Peaceful and Centered I love my morning routine. I relish the stillness of a sleeping house, alone, with a very hot cup of coffee. This week, I get to wake up to this view. We're spending time with our dear friends to ski, hike, play cards, and recharge. Plus, a little work for each of us. I love watching the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is nothing like it. This morning, the mountain range was blanketed by pink and orange. Then, this sliver of red. The sharp line grew as the sun broke through the horizon. I watched the moment when the day began, and I soaked it in. What if my days always began this way? Perhaps not in the mountains, but what if I took the time for a peaceful and centered start? The house was still quiet so I stretched out on the floor for some yoga as sunlight poured in the large windows. My journal called me to write a few notes and reminders about the day, but then I sat still in the silence with my eyes closed. Just breathe. We …
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How to Organize Family Board Games
Board Games and Playing Cards We routinely hold a family game night. Our favorite board games come in the smallest boxes or no box at all. We travel with three decks of cards (Monopoly Deal, standard playing cards, and a Pinochle deck.) While the Fish Bowl Game requires only a pen and paper. And after many years, these games remain our favorites. To keep it organized, I designated a small cabinet for our collection. Games cycle in and out. The key to organizing board games is setting boundaries and being realistic about which games are played. How to Organize Board Games Collect all the games and cards Designate a cabinet or shelf to store them Check each box for missing pieces and instructions Fix or reinforce boxes with tape. Secure with rubber bands Donate games your family has outgrown Throw away damaged or incomplete games Confirm playing cards are complete decks Keep 1-2 high-quality decks of cards Limit your collection to what you use …
How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa and Marshmallows
Are you looking for a snow day activity? My dear friend Danielle shared this recipe with me years ago. And it's now part of our New Year's gifts. My husband and I create gift bags for the neighbors including hot cocoa, taco seasoning, homemade vanilla extract, brownie mix, and sugar bath scrub. But everyone notices if their hot cocoa does not include Homemade Marshmallows. Yes...you can make homemade marshmallows and it's kinda fun. I customize each gift bag to the recipient and don't always make everything. That defeats the purpose of a simple, homemade gift. Just think of the list as options to consider. You can google recipes for all of them. But first the cocoa, it's easy. Hot Cocoa Just 4 ingredients, mix in a bowl, done! 2 C Dry Milk 2/3 C Sugar 2/3 C Cocoa 2 tsp Cinnamon Fill any sized Mason Jar or container of your choice with cocoa. You can make as many or as few gifts as you’d like by portioning the mix. Print this cute tag and attach …
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Why New Isn’t Always Better
A few years ago, I was VERY frustrated. Putting away laundry and cleaning our bedroom should have been a simple task. After all, there's no extra clutter to clear because we maintain a peaceful place for rest. We understand how excess stuff disrupts our sleep. But what is usually a 30-minute job, was not! To make matters worse, the dark clouds and rain made it difficult to get motivated. The Problem Our beautiful new ceiling fan light would not turn on. Did I mention it was rainy and dark so I kinda need the light? I know....change the lightbulb. Good thought. That wasn't the problem. Instead, it required a specialized battery for the remote which controls the fan and light. Of course, I did not have one on hand. It would be difficult to find. And I would need to order it. I thought to myself, "here I struggle to do a basic household chore because of a battery." Without adequate light, the task takes longer. And yet, we have a new ceiling fan and …
Have You Ever Wanted To Skip Christmas?
A few years ago, I watched a movie based on John Grisham's, Skipping Christmas. In Christmas with the Kranks, Tim Allen proposes that he and his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) take the $6,100 they normally spend on Christmas and go on a Caribbean cruise. He arrives home with the flyer, ready to buy the tickets. Since their only daughter won't be home, he makes a strong case to skip all the work and expense of a traditional holiday. Wouldn’t a real vacation be better? Imagine lounging in the sun, umbrella drink in-hand! Sign me up! Is Skipping Christmas possible? But it made me think? Is Skipping Christmas really possible? Maybe. I already skip parts of Christmas, like obligatory events and tasks. But I kept the parties and experiences. Do you see the difference? When my to-do list held only chores and errands, I found myself rushing to just get it done! Now, my list is filled with holiday experiences. Here’s how it changed over the years. …
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How To Set Up Your Fall Capsule Wardrobe
"In-between seasons" make it difficult to figure out what to wear. A capsule wardrobe can help. For many people, finding a suitable outfit involves searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing. Feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Learn 5 Habits of Clutter-Free Families Perhaps you are experiencing this right now? I do not have this issue. My wardrobe lives in one closet. But that wasn't always the case. For most of my adult life, I spent two weekends a year swapping seasonal clothes into my main closet. As a part of my minimalist journey, I eliminated the swap and reclaimed precious time and space. Now, all my clothing lives in just one closet. Yes, even coats. Experiment with Less Along the way, I experimented with less clothing. I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week; (inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7) I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and was always in clean clothes. …
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