• mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities (PDF)
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • homeschool
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
  • new? start here

Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / family / {A very happy 4th of July, plus this ‘n that.}

{A very happy 4th of July, plus this ‘n that.}

July 9, 2013 · 21 Comments
Filed Under: family, friends, holidays

One thing I was sure to note from this past weekend: The laziest of days with family are the best of days.

This entire holiday weekend was such a blessing to our family. Zack had a couple of extra days off of work and it’s amazed me, both of us!, at how grand this has felt. The two extra days have multiplied to feel like we were on a week-long vacation. It was a gentle reminder that time away from work is so good for the soul.

*

family-gussy-sews

^ Our first 4th of July as a family. Max has found his hand which was clearly more exciting than taking a family photo ;)

duo

Over the last few days we’ve celebrated the 4th of July with dear friends, celebrated my 28th birthday, visited the Natural History Museum, enjoyed a couple meals out, drove to Vegas and back to meet up with my bestest high school friend [I know, right???? So daring of us and also so much fun!]. And I may have added some extra whip to my morning coffee ;) I like to live on the edge.

duoA

IMG_7800

^ I LOVE spending time with girlfriends! We laughed so much, it was so good. [Cristina on the L., Alissa on the R.]

IMG_7850 copy

^ The museum we visited had an exhibit on African Mammals, hellooooooo memories of Tanzania!

*

What are your favorite things to eat for lunch? I like to keep simple, quick, tasty options around the house, but sometimes I get bored with what I buy from the grocery store. Sandwiches aren’t my thing. Any suggestions?

*

IMG_7818 copy

Last week I shared a tip on how I juggle “indie biz” and “stay-at-home-mom” — I loved reading your comments at the end of the post and will be replying to them soon. This part of my life is something I’m constantly tweaking. Naps have been a huge part of making it through the day but they certainly won’t always been the answer, nor are they the only answer. Thank you for your grace as I continue down this path… [Also, it feels so weird to be posting a bit less than normal.]

*

IMG_7819 copy

^ Another wholesale order has shipped, this time to Kentucky!

*

Once again I’m trying to grow out my hair. I even asked Zack to bribe me with a “fun” reward once I reach my goal length. Ha — am I a dork or what? If you were trying to reach a goal what kind of reward would you set for yourself?

xoxo

 

 

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn


21 Comments
Filed Under: family, friends, holidays

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

« {a birthday gift for YOU!}
{Win a gorgeous Aquamarine ring from Delezhen!} »

Comments

  1. kim @ oh, sweet joy! says

    July 9, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    lately i’ve been making a huge batch of quinoa salad and it’s been such a nice change up from boring sandwiches. i cook 1 cup of quinoa in 2 cups of water and throw in a better than bouillon cube for some flavor. when it’s cool, i chop up a tomato, some cilantro, a little red onion, add some garlic salt, olive oil, lime juice and mix it up. the more it sits, the more flavor it gets and it lasts a few days. it’s been our go-to side for quick meals at night too.

    (i’ve made a mediterranean version too — just use some feta, red onion, kalamata olives, and cucumber.) hope that helps!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 9, 2013 at 7:33 pm

      @kim @ oh, sweet joy!, mmmmmm! That seriously sounds amazing :) thanks, Kim!

      Reply
  2. April LeCureux says

    July 9, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    I usually eat leftovers for lunch…not really exciting, but it is what we have :) I have a hard time with sandwiches, too! I make a pasta salad sometimes and eat on it for a few days…just depends on what I am in the mood for :)

    Reply
  3. Sarah says

    July 9, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    Oh la la! Where in Kentucky?!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 9, 2013 at 3:23 pm

      @Sarah, HorseFeathers >> http://www.horsefeathersgifts.com/

      Reply
  4. Debbie Kinney says

    July 9, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Here is a great guacamole recipe that our family simply can not keep from eating! We eat it with chips veggies, chips and pita! There is nothing health damaging in the ingredients, even if you consume the whole batch (which you will want to do!)

