KIVA Revisited.

Every once in awhile, when I think about it, I go back to "KIVA" and check on my loans and make another micro-loan.

KIVA is one of my absolutely favorite organizations (besides Heifer International).

KIVA is a non-profit committed to fighting poverty through empowering people to start and improve their own businesses through micro-loans.

Each borrower shares a brief bio and photo; there are thousands of stories of courageous people trying to better their lives and the lives of their children. Many of them of are women.

To find a borrower, you can look at specific countries or particular sectors like: Agriculture, Education, Food, etc.... You can even use a filter to search for an attribute like: Fair Trade, Green practices, Underfunded areas or Conflict Zones.

Since it's founding in 2005, KIVA has distributed $480 million throughout 72 countries - many of these loans were lent in just $25 increments. They have a 99.03% repayment rate. Pretty amazing stats, right?

You pay through Paypal. It's super easy process. I've been a lender for several years now and highly recommend it to everyone.

It feels good to know that by taking the $25, I might have spent on a toy for my children or eating out, instead I am making a concrete difference in someone's life. That's something I can truly get behind.

Black Bean and Edamame Salad

 

 

My friend, Erin, rocks! Not only is she the reason that Papa Bear and I met, but she also took the most gorgeous photos of my most recent Birth. She also introduced me to Black Bean and Edamame Salad.

 

It has become one of my go-to meals.

 

It is cheap. It is fast. It is healthy. And, my 2 1/2 year old LOVES to help make (and eat) it.

 

What is not to love?

 

I have made a zillion variations, depending on what I have on hand.

 

 

 

 

Here are some ingredients I have added...

 

• Black Beans
• Edamame
• Avocado
• Tomatoes
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Feta
• Olive Oil
• Sea Salt



Wash, slice, dump, stir and refrigerate. You have a meal in minutes. Doesn't get much easier than that, does it?

Happy 5 Months! Anala.

 

Dearest Bright Eyes,

We are trying to savor this amazing age you are at right now.

Jolly and covered in adorable little rolls, you make us smile every time we look at you. You still have your gummy, toothless smile (even though those first two teeth seem like they will be making an appearance soon). You scoot and roll but aren't terribly deliberate in your movements. But, that is about to change. We are squeezing you tightly every day and enjoying this special time.

You and your Sissy are interacting a bit more together. You adore watching her and she adores hugging and kissing you. A few times a day, she will lay next to you on the floor and the two of you will just stare at each other.

You can sit up by yourself now for 30 seconds to a minute before you do a face-plant. Timberrrrrr!!!

We are all having fun watching your try to crawl.

Oh, the drool! Your teething has stepped into high-gear over the last two weeks. You are just drooling rivers and rivers. And you spend much of your awake time with your fingers jammed deep in your mouth.

You can't stand it when we have to wipe your face (especially your nose). But, beside that you don't seem bothered by much (unless you are tired or hungry). Your even-temperedness helps balance out the rest of the family's fire.

Have I mentioned how much you LOVE chewing on your toes? Who doesn't crack up when seeing a baby chewing on their toes? Irresistible.

You seem very interested in textures right now. You take your nails and scratch different surfaces to hear the different sounds you can make. Does this hint at some musical tendencies? Time will tell...

You eat at least once meal a day of solid food. Boy, do you look forward to that meal! We can never feed you fast enough! Bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, homemade tomato soup...you have loved it all.

Thanks for sleeping better at night. You are going 5-6 hours between feedings at night (which is a big help). I try and feed you before I go to bed and then you wake up once more in the middle of the night. Sometimes your grunts and groans wake me up, even though you are in the next room with both doors closed. You are the loudest sleeper in the family. But, you know what? You are a keeper - that's for sure.

We are all crazy, madly in love with our Anala-Bala-Bears.

Your devoted family,

Mommy, Daddy and Big Sissher

P.S. If you were interested here is the letter I wrote to your Sissy when she turned 5 months.

P.P.S. Look how much you have grown! One Month, Two Months, Three Months, and Four Months.

Look Who Is 5 Months Old Today!

Friday: This Moment

 

Friday: This Moment inspired by Soule Mama

Letting Go. Being Okay With the Mess.

 

Sometimes it's easy to find yourself saying "no" when your child is getting caught up in playing and making a big mess. All you can focus on is "oh, no...how long is this going to take to clean?"

I am trying to just to LET GO. And, enjoy her smile and her pure Joy at being completely and utterly engaged in her work.

I feel like I am finally getting to the place where I can be okay and say...the clean-up is totally worth it. What's a few minutes of scrubbing and sweeping compared to an hour or so of utter enchantment?

 

 

 

 

Happy Mountain Day!

Today was "Mountain Day" at Mount Holyoke College (my Alma Mater).

Students wake up to the sound of the school's chapel belling continuously ringing. School is canceled for the day and everybody heads out to hike or enjoy themselves somehow in the glorious Sun.

You never know when it's going to happen. It's like a Snow Day from school but when the weather is still perfectly warm. It's one of my favorite Mt. Holyoke traditions.

I lucked out today because one of my favorite people in the World was visiting. The weather was gorgeous down here in Northern Virginia as well as in Massachusetts, so we ended up unintentionally having our own Mountain Day.

We sat out in the Back-yard in the Morning, where Bright Eyes made us giggle.

And, after Lunch, Crissy and the girls and I went to River Farm (one of my favorite local spots). We ignored the last of the pesky mosquitoes and watched Nye-Nye explore the Children's Garden. It felt so good to soak up the last gasp of Summer.

It was a good day.