I have two daughters, so many of these books tend to lean more girly, but some of them are just right for boys and girls alike. I read these books aloud to my daughter some starting when she was almost three. Now she reads them all by herself. I'd say these books are great from age 3-8. I'll share them in order of when I would introduce them from easiest or lowest grade level to more advanced. I hope you love these books as much as I do.

Mercy Watson | I love the Mercy Watson books. There are six of them and they are delightful stories about a pet pig and his adventures living in a subdivision with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. I have read these books so many times with my daughter. We have laughed together at the silliness. I remember the summer we got these books my daughter was almost three and we were driving across the country for a family reunion. We read these books over and over again in the car during those 72 hours. It kept us both quite entertained. Highly recommend this book when you want to read something in between picture books and chapter books. The chapters are short and colorfully illustrated.

The Adventures of Sophie Mouse Books 1-4 | Books 5-8 | These books I read aloud to my daughter just before she turned three as well. The main character Sophie Mouse has lots of adventures in Pine Needle Grove with her best friends Hattie and Owen. The characters are kind and always seem to be able to solve their problems and overcome their challenges. I love this series and am always looking forward to the next book since the author is continuing to write for this series.

Anne Arrives & Anne's Kindred Spirits | Since Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books, I knew this adaptation of the book for young readers would be something I would love to share with my daughter. It is lovely. These books share the first part of the story of Anne of Green Gables in a child friendly way. Other books are sure to come.

Wellie Wishers | I have been very impressed with the American Girl Wellie Wishers books. These books are about a group of friends that work together to create lovely experiences in Aunt Mirandas garden. I love that these girls support one another and do their best to be good friends to each other. I was thankful for this recommendation to add to our home library.

Violet Mackerel | I especially love Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat, but the whole series is good. I love this little girl because she thinks deeply about the world around her. I think it is a great example to share with my girls, to show them to think a little deeper, to discover more, to understand more. 

Zoey and Sassafras | Zoey is a young scientist with the ability to see magical creatures. Along with her sidekick cat Sassafras she is able to help magical animals in need. I love how this book teaches my daughter about scientific principles while being fun. I also love how Zoey has to try multiple things before she gets it right. It is a great example of perseverance as well as not needing to get everything right the first time.

Mouse Scouts | I love these books about a little mouse scout troop. There are six mice with very different personalities and I love being able to see how they each individually react and overcome when faced with the same challenges and experiences.

Heartwood Hotel | This adorable story about Mona Mouse who finds herself working at the amazing Heartwood hotel in the middle of the forest is probably one of my favorite books to read aloud. I dream of being able to stay in the Heartwood Hotel someday, it is that magical. This place really comes to life. I love each of these four books and all of the characters inside of them.

The Magical Animal Adoption Agency | Another great series book about a little girl named Clover who volunteers to help at the Magical Animal Adoption Agency. I love this book because it highlights a girl who feels quite ordinary but actually has a special skill of being able to work with these magical animals. It is lovely to watch her come to understand that about herself.

There you have it. These first chapter books and series books are all so good. We have almost all of them in our personal library and read them time and time again. I have loved sharing them all with my first daughter and look forward to the day I get to do it again with my second. 

What books do you love to share with your children. I am always looking for good books with good stories and good morals to share, so I'd love it if you left your recommendations below!

Mallory

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I love reading affirmations. I love taking affirmations into my meditation. I love the feeling a good affirmations gives me. Today I want to share some of my favorite affirmations. These affirmations feel good to me when I say them. I think that is the most important part of choosing affirmations, do they feel good, do they feel like something you want to be true or can in some way (even a small way) believe to be true. If so they are going to be so much more effective in your life. I hope some of these affirmations will resonate with you and you can use them to elevate your own life.

Health & Wellness

I accept health as the natural state of my being.

Each cell in my body has divine intelligence. I recognize my body as a wondrous and magnificent machine, and I feel privileged to live in it.

Changes can begin in this moment.

I rejoice in who I am. I am a beautiful expression of life, flowing perfectly at all times. I am both powerful and desirable. It is wonderful to be a woman. I love myself and I am fulfilled.

