We might follow drastically different cleaning routines and meal plans, but I think there are a few widely applicable homemaking truths we can all rally around.These are truths that are relevant for homemakers in any season of life, whether you’re just starting out with a place of your own or you’re an empty nester after raising half a dozen kids. Hold on to them and apply them in your daily life. That’s what I’m doing, by God’s grace! They’ll give you focus and purpose and direction–which is something I think we need when we’re caught up in the flurry of everyday life.Read the rest of my post over at Keeper of the Home! ... Continue Reading

I don't loathe cleaning, but sometimes I just don't feel like doing it. Actually, a lot of times.I'd much prefer to bake something or declutter anything.On the other hand, I really love a clean home. While for some people messy means comfortable, for me clean is cozy. Over the last 5+ years of keeping my own home, I've found four things that are particularly effective for motivating me to clean. There's a chance these won't work for your personality type, and at the end of the day you'll be just as unmotivated to scrub your tub. The risk is pretty small, though, and the potential payoff is tidy home you actually enjoyed ... Continue Reading

Last month our little family of three flew from Atlanta to California to visit my husband's family. It was Little Dude's first plane flight, and the first time I've ever not read a book at 30,000 feet.Flying with a toddler (ours was 14 months), is quite challenging, and I'm glad we don't do this often! An infant would be an easier traveling companion--they'd sleep more often and more readily. An older child (might) be more capable of sitting still and understanding why they need to do so. But for a little guy who's just learned to walk and run? It probably feels like torture for him, and I know how it felt for us!Of course, it was all ... Continue Reading

Please welcome Bethany, the author of today's post! Bethany and I "met" online a few months ago and instantly hit it off. We have a lot in common, and I love her blog. Bethany's writing is always smart, sometimes hilarious, and tells a good story. I haven't read her whole archives yet, (as I often like to do when I discover a new favourite blog), but I'm looking forward to doing so, with a good cup of coffee.I know you'll love her post today about transforming any apartment, rental, or temporary living space to feel like a home with personality and style! Guest post by Bethany of Dandelion PieI felt hopeless when we moved into our ... Continue Reading

You can dive into decluttering haphazardly, enjoying temporary satisfaction from your efforts, or you can declutter with a plan, transforming your home into a space that breathes personality and welcome.I've taken both approaches, and it's no surprise I prefer the latter! Systematic decluttering takes longer and requires more work, but it will permanently change the way you view stuff, alter your spending habits, and even make you a better homemaker!These 7 first steps to a clutter-free home will help you lay the groundwork for all the sorting and purging to come. 1. Get motivated It's hard to make any headway with your stuff if ... Continue Reading

Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women over a hundred years ago, but the novel has timeless wisdom for modern-day homemakers! Here are 5 essential homemaking lessons from Little Women.Millions of readers will be eternally grateful that Lousia May Alcott chose to spend one New England spring writing "a story for girls." Little Women was based on her own family, and she churned out the first volume in a matter of weeks, falling into the same writers' vortex that she would send Jo into during the course of the novel.It's surprisingly difficult to put your finger on what makes Little Women so endearing, as I discovered when I re-read ... Continue Reading

If the thought of deep cleaning your entire house sounds daunting to you, then cheat.We all live through seasons of busyness when we need to reevaluate our usual methods in favor of something simpler. Dedicating an entire weekend or more to spring cleaning might not be realistic for you right now. (It certainly wasn't for me, last year, when I was finishing my book and getting ready to birth my son!)If you're too busy to deep clean, skip the traditional top-to-bottom spring cleaning this year and tackle just a few focus areas instead. Over the course of four Saturdays (or whatever weekday you choose), set aside about 2 hours to do one ... Continue Reading