Enjoy the Beauty of Your Day

We have been fortunate to have one of our most beautiful Octobers that I can remember in awhile. The weather has been warm and sunny and hardly any rain and cold to speak of until yesterday. 

October is my favorite month of the year. I love watching the changing of the leaves and the crispness in the air.  It's the month that holds my birthday, my husband's birthday, as well as a slew of other family members. I remember growing up that it was a month of celebrating. 

Last week, as our son was preparing to run his last cross country meet of the season, I found myself surrounded by the beauty of nature. The golf course in NE Iowa where the meet was held was full of trees that were in the process of changing over to fall. I was standing by myself and just took that moment to look around and enjoy the beauty of it. It helped calm me as I was extremely nervous for our son. This was his chance to make it to the state cross country meet.  Even though he didn't make it (he finished 20th and they take the top 15), I have looked back on this photo often as a reminder of the beauty in that day.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you can take a moment to enjoy the beauty of your day.

A post from today, 5 years ago -  Product Review: Nature's Hand Granola
A post from today, 2 years ago - Fulcrum Gallery Print Review
A post from today, 1 year ago - #52ListsProject - Things that Make Me Feel Peaceful

Children's Book Review: Because of an Acorn By Lola M Schaefer and Adam Schaefer

BECAUSE OF AN ACORN

By: Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer

Illustrated by: Frann Preston-Gannon

Published: August 2, 2016

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Non-Fiction

When I stop by my favorite independent bookstore, Next Page Books, I love perusing their children's books. This one got my attention because I love nature books for kids. As I began flipping through the pages, I knew I was going to love it by the first page.

Through simple words and gorgeous illustrations, children are shown the life-cycle of an acorn and how it affects the environment that it lives in. From the acorn to the tree to the seed to the bird to the flower to the fruit to the forest, and everything in between, all of the living things in the forest depend on each other.

The illustrations are just gorgeous with almost a three-dimensional feel to them. Children will love looking at the various things on the pages and learning the cycle of life in the forest. A few of the pages have these gorgeous die-cut images that take kids from one page to the next.

Even the youngest children can learn the importance of taking care of our environment and how each piece is important to the other. I can't wait to send this book off to my little great niece who I know will love reading this sweet story of an acorn. This book is a wonderful celebration of fall for young readers.

Lola M Schaefer - source

Lola M. Schaefer is the author of many children's books and the winner of a Charlotte Zolotow Honor and the Children's Choice Book Award. She lives with her husband in the mountains of northern Georgia. To see her many awarding-winning books, click HERE. Check out her website, HERE.  

Adam Schaefer is a writer by night, city government worker by day. Adam grew up climbing trees and still does. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Frann Preston-Gannon is a London-based illustrator and author. Her picture books have been shortlisted for many awards. In April 2011, she became the first UK recipient of the Sendak Fellowship.

To purchase a copy of BECAUSE OF AN ACORN, click the photo below:

I'll be linking up this review with Booking Mama and other bloggers on her Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. Click HERE to see posts related to children's and YA books. 

A post from today, 5 years ago - Things I Love- In the Kitchen: Kashi Mountain Medley

A post from today, 4 years ago - Scenes from Our Week: Week 49 

A post from today, 3 years ago - A Little Monday Inspiration

If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you paying a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

#52ListsProject - Favorite Things About Fall

I purchased the book, THE 52 LISTS PROJECT for my 43rd birthday. The book focuses on weekly journaling based on lists.  I love making lists and thought this sounded like a great way to remember a year. I plan to complete  a list every week for this next year. Even though the journal begins in Winter with Week 1, I started my list during Fall with Week 40. So, I'll be moving through the book a bit backwards, which is hard for my organized brain, but I didn't want to be writing about winter topics in spring or summer in winter.

I'll be sharing my lists here, hopefully one a week. To see my previous lists, click on the tag 52 Lists Project at the bottom of this post.  It's my hope that by sharing my lists, you'll get to know me a bit better and maybe be reminded of something that brings you joy!  Some weeks the topics may be too personal to share completely on here, but I'll at least tell you about the lists and some of the things on it. 

At the end of each list, the author offers an idea to expand on that week's list. This week's list is FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT FALL and her action plan is to plan out a perfect fall day. Right now it is tough for me to plan out a whole day as I don't have a free day in the near future, but finding time to do each of these things on my list at some point, brings me joy! 

