb4cvfs-vd-Rife10MqOTCQbNNhWfzRw1J-Jcra5k4xXCQxn30EEMjNr9M-ZYCHRpZmg1arAKT-qoF5iFmdSz4rQXIK5KmOiKc5MDuauGtHJ6gW4pEObTc-c946yxxVqpS1h8ZXYqWX1j/s1300/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLb4cvfs-vd-Rife10MqOTCQbNNhWfzRw1J-Jcra5k4xXCQxn30EEMjNr9M-ZYCHRpZmg1arAKT-qoF5iFmdSz4rQXIK5KmOiKc5MDuauGtHJ6gW4pEObTc-c946yxxVqpS1h8ZXYqWX1j/s16000/starting-solids-baby-led-weaning-diy-baby-food-ahopefulhood-001.png" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>What baby stage is your favorite? What foods are YOU currently loving?!</i></h3>Julie | A Hopeful Hoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01567767535448353626noreply@blogger.com0