We’re hosting the “Lawn Chair Catechism” at CatholicMom.com on Wednesdays this summer, beginning on May 29. We’re using Forming Intentional Disciples, by Sherry Weddell, as the basis for our study.

We have put together a discussion guide that includes both the executive summary of each chapter and discussion questions, and a two-page discussion question-only download.

You can also share with your parish using this flyer or bulletin announcement.

We’d love to have you participate! You do not have to read the book to participate.

Our Sunday Visitor is offering the book for the incredibly low price of $10 through June 8, with free shipping. After June 8 and through the conclusion of our study, they’ll be offering free shipping.

You can find all the information on the Lawn Chair Catechism page at CatholicMom.com.

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So, I have some awesomesauce guest posts coming your way in the next month. I am busy snuggling Samboni. I am going to try to say hello on Fridays with a little 7QT action. You’re welcome.

classic.

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So, who will be taking care of you this week?

Ana will be talking about how a second child is like a chill pill. Mary will talk to you about how to get out of debt (and I promise, it is not boring in the very little least!) And, Marissa will give her thoughts on why birth stories are awesome.

And, if you’re not good for my substitues, they will leave a note, and I will call your parents.

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Whenever Ellen asks me for more of something, she reminds me of this commercial. Then I recite it to her, and it confuses her so much she stops asking. I win.

“I not wear dat shirt.”

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Did you enter the lactation cookie giveaway yet? My little gift to you to celebrate Sam Bone’s birth

Your cookies will not have a bite missing.

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I’ve been drinking my fill of Angry Orchard hard cider since Sam was born. Highly recommend.

MmmHmm.

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Has anyone seen Great Gatsby yet? I wanted to die of happiness when I found out they were remaking it, but since I’m all postpartum and stuff, I haven’t made it yet. I might just have to rent it later. Sigh.

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Why you no tell me about after-labor pains with second and so on children? They are supposed to get worse with each kid you have? So, I carry this kid for 9 months, throw up, live in pain and discomfort, push him out of me after hours of labor (delightful), live on the leetlest amount of sleep, nurse around the clock which has it’s own pains, I assure you, and then I have after-labor pains??? Why? Just. Why.

Head over to Jen’s. You know the drill.

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[Image License: Creative Commons. See image above.]

When it comes to indulgence, everyone has their own weaknesses and interests. It’s suggested that you take pleasure in relishing things that make you happy and take your stress away…even if its just for a little while.

While some indulgences may not be good for your health, such as that big piece of chocolate cake that looks so good in the bakery window, there are plenty of things that are both enjoyable and healthy. Picking your indulgences appropriately means that they can serve your taste buds and add to your health and lifestyle. Here are a few of them.

Drinking Wine Instead of Eating Dessert

There has been significant research that shows that drinking red wine in moderation can be good for a person’s overall health. However, this isn’t the only thing that wine has going for it. Choosing a glass of wine; either white or red, instead of dessert can help lower your overall calorie intake.

For example; a single, 5-ounce glass of wine has around 100 calories. In contrast, a single scoop of ice cream has around 275 calories. Add that to the fact that you are much more likely to stop at a single glass of wine than at a single scoop of ice cream, and you can see how wine makes a better after-dinner indulgence.

Having a Regular Cup of Coffee

For a long time, drinking coffee was seen as a neutral or negative indulgence. However, modern research shows that having one or two cups of coffee everyday is actually healthy for most people. 1-2 cups a day appear to have some protective benefits against diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

However, more is not better when it comes to coffee intake. Like most things in life, coffee should also be consumed in moderation. For example; drinking more than 4 cups in a day can cause anxiety, restlessness and insomnia for many people.

Enjoying a Hearty Laugh

We all know that laughter has innumerable health benefits. Although they aren’t sure if the health benefits come from being in good humor or the act of laughing itself, many people now advocate a good dose of the jollies for better health. Studies have shown the positive effects of laughter on people with conditions like insomnia, high blood sugar levels in diabetics, and immune response.

