It is officially springtime here in the midwest. I’m honestly freaking out (in a good way) because I am giddy over the beauty of tulips, daffodils & spring-flowering trees, but also freaking out (in a bad way) because I see weeds and dandelions in my yard already!

I have been so focused on learning new routines for keeping the inside of my home clean that I have ignored the outside and honestly just want to keep ignoring it!

Last week I made some homemade cleaners that I can’t wait to share with you. They are in glass spray bottles and stored in a caddy that is so cute I don’t want to put it away! I have kept it out on my counter and have been using the cleaners like crazy! They smell amazing thanks to these essential oils, and their cleaning power has blown me away. I will be sharing soon so make sure you are subscribed to have my posts come right your inbox so that you don’t miss a thing!

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

Do a Pin — Blended Blonde Balayage Highlights (going to do this for my daughter)

Reading Progress — Anti-Cancer: A New Way Of Life; Katharina & Martin Luther; Nothing To Prove; One

Daily Personal Health Goals

Spiritual — journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body — walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients — water (80 oz a day); leafy greens & berries, vitamins, powdered greens

 Everyday Home Goals

Make Bed

Wipe Surfaces (bathroom sinks/counters, kitchen counters, tables)

Clutter (quick pick up and a few minutes wherever it is accumulating)

One Full Load (dishwasher & laundry–don’t stop until dishes and clothes are put away!)

Floors (quick sweep, vacuum & spot clean — if needed)

A Chore A Day Goals

M – Bathrooms |  T – Dusting | W – Vacuuming | Th – Floors | F – You choose! | Sa – towels & sheets | Su – none

{Homekeeping Goals Inspired by Clean Mama’s Simply Clean Book}

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Latest Obsessions

{some are affiliate links}

Trader Joes Jelly Beans, Walmart Polka Dot Mug, Fairy Lights

So many of my obsessions in one photo! The main obsession this week was Trader Joes Jelly Beans. I love that there are no artificial colors or flavors. They have added some fun color to my table platter and great delight in my girl’s easter baskets.

Here are the details on the rest of the platter: Fairy lights stuck in a jar are so very pretty, both day and especially at night. The gold polka dot mug is from Walmart. The flowers and dried flat-leafed eucalyptus are both from Trader Joes. Last but not least, the gold straw himmelis are homemade by me! They are made out of wire, plastic straws, and gold spray paint. For DIY Himmeli instructions, see this post.

Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm – Rose

This Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose is the perfect spring/summer shade. It adds just a bit of rose color tint but goes on so easy as a moisturizing lip balm. I love that I don’t need a mirror to apply this, just swipe on and go! It smells good, adds moisture and just the right amount of tint. Love!

Ongoing Obsessions

Simply Clean Book

I’ve been so inspired by the book  Simply Clean by Becky Rapinchuk. Becky is the founder of Clean Mama and knows what she is doing when it comes to cleaning!

I have been using her routines when it comes to keeping my home clean, and I’m blown away at how well they work with minimal effort! I have the daily and weekly routines (listed above) down and I’m about to implement her 28 Day Simply Clean Challenge as my Spring Cleaning this season. Get the book and do it with me?

Kindle Fire

I am on the last and final season of Downton Abbey. I know, I know, I am a bit behind the times. I watch it on my Kindle Fire, in the evenings tucked in bed. It’s like my own perfect sized, personal television. Before I indulge, I make sure I read at least a chapter or two of whatever book is on my Kindle. I love using the same device to both read and watch.

Essential Oil Diffuser

Still using it daily and love it! The Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser by AromaSoft is amazing for getting the scent out into larger rooms. It is priced very reasonably and works so well! After buying 4 other diffusers, I did some research, read a ton of reviews, and bought this one. I’m so happy I did!

Recipes I’m Making This Week

{Watch my Instagram Stories for a glimpse of the making of these recipes. I often capture my cooking process!}

Company Pasta

Crab Cakes with Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce (using Trader Joes Fresh/Frozen Crab for this recipe!)

Roasted Cauliflower (side)

Crepes

Blueberry Compote

30 Minute Sloppy Joes

Instant Pot Weekly Staples

Crockpot Bone Broth (made it in Instant Pot this time)

Instant Pot Yogurt  | Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats | Instant Pot Quinoa | Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs |

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you wanting to get done this week?

What recipes are you planning on making?

Are you on Pinterest? Share a favorite pin you want to accomplish.

Weekly Update

My 3 teen girls had spring break this past week, and boy was it a doozy of a week! I loved every minute of it, but must say I am liking the feeling of getting back into a routine this morning.

We did not travel for spring break, but kept plenty busy with friends, family, shopping, eating out and hanging out.

Highlights of my week were shopping at our local outlet mall for spring clothes with cousins, eating out at AmuManu Ramen Bar as a family, enjoying our first 80-degree day of the year, seeing photos of my oldest kayaking with her boyfriend, & taking a walk with a hurting friend.

These are just a few of the life moments that happened this week that I hold close to my heart.