I choose to love life. I am filled with life, energy, and the joy of living!

I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, happy, and unlimited.

I choose to be healthy and free.

I am loved. I am safe. I love my life.

I declare peace and harmony within my and all around me. All is well.

I allow my mind to relax and be at peace.

I easily release that which I no longer need. The past is over and I am free.

Success | Work | Prosperity

My unique creative talents and abilities flow through me and are express in deeply satisfying ways. There are people out there who are always looking for what I have to offer. They find me with ease.

I share what and who I am for I know we are all one in spirit.

Divine intelligence gives me all the ideas I can use. I move forward right now.

Whatever I am guided to do will be a success. I am blessed beyond my fondest dreams.

I am totally open to the abundant flow of prosperity that the universe has to offer. Abundance flows into my life with ease.

My good comes from everywhere and everyone. The world is a safe place. Love is everywhere, people are so friendly, and I always have what I need.

Family

Harmony, joy, beauty, and safety no surround me and my family.

Spirituality

I am one with the power that created me, and this power has given me the power to create my own circumstances. The universe totally supports me.

I accept divine guidance and am always safe.

Personal

I welcome miracles into my life. God works miracles everyday.

I trust that something wonderful will happen to me today.

I am expecting to have an amazing year. I expect the miraculous.

In the infinity of life where I am all is perfect, whole and complete.

(Insert your name), I love and accept you exactly as you are.

Mallory

While affirmations are so good on their own, taking affirmations into meditation makes them even more powerful in your life. When you meditate you give yourself the time to truly focus and live in the good feelings that positive affirmations can create. If you want to learn how to make your own amazing meditation practice, I invite you to take my Introduction to Meditation course on youtube. Here you will learn how to take affirmations you love and create a positive and powerful meditation practice perfect for you.

Oatmeal is one of the easiest and healthiest breakfasts to make on a morning you want something warm and comforting. There are so many ways to make oatmeal, but this recipe is one of my all time favorites.

The cardamom is really the game changer in this oatmeal bowl. It brings a subtle depth of flavor as well as brings the other ingredients alive. The pears are sweet and juicy. The craisins are tart and chewy. The walnuts add that extra crunch. Put it all together and you have a beautiful, flavorful meal to start your day (or to enjoy any time of day really!)

Do yourself a favor a try this dish out in your own home!

Pear Cardamom Oatmeal Bowl

Makes 1 Serving

1/2 Cup Oatmeal

1 Pear

1/2 t. Cardamom

Unsweetened, Dried Cranberries

Chopped Walnuts

1. Cook oatmeal according to package directions either in the microwave or on the stove. While the oatmeal is cooking peel and chop one pear into small pieces.

2. When the oatmeal is done mix in the cardamom. Top with pear, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts. Enjoy!

If you are looking for more delicious plant based meals to enjoy, I'm sure you will love my Ebooks Earth Fed Family and Whole Plant Foods. Each cookbook is filled with healthy whole-food, plant-based, oil free and vegan recipes that our family loves. 

Today I want to share my top 5 meditation tips for beginners. Let's get right into it.

1 | Do some research. When I first began my own personal meditation practice, I tried to do it by just setting a timer and sitting in a corner for 5 minutes. I was told it would be good for me, but I didn't get a whole lot from the experience and had no really compelling reason to continue my practice. It was only after I had read some books and took a meditation course that I really committed to my own practice and had some beautiful experiences.

I have created an Introduction to Meditation course where I share all I have learned over the last few years about meditation and things that helped me create a beautiful practice for myself. I invite you to join the class if it feels like something that could help you!

2 | Make a commitment to yourself to practice meditation on a daily basis. It could be 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 1 hour. The time doesn't matter so much as your diligence. Decide how long you want to practice meditation and when you will show up for your practice. Once you have made the decision, then do it. Be diligent. Show up every day. I truly believe the miracle of meditation comes when it is a part of your every day life.

3 | Ask for help. If you have a life situation where you will need to rely on other people to be able to have the space and quiet you need to meditate, ask for help! I have little children. I ask my husband to watch our kids at a certain time. Or I ask for a minute by myself before we go to bed. I let him know what I am doing and ask for the space and time I need. If you do have little ones or need help from others, consider starting small with just 5-10 minutes of meditation. 