It is well known in the medical community that stress impairs good health. People who are under a lot of stress tend to have significant immune function impairments. Laughter may be just the medicine (and very cheap at that) the doctors prescribe to counteract the affects of anxiety and stress in everyday life.

Getting a Little More Sleep

A majority of Americans are guilty of not getting enough sleep. Sleep seems to be a time when we are not doing anything; so many people cut it short in order to accomplish other things in their lives. However, this is the worst thing that one can do resulting in a number of related health issues like fatigue and body ache.

Getting enough sleep with about 8 hours every night is a must for adults, while children and teens need a couple of hours more. When making a plan for the following week, include extra sleep hours to pamper yourself. Sleep not only relaxes the body but relaxes the mind as well. It makes you more productive, adds to your stamina, enthusiasm, physical strength, and improves concentration.
However, this is another case where more is not necessarily better. Excessive sleeping has also been linked to a variety of serious conditions. One expert recommends gauging how much sleep you need by how many hours you sleep when on vacation. Going to bed when you are sleepy and getting up when you wake up provides a good baseline for how much sleep your body needs, she says.

Getting enough sleep is incredibly important in maintaining overall health and not doing so can put you at greater risk for contracting several very serious illnesses. Not getting enough sleep has been associated with an increased risk of:

Obesity
Heart disease
Diabetes
Stress
Poor memory
Insomnia

Taking Time Off Work

Although it can be hard to find time for vacations, getting away from work on a relatively regular basis can significantly reduce your stress levels. Spend time with family everyday even if it is for 20-30 minutes. Try to go out for family dinners and lunches to spend quality time with them as well once in awhile. Hang out with friends and reminisce about the good old times. Research has proved that people who are close to their families and spend more time with their kids are more productive and happy at work than those who are workaholics.

Plan a long vacation once every 1-2 years to disconnect from the monotony of work and whenever possible, go on mini-vacations (during long weekends for example) to live life to its full potential. Working hard is not necessarily a bad thing but never taking a break probably is.

So, take time and make a list of some of your favorite indulgences that are not just healthy and fun but also make your life less stressful.

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So, you remember my doula, Vicki, right? She works with Trust Birth and Beyond, and she makes these amazing oatmeal chocolate chip lactation cookies. Now, I’m sure you could go online and find some kind of recipe for some kind of lactation cookie, but I want to know who has time for all of that when you have a newborn squirming around. Seriously, who?

Instead, give yourself a break. Why not order a yummy batch from a real, live mom who cares very deeply about birth and breastfeeding?

source

So, Vicki sent me a big ol’ batch of these bad boys, and I have been closely and diligently following the directions to eat 1-4 each day. Hint: I am an over-achiever. I am in love because they aren’t tooth-aching sweet, but the generous amounts of chocolate chips are the perfect touch. Also, you can store them in a container for up to two weeks or freeze them for six months (not gonna happen). Then, after four days, you’ll see an increase in milk supply – Sam’s fave part.

source

Order Some

So, if you are looking to boost your milk supply or you are looking for a great, thoughtful gift for a new mom, check out her Etsy site to order some! Or, you can email Vicki at cbidoula@gmail.com. At $16 + shipping for TWO dozen, you can’t not order them.

The best part? You’re getting an all-natural, thoughtful gift (for you or another) handmade by a mom of four, and it nourishes mom and baby!

Giveaway

And, as a little gift in celebration of Sam’s birth, Vicki and I are giving away an order of these yummies to one Call Her Happy reader (US only). Fill out the Rafflecopter form for your chance to win. Giveaway ends May 30, 2013 at 11:59pm EST Best of luck, cookie monsters.

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Dr. Teal’s

Hallie mentioned this before, and I know I have too. But here I go again. Stop me. I dare you.

Organic French Lavender Soap

I got this at a little shop downtown by our house. Here’s the website for those of you not cool enough to live by me.

