Every year I write a contemplative "birthday post" with either some personal reflections, or some fun points of interest for my readers to get to know me better. What follows is this year's offering--some deep thoughts for the decade (or so) ahead.Ah, birthdays. How nice to have them every year!I've never understood why adults grown and grimace and try to hide their age or the fact that it's their birthday. Why wouldn't you want people to make a fuss over you on your birthday? Why wouldn't you want to celebrate another year of life?Last week I turned 32.It's not a milestone year or anything, but I did spend some time ... Continue Reading
What Simple Living Looks Like When You Have Three Kids
Here's what real-life simple living looks like, when you're a busy parent smack dab in the middle of raising young kids. It's about little habits and shifts in perspective that add up to something big.Is simple living unattainable when you're in the throws of parenting young children?Sometimes it feels like it, when you have to choose between housework and spending time with your kids.Or when you re-heat your coffee for the fourth time because so many little emergencies bubbled up over the course of the morning.Or when the donation bag is overflowing, because while you might snatch some time to declutter upon occasion, it's a ... Continue Reading
Recovering the Lost Art of Writing Letters
Time to stop letting junk mail and bills monopolize our mailboxes! Let's bring back the lost art of letter writing, one lovely piece of snail mail at a time.I remember watching a documentary on the Civil War that showed pictures of letters written during the period, and it struck me how distinguished and elegant the handwriting looked in those letters. Fine handwriting has been a lost art for some time, and nowadays letter writing itself is a fading practice!Handwriting and handwritten letters go, you know, hand-in-hand; the decline of one leads to the atrophy of the other. And the reasons why we write less often are readily ... Continue Reading
Essential Reading for Homemakers: 10 Books to Cultivate a Beautiful, Simple, and Purposeful Home
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