If you are interested in learning more about THE 52 LISTS PROJECT, click HERE to be taken to the author's website. You can also purchase the book, HERE.

FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT FALL

Pumpkin Bars

My Birthday

Leaves Turning Color

Marching Band Season

Football (high school, college, and NFL)

Passing out Halloween Candy

Watching our Backyard Trees Change from Green to Red

Wearing Scarves

Family Leaf Raking Day

Jones Family Christmas

Lima Leaf Day

Decorating Our Home for Fall

Round Hay Bales Across A Field

I'm sure I'll come up with more favorites after I hit publish, but these are the things that popped into my head immediately. Fall is really my favorite season. 

To purchase a copy of THE 52 LISTS PROJECT, click the photo below:

If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Sunday Snippets 11.2.14

On Sundays I like to share snippets from our life here in small town Iowa.

The last few weeks have been really busy for us. I thought life might be slowing down a bit since some of the kids activities are done. But, this week still kept me moving. I am still subbing nearly every day and I had my second cold of the season so I hope that I am covered now for the whole winter. 

During the month of November, I hope to take some time to reflect on all my blessings. The biggest blessings in my life are my husband and children. But, there are so many other blessings I am grateful for. I hope you can spend some time reflecting on those blessings this month.

Enjoy some of the snippets from our week!

I am super excited about my new camera. The perks of subbing nearly everyday include earning the money sooner that I planned to purchase this Canon EOS Rebel T5. I don't have all the buttons and whistles figured out yet, but I am loving the results of the photos I have taken with it already.

All the photos below are from my new Canon. 

Patrick's final performance on the field this year. Marching band has been so much fun for him as well as all of us. I will miss the performances, but am excited because I have several years of marching band ahead of me with Bennett and Reagan coming up. 

It was really foggy last Friday night, but the band still rocked the stadium!

At one of their competitions this season, 

the drumline earned Best Percussion. That was pretty exciting!

Saturday was my husband's birthday! After Reagan's basketball practice, we headed out for breakfast and a little Frisbee Golf. It was a beautiful morning!

Even though my game didn't go so well and I eventually gave up, I had fun watching the competition....

...and enjoying the final days of fall's beauty all around us.

That evening we had family over to celebrate Pat's birthday 

and enjoy his favorite food, Spanish Rice, using his mom's recipe. 

Last Sunday was our annual Fall Leaf Raking Day.

We have two large Blaze Maples in our backyard that drop lots of leaves.

Stormy was excited to be able to join us outside.

The kids were great helpers getting all the leaves raked into a pile.

Stormy loves to climb our trees and we found her running up and around them all afternoon.

The good thing is she always comes back down! 

Reagan took over my job of driving the tractor this year.

She was pretty excited and enjoyed her "important" job.

The best part of raking the leaves is jumping in the pile.

And, of course, the required pictures for mom!

My favorite photo of the whole day! 

Thanks for sharing in our joyful moments of the past couple weeks. 

It's Football Season!

I love fall.  Fall means football and pumpkin and sweaters and feeling the crispness in the air.  Our family is psyched for football to start this weekend.  Our high school started play last weekend, but I'm talking about college and professional football now.

My nephew is Offensive Coordinator at Bemidji State and their team kicks off their season on Friday night.  Thankfully, we can watch them through live internet coverage.  My family tends to get a little annoyed while I am watching them play and yelling and shouting at the computer.  It is the one team I really watch and root for.  My nephew calls me their "Super Fan".

Our other favorite college team is, of course, the Iowa Hawkeyes!  It is tough to get to a game, but we sure like watching them on TV.

Finally, the kids and Pat really like watching their favorite NFL teams and players.  The favorite in our house is the Minnesota Vikings.  Pat has been a fan ever since his aunt gave him Vikings pajamas as a kid.  A few years ago, Pat and I took the boys to a Vikings vs Packers game in the dome.   What a fun time that was!

Even though the Vikings are our favorite, Bennett still likes to cheer for the Steelers.

 

 

We also like to watch all our local Hawkeye players that have made it big. 

Chad Greenway, Vikings

Tyler Sash, Giants

Shonn Greene, Jets

Adrian Clayborn, Buccaneers

Nate Kaeding, Chargers

Ricky Stanzi, Chiefs

Tony Moeaki, Chiefs

Amari Spievey, Lions

Riley Reiff, Lions

Julian Vandervelde, Eagles

Marvin McNutt, Eagles

Dallas Clark, Buccaneers

Bob Sanders, Chargers

 

The most fun will come from cheering on our own little football player. 

