Hi there! Just popping in with a book list in case you’ve set some reading goals and need a little inspiration. Here are my favorite books from 2018. Nonfiction My Squirrel Days, Ellie Kemper Fun, light-hearted, told in short vignettes so it’s easy to read if you only have snippets of time here and there… Read More My Best Books of 2018
Loved My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper I love The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, so it’s no surprise that I love Ellie Kemper, too. This was a quick, light-hearted memoir that made me laugh out loud at least once every few pages. I found the first half of the book funnier than the second, but that… Read More Reading Lately
My dear friend who is a retired priest once told me that she most often observes people make major changes to their health and lifestyle only after they’ve hit what she calls a turning point. Losing a few pounds, trying a new form of exercise, eating less meat–all of these are well and good, but… Read More Balance
I realized the other day that it’s been 10 years since I started taking a hard look at home, health, and beauty products and their ingredients. It’s definitely one of those “such an ongoing journey” things, and I know I’m in pretty deeply because I am making my own products these days. Not all… Read More A few favorite DIY natural products
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know that I love books and try to read as much as possible. I also love talking about certain types of books with other people, especially books about faith and spiritual growth, and now that EfM is over, I don’t get to do that… Read More How to start a laid-back book club
Allow me to tell you about the most life-giving afternoon I’ve had in a long, long time. In middle school, my two closest friends and I were inseparable. We had several classes together and were on the cheerleading team together, and I simply adored them. I doubt any of us realized at the time how… Read More The other’s gold
It’s been a while since I’ve posted about second-hand shopping, so I thought I’d share a bit about my methods. Enjoy! Keep a list on your phone You’ll be surprised what you can find that is very specific to what you want. I didn’t learn this trick until recently, and I’m continually amazed at how… Read More Tips based on how I thrift
We are well into the summer over here—not that summer really feels as much like SUMMER as when there are school-aged kids in the house, but you know what I mean—and we’ve got a pretty good daily routine in place. I love routines. Love, love, love them. When I was teaching, my classes always followed… Read More Daily Routines
I’ve been wanting to keep track of craft projects: completed, in progress, and the ones for which I have the supplies but have not yet started. Enter my favorite store, aka Dollar Tree. How cute is this? It’s basically a cheap version of the blank Moleskine journal with kraft paper cover AND the added fun… Read More Quick and easy craft journal
Despite torrential rains and a winter that couldn’t make up its mind, the victory garden is going strong here, folks. First up, mums that keep coming back but only in one of the two matching planters. Naturally. I’m attempting to grow a mix of zinnias and various wildflowers in the side flower bed, where Carlos… Read More Current state of the victory garden