Lavender Jojoba Oil

My momma bought this for me at the MI Lavender Festival last year. I keep it in my purse and sniff/wear it all the time. No wonder people like me. Again, website.

MI Lavender Festival

Yeah, so I haven’t actually been to this yet. But, I am going this year, so help me lavender. I am already considering it my fave.

Aveda Stress Fix Lotion

I finally broke down and bought some of this pricey stuff. haha I’m kidding. My mom bought this for me too. Heck, she also bought the soap and the Dr. Teal’s. Let’s just get it all out there. My mom is my lavender dealer. It’s a hard life.

Update: My mom just came over with two lavender plants to put in my yard. Dealer.

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Hint: a little preview of an upcoming giveaway…MmmMmm

Follow me on Instagram (@callherhappy) if you just can’t get enough of me. Mmm Hmm.

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Samuel Joseph Hines
5/15/13
8lbs 7oz
19.5 in
3:25 pm

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Please Excuse the Bizarre Camera Work

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Well, if you’re like us, you make a big list of names that you kind of like, and then you waffle about it for 40 weeks until they won’t let you leave the hospital until you have a name.

But, there are better ways. And, I got these little bits of wisdom from the only two men who will be in the room while I give birth this time: my husband, Mike, and my doctor.

Head over to CatholicMom.com to hear my sage (yeah…) advice.

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I’m always creepin’ on what you’re reading. And, I’m always adding and deleting blogs from my feed.

Here’s what’s on my Bloglovin’ right now (click to enlarge):

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Two years ago for Mother’s Day, my husband scheduled a day of beauty for me: a massage, a mani-pedi, and a haircut. You see, I was pregnant with our daughter, and although she was still in the womb, I was the mother of a child, and that was worth celebrating.  In fact, I joined the millions of women who call themselves “mom” the moment our daughter was conceived. Each May, these millions of mothers are honored on Mother’s Day, but how many women allow this day to go uncelebrated in their lives due to abortion? Mary’s Mantle, a non-profit Catholic home for pregnant women, works to ensure the women they encounter choose life and are able to joyfully celebrate this holiday. To date, the organization is proud to have brought 32 babies and counting into the world!

Based in southeast Michigan, Mary’s Mantle houses up to four women at a time and provides a home to them for up to a year after they move in. The women (starting at 18 years of age) live with two house moms, and are visited daily by a social worker and support staff. Mary’s Mantle not only teaches these women the doctrine of life and the ins and outs of parenting, it enables them to find permanent housing, medical care, employment, education, faith formation (of any kind), and life-long support and unconditional love with their Aftercare Program while on the journey of motherhood.

my mom’s job…it’s so hard.

A typical day for a resident begins around nine in the morning. The women begin their day with breakfast and chores. In addition to household chores, each resident is required to complete 30 hours of productive activity each week. These hours can be fulfilled by looking for a job, studying if they’re in school, baby care, working if they have a job, volunteer opportunities and any other activity that helps inspire confidence and create independence. This year, a volunteer planted them their own produce garden to tend to and harvest from, so the girls will be plenty busy with their crop.

Jessica*, a 24-year-old woman, found Mary’s Mantle through the Internet. With nowhere else to go and none of the necessities for her baby, she decided to contact Mary’s Mantle. After six months in the house, she is now the proud mother of a five-month-old baby girl. Her time at the house was instrumental in a successful pregnancy and she feels, “It was a good place to focus on what you and your baby need…with a lot of help.”

This year, for Mother’s Day, the residents plan to attend Mass together and later, visit their own mothers. They will also attend the annual True Beauty Breakfast Fundraiser (which I have tickets to but am too pregnant to use :/). I pray, and I hope you will join me, that more mothers choose life and are able to celebrate this holiday. In addition to your prayers, you can visit http://www.marysmantle.net to make a donation helping this organization enhance and expand their mission to promote a culture of life and celebrate more Mother’s Days. Or, find Mary’s Mantle on Facebook and Twitter!

*name has been changed for privacy

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