Linky Love

How is everyone doing this cold January afternoon? In the NE we are bracing ourselves for the frigid temps that are heading this way. I actually planned my weekly meals around the idea of keeping warm. I think it will be a topic of my next post (not the meals, but keeping warm).

I just wanted to pass along a few things to you. As usual, no theme, but a bunch of random things to check out....

1. This post by Angie from Bring the Rain. She posted a video sharing the time she and the rest of her family was able to spend with her baby Audrey Caroline in the few short hours of her life. It was very hard for me to watch - I think I waited a few days before I found the right time. But as usual, Angie doesn't share just for the sake of sharing, it's always about pointing us to Jesus and allowing us a glimpse of how God was at work in midst of their personal tragedy.

2. This post by Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer. It is about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) which will go into effect in February 2009. It is a billed designed to provide safety standards for children's products (it seems to be focusing on lead content). Safety is something we all want for our children, but it seems like this bill is too vague and broad and could potentially be devastating for small business owners, home business, web businesses, thrift stores, consignment shops, etc. There is even a question of how it will effect libraries! Basically all products need to be tested for lead, which costs thousands of dollars and really only the major retailers and manufacturers can afford that. It's a shame because it seems like the real reform needs to happen in our imports from China where the lead issues are steming from. I am probably not getting all of this right, that's why you should go to Shannon's blog and read more about it, and read the comments and check out the websites she gives (in today's post, not the one linked). I hope that there can be some revision so that, especially in this economy, hundreds and thousands aren't put out of business because they can no longer sell their handmade baby products and toys.

3. This recipe for sweet and sour chicken. I found it on Crafty P's blog and this is the second time I've made it since then. It is just that good! So I'm posting it now in case you didn't catch it when she first posted it. Hint. Make sure you actually read the recipe the whole way through. I didn't the first time and hadn't allotted enough cooking time. That happens to me more often than you think, just ask Matt how many times I've had to change dinner plans at the last minute because, oops that chicken/stew/casserole etc needs to cook for three hours once it's all put together. But don't worry, this one isn't three hours worth of cooking - only one! See now, you know. Also, the chicken turns out just like the picture posted on the blog.

4. Lastly, I've created a group on facebook for our Blogging Book Club. There is still time to start reading so please don't hesitate to join! The group is closed, so you must be invited to join and only members can see the discussions. I figured that it will better enable us to have discussions and make sure we know who we're talking with and to! I will send invites to everyone I have so far and if you decide to do it, just let me know by leaving a comments or emailing me (in my profile). If you don't blog, but stop by here to read it, you are more than welcome to be a part of this. Again, just let me know and make sure you check back here because I will probably post stuff here before I do on facebook. I am going to post some discussion questions on the facebook page - I would defintely recommending waiting until you are done reading before looking at them. It's mostly stuff to think about, I don't think we need to frame our discussion around them.

I think that's all. I'm getting ready to work on one of my resolutions and go get on the treadmill for the first time in a loooooong time. So far I've done really well at making my bed and that's about it. No big risks in the last week.