Weekend Reading: Snowbound Edition

Kansas City was hit with back-to-back snowstorms this week and last. The second snowfall started at night. I snapped this picture when I got up to let the dog out.

It was almost dreamlike outside.

The snow was beautiful and, since we’re still in the midst of a drought, the moisture was needed.

The city ground to a complete stop, especially during the first round, which dumped snow on us at a record rate.

Four days off of school for the kids, and two work-at-home days for my husband, meant a lot of family togetherness. Luckily, some of us are easily entertained by, say, watching a snow plow work.

Right before the second snowstorm, I ran across this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe on Pinterest. There is nothing better than soup on the stove (or in the slow cooker) when you’re snowed in, amiright? Thanks to Baked by Rachel for the original recipe.

Here are some things from around the web that I especially enjoyed and wanted to share with you here:

• 4 Obstacles to Decluttering and How to Beat Them at Houzz.com. It’s a family heirloom. I might need it someday. It was a gift. I paid a lot of money for it. Any of these sound familiar? Yeah, me too. Allison Hodgson tells us how to keep these things from getting in the way of a decluttered home.

• How I saved $1,210 (Painlessly) for a A Yoga Retreat at The Jenny Pincher. This post is worth it for the pictures of the retreat location alone, but I love how Jenny got creative to pay for her trip.

• Five Ways to Fast-Forward Your Retirement Savings at Work, Save, Live. Kevin has put together a list of 5 very do-able ways to boost your retirement savings.

• Why we said ‘no’ to our daughter’s No. 1 college choice at KansasCity.com. Susan Beacham writes about why it’s sometimes necessary to do that very hard thing: tell your child no.

• Dress Up Your Plants – in a Dresser at Eclectically Vintage. A dresser? Outside? For plants? Yes! Just look at how pretty it is and then visit Kelly’s blog to find out how to make one of your own. Doesn’t all that green look great?

A quick note: This week was the last week for my daughter and I to post on our blog at the U.S. News & World Report education site. It was our choice, but we were sad to have to make it.

U.S. News has been the best experience for us; the ultimate mother/daughter project for two girls who love to write. But Lindsey’s busy life was getting even busier and, to be frank, we felt like after a year and a half of weekly posts, we had about exhausted what we had to say about college.

We were happy to find out, however, that the posts we wrote will continue to live on the site at this link: Twice the College Advice. So if you’re ever in the mood for some parent/child thoughts on college, please check it out. I’m sure Lindsey and I will be perusing there for old times’ sake too.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.