    1 Avacado (mashed)
    2-3 tablespoons of crumbled feta (we choose fat free if we can find it)
    1 big squirt of lime juice (fresh or bottled)
    1 big squirt of Italian Dressing (any kind will do)
    Options: onion, tomato but neither are necessary to make it good..it already is!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 10, 2013 at 5:29 pm

      @Debbie Kinney, avocados are my favorite, but they give me a terrible stomach ache! Booooo! Your recipe sounds amazing!

      Reply
  5. Jillian says

    July 9, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    I’m a big fan of healthy snacks throughout the day. I don’t always want a big lunch so I eat things like cheese & crackers, fresh veggies & hummus, Greek yogurt with fruit or granola, etc

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 9, 2013 at 7:34 pm

      @Jillian, that is totally me, too, but with nursing it hasn’t been enough lately :}

      Reply
  6. Andrea@KnittyBitties says

    July 9, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    Hey you!!
    This has been a favorite lunch for summer. I make a batch on Monday and can eat it for 3 – 4 days and have yet to get tired of it.

    http://www.tickledred.com/greek-veggie-pita-quesadillas-51st-street-reunion/

    I modify the recipe by omitting the mozzarella and making it ‘pizza style’ instead of ‘quesadilla style.’ I use the feta/yogurt mix as the sauce on a whole wheat pita, then pile it up with the veggie mix and pop it under the broiler for about 2-3 minutes to just warm everything up. SO GOOD! And good for you … lots of protein and veggies and healthy fats!

    Enjoy these baby days, you seem to be doing splendidly at soaking it up and letting everything else come after! XOXO

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 9, 2013 at 7:38 pm

      @Andrea@KnittyBitties, oh that sounds delish! :))

      Reply
  7. Paige Whitley says

    July 9, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    Because of our new weird schedule where hubby is in bed for the night by around 5pm(And we eat our “dinner” with him at about 3:30),we have a light lunch of veggies and ranch, or crackers and cheese. BUT if you were here I’d throw us together a salad of spring greens, crumbled goat cheese, sliced granny smith apples, walnuts and walnut raspberry dressing (Ken’s is my favorite).
    I’m growing my hair out too. I was wondering, did yours get damaged when you put highlights on top of the darker that was on top of highlights?

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 10, 2013 at 5:28 pm

      @Paige Whitley, maybe a little damage, but nothing a little deep conditioning can’t fix :)

      Reply
  8. Kelly @ Love Well says

    July 10, 2013 at 6:55 am

    I’ve been eating a brown rice – quinoa mix I buy at Costco. It’s got garlic in it, so it’s already super tasty, but I top it with avocado for extra umph. Best part? 90 seconds in the microwave, and the rice is ready. Sandwiches? Ain’t no mom got time for that?

    (There’s a link to the product in this post: http://www.lovewellblog.com/2013/05/appetites.html)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 10, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      @Kelly @ Love Well, oh my gosh, don’t hate me… we don’t own a microwave! ha ha, seriously.

      Reply
  9. Andrea Worley says

    July 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    cute 4th pics!

    i love making goals for things, like a cute new shirt for hitting a weight loss goal or whatever makes it fun and attainable.

    Reply
  10. Megan says

    July 11, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    I love that you are rockin a bikini already. So awesome! Also, I have been giving myself a little gift for working out. I get a sticker (I’m such a kid) for each workout. Once I hit 25 stickers, I get a new dvd. It usually takes me a couples months.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 11, 2013 at 4:55 pm

      @Megan, best comment ever! stickers — yes — love them :)

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. {A very happy 4th of July, plus this ‘n that.] | Fashion says:
    July 10, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    […] Read more… […]

    Reply
  2. The recent subject, pt.32 | Fashion says:
    July 11, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    […] Read more… […]

    Reply
  3. 29! says:
    July 7, 2014 at 5:01 am

    […] Maxwell last year at his first Fourth of July celebration, he’sso […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

instagram

maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
.
.
.
.
.
#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.