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Monica Swanson

the grommom

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Health or Weight-Loss Goals in the New Year? Something for Everyone Here!

by Monica 28 Comments

Aloha!  I hope the first weeks of 2019 are treating you well.I'm so excited to be back with some of the updates I hinted at in last week's post.  Whether you're up and running, crushing some bold, new goals, OR facing the sad reality that the resolutions which sounded so inspiring a week ago are actually really, really, hard...today's post is for you.  I can say with confidence that there is something in here for everyone.Most of you know that the most common New

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

Happy New Year!  Guess What’s Coming in 2019?!

by Monica 11 Comments

Hey Friends!!  Happy New Year!!Don't you just love a clean slate?   A fresh calendar...a blank journal?  Do-overs and fresh starts are my absolute favorite.  I hope you're as excited for 2019 as I am.New Years is extra special around here, because it also marks this blog's BIRTHDAY!  We're 8 years old today!! For those of you who have been around since the beginning, you know how far we've come.  (If you haven't, trust me -- we've had our fair share of awkward stages along the way.)  But

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Merry Christmas from Hawaii {greetings, photos, and a note to read before the New Year!}

by Monica 4 Comments

Merry Christmas -- or Mele Kalikimaka, as we say in Hawaii -- from our home to yours...I hope you are having a wonderful, peaceful (we can try!) hope-filled Christmas season.  I love to imagine where each of you are and what Christmas looks like in your world.  I know (from taking an unofficial Facebook poll) that many of you will have a white Christmas this year, and our family is totally jealous really happy for you. It's summertime for my southern hemisphere readers, so your Christmas

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Home & Country, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

What I’d Say If We Could Meet for Coffee…. {Virtual Coffee Date, Holiday Edition.}

by Monica 42 Comments

Grab a cup of something warm and join me for a holiday heart-to-heart...(and a Starbucks giveaway! at the bottom.)If you've been around awhile, you know I love coffee dates.  I mean, I love coffee, but even more, I love to have coffee with a friend.  Maybe it's because I homeschool my kids out in the country (on an island, no-less) so actually getting out to meet a friend for coffee is kind of a big deal.  As in:  It rarely happens. :)  So, when it does, it can be quite a scene. Usually

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Kale Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Candied Walnuts

by Monica 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving week!  I'm excited to share a recipe for one of my personal favorite ways to eat kale -- tossed with roasted sweet potatoes, candied walnuts, and a light vinaigrette.  Seriously this is SO good!  Though this salad is great all year long, I am pretty sure it could solve once and for all that question that comes up every year in homes all over the country (or is just ours?):  "Do we need both mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving?"I say: Yes!  And this is a

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Categories: Gluten Free, Health/Fitness, Lunches and Dinners, Miscellaneous, Recipes

How We have Raised Kids Who Love God.

by Monica 18 Comments

I hear from a lot of parents who really want their kids to grow up to know and love God.  I want so much to support families in this way, so I thought I would share a bit of what we've done with our boys, in case it might encourage a few people...As most of you know, my husband Dave and I have four sons.  As I write, they are ages 19, 17, 14, and 8.And as I write, all four of them really, truly, independently love Jesus.  (*Levi, my youngest, is just eight, so it's fair to say his faith

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Favorite Pumpkin Granola

by Monica Leave a Comment

Sharing our favorite pumpkin granola recipe below.  But first:You guys.  I have a son in college.  Does anyone else feel weird about that?No, this has nothing to do with my Pumpkin Granola recipe (except that maybe I should be sending some to him in a care package?)  I guess I just needed to get it off my chest.  Truth is, I just sat down at a coffee shop to put this post together, and got side tracked on Instagram (it happens.)  When I saw that my college son, who has not posted any

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Categories: Breakfasts, Gluten Free, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family, Recipes, Snacks and Smoothies

Six Things To Do Every Day–Especially When You’re Busy.

by Monica 9 Comments

6 Important things to do, especially during busy seasons. {**Be sure to scroll down and read a little note in my PS at the end! :) }It's that time of the year again, when everyone seems to be running in different directions.  School.  Work.  Sports.  Activities.  Sometimes it feels like we're a bunch of ships passing in the night.  These are the days we tend to skip workouts, eat meals on-the-go, and fall asleep saying our prayers.  I have personally ended more days than I care to admit

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

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Recent Posts

  • Healthy, Sweet, Carrot Salad
  • 3 Ways to Make “Having The Talk” with Your Kids a Little Less Awkward…{with a printable conversation starter!}
  • With Kate Merrick, on her New Book: HERE, NOW
  • Surf Updates and Inspiration from Son #3: Luke.
  • End of Winter Coffee Date. Edition: We’ve got a Table with a View and SO much to Cover!
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