These 10 books will make you a better homemaker! I've read many homemaking books, and these are some of my favourites for decluttering, decorating, routines, and intentional living at home. They'd make an excellent addition to any homemaker's reading list.One of my greatest pleasures in life is keeping house. I don't mean cleaning, necessarily (especially not cleaning bathrooms). I mean all of it--the holistic art of making a home, that hub and center for all our comings and goings and life pursuits. Homemaking is satisfying because it has direct bearing on the lives of the people who matter most to us. It's rhythmic work, and ... Continue Reading
Our baby girl, and the story of her birth
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who dreamed of someday having a lively home full of children. There were both girls and boys in the mix, running colorful through the yard with plastic toys and bubbles and collected "nature" to show their mother.Then a long while later that little girl grew up, and the children that were so familiar to her yet so inscrutable began to show up. First the boy, a force of nature with a passionate soul and an endless imagination. Then three years later a little brother, full of precious smiles and an eagerness to watch and learn and do. And then, a sister...It was familiar territory at first. ... Continue Reading
Simple Living in the Suburbs
My family is pursuing a simple and slow life in the suburbs. This ordinary suburban life doesn't always match up to the lofty dreams I once had, nevertheless, we've found contentment and purpose, and we know this is right where we're supposed to be.Sometimes the place you end up is quite mundane compared to the fancy dreams of your youth...but you realise it's exactly the place you want to be.Where have I "ended up," at 31 years old? Living in the suburbs, in a modest-sized home built in the 80s, with a minivan parked in the driveway.And those fancy dreams I had, when I was little? Well, there was the big house in the country, ... Continue Reading
A Flexible Daily Planner for Homemakers (Homemaker’s Friend Planner Review)
Are you a homemaker in need of a good, flexible planner? Here's my review of the Homemaker's Friend Daily Planner, which I've been using for the past five years! This beautiful 2020 planner will help you organize your home and life-on-the-go.As an old-fashioned kinda girl, it's no surprise that my favourite way to keep track of my schedule is with a physical, pen-and-paper planner. I've been using the Homemaker's Friend daily planner for years and talking about it on this blog, but it's been awhile since I've done a full review of it. Here's an inside look at my favourite planner. This post is, quite naturally, sponsored by Homemaker's ... Continue Reading
My 31 Favourite Movies (more or less)
Need something good and worthwhile to watch for your next movie night at home? This list of movie night suggestions has something for everyone, no matter what genre you love. Make some popcorn, get cozy and enjoy one of these excellent movies on a Saturday night.Those of you who've followed my blog over the years know that I keep a birthday tradition around here. Yes, I love traditions, even in my online home! My birthday tradition is to write a list-style blog post that helps you get to know me better. Last month (I'm a bit late) I turned 31, so that'll be the number that guides this list. These lists are getting longer, aren't they? ... Continue Reading
MightyFix: Small Steps to a Healthier Home
The MightyFix is a monthly subscription service that helps you implement small but mighty changes to make your home healthier and less wasteful. Here's everything you need to know about getting started with the MightyFix, and how it can serve you in your natural living journey! Thank you to MightyNest for sponsoring this post.You've probably heard the advice before that when you want to overhaul an area of your life, baby steps are key. Take small, gradual steps toward your goal so you don't get overwhelmed. That sounds familiar, right?I took that advice to heart when we started our natural living journey nearly a decade ago. Well, ... Continue Reading
10 Unique Board Games for Your Next Cozy Game Night
Plan a cozy family game night as an alternative to movie night! You probably haven't heard of all of these unique board games, but you'll soon be hooked! From tile games to fast-paced card games to cooperative strategy games, there's something here for every gamer. 10 Board Games You Haven't Played Yet I bet you're like me and have oodles of memories of playing board games and card games as a child. Some of those memories are prickly (attitudes and emotions emerge with competition, right?), but likely most of your board game memories are steeped in fun and nostalgia. It's a safe bet that we have these similar memories because back in the ... Continue Reading
20 Ways to Live Simply in Your 20s (The View from 30)
Want to pursue simple living in your 20s? Here are 20 smart ways to live simply and intentionally in your 20s that will set the foundation for the rest of your life.This is what I discovered about simple living in my 20s: Our culture doesn't make it easy to live simply. As emerging adults, we enter a tangled thicket of societal norms, expectations, and pressures. These things don't go away when we leave our 20s, but if we can learn to navigate them then simple living may get easier the older we get.That's my hope at least, now that I'm 30! I want to build on the foundations I've established in the last decade, and pursue simple ... Continue Reading
Top 10 Best and Worst Homes in Fiction
Ever wished these famous fictional houses were real? Check out the top 10 best and worst homes from literature...and maybe get a little inspiration for your own home in the process. (Both what to imitate and what to avoid at all costs!)Long before we have homes of our own, many of us envision what we want our "dream house" to be like. Didn't you? I did.In one early version, my imaginary house had a red slide inside, with a fountain and an always-freshly-mown lawn out front.Nowadays, I'm still into dream homes, but instead of trying to find one I'm trying to create it. You see, you have to work with what you've got, flourishing ... Continue Reading
Recovering the Lost Art of Solitude
In today's world we're too busy and too plugged in to enjoy the art of solitude. We should embrace solitude, but many of us avoid it--wrongly equating solitude with loneliness. Here's how to find more alone time, and why we need to.Do you find joy in solitude?Solitude is when you're alone with yourself, absorbed in your own thoughts and senses. I can see three camps of people when it comes to solitude. One type of person avoids solitude, equating it with loneliness or boredom. Another type finds value in solitude but rarely engages in it, due to a hectic lifestyle. And the third enjoys solitude and seeks it out often and ... Continue Reading