4 | Be aware of what feels good to you. Meditation is not about holding a certain position or breathing a very specific way. You want to get in a position where you can be alert but also supported. You want to breath deeply but not so deep that it becomes uncomfortable. You want your mind to be free, not focused on counting the seconds of your breath or feeling anxiety because your back hurts. So my suggestion is to find a comfortable position where you can be alert and present.

5 | Give yourself grace. Some days your thoughts may run wild. Some days your legs or whole body may feel restless. Some days may feel like a complete failure. I have had many of those days in my own meditation practice. But I kept showing up. I kept practicing. And it was okay if I didn't have perfect days, meditation was still helping me. I honestly think meditation is just kind of magical. So keep going despite any temporary set backs and give yourself grace!

I hope these tips help you in your meditation practice. Let me know in the comments below any tips you would have for beginners. 

Mallory

The day before I turned 30 was a day that gave me insight into the way I had been living life for far too long. Maybe someone can relate, and so I share this story.

My husband and I dream of living in this small town just an hour away from our present residence. We are currently making the trip on a monthly basis to visit our dream location, and grab a shake from our favorite little corner store. 

In February the weather was unpredictable, so we kept putting off our monthly retreat. But the day before I turned 30 my husband had the day off and it seemed like a good time to go. The snow was suppose to be mild, at least when we were traveling, so it seemed like the weather would cooperate. 

Somehow we missed the news of high winds, or didn't think about the fields of snow that the wind would blow onto the road. As we got further away from the "city" and out to the rolling hills, we found ourselves in the middle of blowing snow. At first I thought it would pass quickly, but I soon realized it wasn't about to get better. We considered turning around but there was never a great spot to do so. By this time we had made our way into a train of cars traveling together. It felt safer to stay close and just keep going. 

A few times the winds brought up so much snow, we were completely encompassed in white. We couldn't see the road or car just a few feet in front of us. This only happened a few times for a few seconds, but I was terrified. After the first experience of being blinded by these snowy conditions, I was completely on edge. Every gust of snowy wind was the verge of reentering that terrifying place where I could not see. 

For the most part of the trip we were completely fine. Although the wind was blowing the snow, we could see just enough ahead of us, and the roads were actually in good condition. As long as we just stayed with the other travelers on this road and were careful, it was pretty simple to make it through to the other side. 

Of course I can only see that now, knowing we did make it to the other side, safe and sound. Over the course of the journey I was tense and afraid. Even when we could see. Even when there was no imminent danger, the mere fact that danger could blow in from out of nowhere, made the drive terribly unpleasant.

When we made it through the storm, to a clear road where we could see more that just a few car ahead, I let out a breath of relief and gratitude, and felt happy inside once more. And then it hit me. A revelation of sorts. I realized I had been living much of my recent life the same way I just lived through the stormy weather.

I had been living in a space where I couldn't see very far ahead. The personal storms of my life were blowing, and I didn't really know how things were going to go today let alone next week or next year. I didn't know if my storms would resolve or completely encompass me. And while I sometimes felt completely engulfed in my own personal struggles, it never lasted long, and I always came through. Still those experiences shook me, and left me on edge, just waiting, anticipating the next experience of overwhelm. I have lived unable to reach a full peace, even when I am quite safe.

The thing is, I am starting to believe that even when conditions are not ideal (for driving or in life) maybe I can still live in a state of peace. Maybe I can tap into the very present moment and not fear the unknown of what might come up ahead. Just live knowing that I can only do the next right thing. 

As long as we kept driving we could always see just enough in front of us that we were safe. Even when we were completely engulfed in snow we could see just ahead of us. And for those short moments that was even enough.

As I move into my 30's I come with the intention to settle into the peaceful present way of living. I want to create time and space to practice this way of being. I believe I can.

I think this real life experience was a mirror of myself. It allowed me to see me, and in a way allowed me to begin this new year of life with the intention to change. It was a gift for me from the universe. 

And for that I am thankful.