You can practice simple, intentional living anywhere--even in a travel trailer with 9 other people! Read this interview with Christy Bagasao, homeschooling mom of 8, about her simple living journey.With the modern-day tiny house movement, stories of people living out of RVs or other minuscule spaces aren't that rare any more. But imagine you lived in an RV with nine other people, and a cat, year round, full time. This is life for Christy Bagasao of The Travel Bags, and if you ask her, it's a very good life!The Bagasao family sold their home and took their Christian music mission on the road full time in 2012. They've been nomading ... Continue Reading
Afternoon Energy Booster Tea: A Natural Way to Beat the Afternoon Slump
Boost your energy in the afternoon with this natural energy booster tea. Because it is possible to beat the afternoon slump--without resorting to store-bought energy drinks or another cup of coffee!When you get sleepy at 9 pm, you expect it. You've put in a full day of working and homemaking and caring for your people. The only thing left to do is relax and then segue into your evening routine and finally your bed.But when you're already drowsy and it's only 2 pm? That's frustrating! There's still plenty of work waiting to be done...and you probably can't drop it all and zone out with a book for two hours. (Nice as that would ... Continue Reading
A One-Week Fall Meal Plan for People Who Adore Fall Flavours
Savor autumn flavors with this hearty, seasonal fall meal plan! You'll find ideas for easy fall breakfasts, lunches, and suppers--all cooked from scratch with clean ingredients!The weather is changing, and with it, our daily fare.My husband got an extra hug when he brought home a spaghetti squash the other day."They're here!!" I exclaimed, reflecting with absolutely zero regret on how I elated I get with the advent of winter squash. "Oh, the things we'll make!" and my mind danced with visions of butternuts and acorns.I love fall food. It's rich, and comforting, and festive. And, especially in the case of squash, it's gorgeous ... Continue Reading
How to Radically Simplify Your Approach to Healthy Living
Healthy living doesn't have to be complicated. Simplify your approach to health by building a strong foundation you can actually maintain. Here's how.It's unfortunate but true: when we overcomplicate the good things we end up simply not doing them.That happened to me recently with healthy living. I knew I wanted to prioritize my family's health more and make some improvements, but I stalled out with too many irons in the fire. I realised that I need to get back to the basics first; make sure my foundation is solid and simple before building on it.So what's my foundation for healthy living? For us, and probably for many, our ... Continue Reading
29 Habits, Recipes, and Things That Simplify My Life
It's that time of year again: birthday time.Actually, since I have been on birthday time I'm a little late in posting this! I began the 29th year of my life on September 1st. Only 12 months until 30. Can you imagine/remember? Sometimes I can hardly believe I'm not 15 any more--I just blinked and here I am with a husband and a little boy full of joy and a prowling cat.What pretty much sums up how I feel about life right now is this quote from my beloved Anne of Green Gables: “'Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.'”Life is fast, but it's beautiful.As is my custom, I'm sharing ... Continue Reading
How to Use Your Influence to Help Your Family Flourish
Want to have a thriving family? Here's how you can use your influence as a homemaker to help your family flourish and live intentionally.Intentional living should begin within us, and then it should keep on going.We can make a million choices to live more intentionally, but if they're all aimed solely at making our own lives more beautiful then we're actually missing the beauty of intentional living, aren't we? Live intentionally not just to flourish yourself, but to help others flourish, too.Start with your own family.As homemakers, we have tremendous power over both the atmosphere in our home and over the people who live ... Continue Reading
20 Ways to Use a Silicone Stasher Bag
I finally found a good alternative for plastic storage bags! Here's my review of Stasher's silicone storage bags, plus 20 different ways to use them. This post is sponsored by MightyNest. I love recommending them!A new tool has found a spot in my kitchen, and it's one I've been looking for ever since I began managing my own home.I dove into natural living shortly before I got married six years ago. Reducing waste and finding reusable household goods was one of my first pursuits. We bought glass drinking straws and replaced most of our paper towels with microfiber cloths and Swedish dishcloths. We used cloth napkins, glass water ... Continue Reading
5 Important Things You Can Do to Feel Less Stressed and Overwhelmed All the Time
Do you feel stressed and worn thin all the time? Here are 5 effective ways to say "goodbye" to the hamster wheel and become a calm, joyful person again.Imagine you could look at your to-do list without your blood pressure rising.Imagine you could take breaks for family time without feeling like you were neglecting something urgent.Imagine you could handle interruptions in your day with grace instead of panic and grouchiness.Imagine you could look forward to the calendar season ahead and not feel suffocated by your schedule.Doesn't that sound amazing?Most of us are so used to feeling stressed, worn thin, and ... Continue Reading
A Simple Guide to Using Essential Oils in Your Beauty Routine
Essential oils aren't just for home remedies or cleaning. Did you know that you can incorporate essential oils into your beauty routine--with great results? Here's how to get started.This post is sponsored by Oils by Katelyn. Katelyn is a wonderful resource if you want to learn more about using essential oils to improve your health!Smart women know that what you put on your skin doesn't necessarily stay there. It's true that your skin acts as a protective barrier from your environment, but it's also extremely porous. Chemicals in your body products can enter your blood stream, tissues, and organs via absorption through the skin, ... Continue Reading
5 Old-Fashioned Ways to Nourish and Moisturize Your Skin
Old-fashioned skincare never goes out of style! Here are 5 natural ways to nourish and moisturize your skin that are a throwback to simpler times. This blog post was sponsored by Wilder Supply Co. All opinions are genuine and are enthusiastically my own.Do you want to be like the average American woman and spend over $200,000 on skincare over the course of your life? Or would you like to opt for a simpler, more frugal route?I vote the latter.In a society with a dizzying array of skincare options, I'm glad that we always have the option to choose simplicity. Women have been showing their beautiful faces for thousands of ... Continue Reading