Bennett will be playing for the 6th grade team. 

We can't wait to cheer him and his teammates on to VICTORY starting in mid-September!

 

 

 

So, let's get ready for some FOOTBALL!!!! 

 

 

 

Things I Love - Fall

Things I Love...

This is my feature where I get to share something that I just love. Since you are my friends, I like sharing things I love with others. It could be anything from a new product, food, recipe, song, image, to a person and everything in between. This will be something I am completely doing on my own, without pressure or compensation from a company, author, PR/Marketing firm, friend, business owner, etc. This will just be something that makes me happy and I want to share it with you. Enjoy some love!

Today's love is.................................Fall!

I Love Fall!  It is my favorite season (with Spring close behind).

1. I love watching the changing of the leaves, the warm and sunny days with a hint of chill, and the cool nights. 

2. I love football season.  By the way, I won 2 weeks in a row with our family picks.  So, far I have $2.50 in my pocket, winning 8 games the first week and 12 the second week.  Maybe I have a new calling!!! Vegas, need my help?????

3. I love Homecoming. We had an early Homecoming at our school this year, but still it reminds me of fall. When I was growing up, I was a football cheerleader and Homecoming was the highlight of the season. I loved the pep rallys, the decorating of the school and communities, the fun dress-up days, the marching band, and of course the game. The school our kids go to also has a great Homecoming week with the dress-up days, parade, pep-rally, crowning of King and Queen, and the big game.

Patrick on the float



Cheerleaders - Our friend Ashley in the center



 

Bennett, Reagan, and Patrick all decked out for homecoming.


4. I love Pumpkins.  I love carving pumpkins and eating anything with pumpkin in it.  I stock up on the Libby's pumpin and go crazy....pumpkin bars, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin desserts, etc. 

5.  I love Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  Starbucks started making my favorite treat early this month and I have already treated myself to 2 of them.  YUM!  I am also anticipating the arrival of Coffeemate's Pumpkin Spice Creamer.  It has yet to arrive on the shelves here, but I am patiently waiting. 

6.  I Love Bible Study Fellowship.  BSF began last Wednesday and it felt so good to be back with an amazing group of women all learning God's word together.  We are studying the Book of Acts as well as other books of the New Testament and I am already loving the study.

7.  I Love My Birthday.  Yes, my birthday is in the fall (my husband's is too) and I love celebrating it.  This year will be the last in my 30's and I will be launching a whole new page on my website dedicated to that, so stay tuned!

8.  I Love Fall TV.  I was very excited to watch some old and new shows this season.  My favorites are SURVIVOR, THE MIDDLE, DANCING WITH THE STARS, CASTLE, and I'm looking forward to checking out THE CHEW and seeing what the new TWO AND A HALF MEN is all about.

What is your favorite thing about fall?  Is it your favorite season too?

Fall Means Football....and Soccer

The boys started their soccer season this past weekend with a win, 5-0.  They are playing on a co-ed 6-8th grade team. Even though Bennett is only a 5th grader, he is playing on the team as well.  They did an awesome job and it was fun to watch them.  I was amazed at their ball handling skills and how they looked ahead for opportunities to pass and get the ball in to the right person.

Patrick, in yellow, going after it

Bennett, in yellow, in the center



Then, after soccer we switched gears to football, watching and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes even though they lost to our biggest rival in 3 overtimes - The Iowa State Cyclones.  I hope it isn't a precedent for our season.  I also will be logging on to my computer every Saturday to watch the Bemidji State Beavers of Minnesota play football.  My nephew, Eric, is their offensive coordinator.  Even though their game this weekend went into overtime as well, the Beavers came away with a BIG WIN!  It was a nail biter and kept me on the edge of my seat.  I am grateful their division has the ability for us to watch them play live online! Then Sunday is spent watching and cheering for all the exciting NFL games.  We make a spreadsheet each week and make our picks for which team is going to win the game.  Some teams are picked because they are favorites (Vikings rule in our house) and others are picked because they have some of our good ol' Hawkeye players on their teams.  It is fun to see who picks the upset of the day and who is winning in the picks each week.

So, even though there are lots of other things our family could be doing, football does have a hold over our weekends....for a few hours anyway, and I'm not complaining. 

Who do you cheer for?