Try this Easy Cat Toy Hack for a Clutter-Free Home
Our cat Ulysses is going on 12 years old. He’s precisely as old as our relationship! He was an indoor cat, and then an indoor-outdoor … Read more
How we Save Money by Acting like Children
Friends and family often ask us how we can afford to travel so much. I usually give them the simple explanation that, in most regards, I’m cheap! I scrimp on many things in order to have money for adventures.
There’s more to it than that, though.
Our Kitchen Hub
The kitchen is the hub. The one place in the home everyone can come together and be – for the most part – in the moment. From the ancient dirt-floored and open fire pit kitchens of old to the stainless steel and subway tile backsplash-adorned kitchens of today, everyone is drawn to this hallowed space. And for good reason.
How I Do It All
Of all the questions that readers email in, this is the one that gets me rambling every single time. “How do you do it all?” … Read more
The Perfect Spring Shoes for Every Age
I’ve admitted to you all in the past that I’m a bit of a perfectionist. That tendency spills over into a LOT of aspects of my life and I actually make a conscious effort to limit my expectations around the cadence of day-to-day life with four small children. When it comes to shopping and products, though, I maintain my dang-near-impossible-to-please attitude. I have certain standards and I’m always on the hunt for the best.
Athleisure, At your Leisure
Athleisure is all the rage right now. Anytime I hear someone mention athleisure, I think of that line at the end of Pride & Prejudice. Mr. Bennett gets good news and urges his wife, “For heaven’s sake, send them in. I’m quite at my leisure.” It’s one of those scenes I could watch ten thousand times because it never fails to make me smile. The twinkle in his eye, that feeling of belonging and peace. That’s what leisure really is, isn’t it?
6 Gift Ideas for Practical Moms
My close friends and family will tell you that I am a huge pain in the butt to shop for because I’m kind of a minimalist. I like stuff, don’t get me wrong, but a gift has to meet a certain set of criteria in order for me to really put it to use in my life. I need items that are quality and that serve a purpose. With four kids, our home is simply too busy for stuff that breaks or adds clutter!
A Do-It-Yourself Country Spa
I was given two options. Basil…or lavender.
The kids were off with Oma and Opa and Chelsea and I were determined to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing. Literally, the only item on her usually-endless list of things to accomplish were the words, “take a bath.”
Spring Fashion Fling: California Casual
Every spring, we do a photoshoot of the boys together. We take individual shots throughout the year, of course, but it’s kind of unusual for us … Read more
Putting the “Personal” back in PC
Every Mother’s Day, I get myself something to help increase productivity in our home. An over-the-top vacuum, a speedy hair dryer, an Instant Pot. I have friends who view this as a sacrifice but for me, this is like buying leisure time! If I can use technology to do more of the menial day-to-day tasks, I’m freeing myself up for a manicure or a massage or time spent eating delicious bon bons on my couch. It’s my time, you guys, I do what I want!