My home fell apart and became a mess as we were on the go so much. I tried not to sweat it. I spent a good few hours yesterday rescuing our kitchen, doing a few loads of laundry, and getting things back in their place. It felt so good!

The home zone this week is the Master Bedroom. I’m eager to reach the goals listed below and keep the home rescuing going!

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Rescue My Home — dust, sweep, vacuum, mop, bathrooms in one hour

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

3 Must-Do — fix vacuum, cull clothes in master closet, cull clothes in dresser drawers

Do a Pin —Quinoa Budda Bowl

Reading —   Anti-Cancer: A New Way Of Life ; Katharina & Martin Luther ; Nothing To Prove

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Weekly Home Zones Goals

Zone — Master Bedroom & Master Closet

Master Bedroom Cleaning:

dust/polish furniture ___ clean cobwebs ___ clean off dressers/desk/vanity ___ wash bedding/mattress pad ___ flip mattress ___ wash widows ___ straighten drawers ___ straighten book basket/shelf ___ wash wood floors ___ dust fan ___

Master Bedroom Closet:

straighten shelves ___ arrange shoes ___ hang up all clothes ___ straighten all items on hooks ___ dust shoe shelves ___

Daily To-Do

Spiritual — journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body — walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients — water (80 oz a day); leafy greens & berries, vitamins, powdered greens

One Full Load — dishwasher & laundry

Latest Obsessions

Essential Oil Diffuser

The Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser by AromaSoft is amazing for getting the scent out into larger rooms. It is priced so reasonably and works so well! After buying 4 other diffusers, I did research, read a ton of reviews, bought this one, and I’m so happy I did!

Trader Joes Coffee Glazed Cashews

I apologize if you do not live close to a Trader Joes! I cannot get enough of their new Coffee Glazed Cashews. They are so delicious, a bit of salty sweet with a nice ground coffee glaze.

I love a handful for an afternoon snack or sprinkled on my morning steel-cut oats.  I love these so much that I may just try to create my own recipe version…I feel a blog post coming on!

Contigo Fit Waterbottle

I wanted to do a better job of tracking my water intake each day. I’ve set a goal of 80 oz/day. To drink this much water, I needed a water bottle that I could take with me and that would keep my water cold all day. I wanted it to be leak-proof, bpa free, have a handle, and fit in my car holder. The

I wanted it to be leak-proof, bpa free, have a handle, and fit in my car holder. The Contigo Fit Waterbottle is all these things and I just love it! I fill it with ice in the morning, and refill it with water 3-4 times a day which equals 60-80 oz. The last 20 oz of my goal is usually met with hot tea.

Recipes I’m Making Week

Crockpot Bone Broth –every week (made it in Instant Pot this time)

Instant Pot Yogurt –every week

Annette’s Chicken Enchiladas

Quinoa Budda Bowl

Corned Beef Hash

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

{Watch my Instagram Stories for a glimpse of the making of these recipes. I often capture my cooking process!}

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you wanting to get done this week?

What recipes are you planning on making?

Are you on Pinterest? Share a favorite pin you want to accomplish.

Weekly Update

I had a quieter week last week. I didn’t have much on the calendar during the week and was fighting a sinus infection, so I kept my calendar empty and slowed way down. I was able to get a ton of administrative type work done for New Nostalgia, did some reading, and watched season 4 of Downton Abbey. Yeah, I’m a bit late in the game with that show, but boy do I love it!

Another thing I’m late in the game for are essential oils, but I now get what all the hype is about and will start sharing more about them here on the blog. I finally found a diffuser that I love, (after trying out 4 others!) and I especially loved using it while I had sinus symptoms and was stuffy. I am trying out Eden’s Garden Essential Oils and fell hard for their Breathe Easier Blend. I purchased it a few weeks ago and had not used it, thinking I would save it for when germs hit our home. Now that I know what the scent is like diffused, it is one of my favorites and I LOVE using it first in the morning, even with no cold symptoms. It is super refreshing and uplifting, with peppermint, lemon, rosemary, & eucalyptus. It smells heavenly!

Weekly Obsession

Essential Oil Diffuser

The Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser by AromaSoft is amazing for getting the scent out into larger rooms. It is priced so reasonably and works so well! After buying 4 other diffusers, I did research, read a ton of reviews, bought this one, and I’m so happy I did!

Zarbees Elderberry Gummies

I am a huge fan of elderberry when I am sick. I have used elderberry syrup in the past, but decided to try Zarbees Elderberry Gummies instead. I was able to overcome a sinus infection in 5 days, which is pretty amazing as there are many in our community talking about this awful sinus infection that comes back a week or so after a cold and stays for weeks. In the 5 days I had it, the symptoms never engulfed me, and I think essential oils and elderberry had much to do with that.

Continue Reading…

Weekly Update

It is Monday and all 3 of my girls are home from school for President’s Day. I woke up early to get a head start on this blog and my ever-growing inbox, so that I can be available for my girls.

It is a good thing I did! Teen girls are quite independent, but they still need their Momma and keep me plenty busy.

My youngest needs a ride later this afternoon to join her cousin for a couple of fun hours at a local craft studio. My middle girl woke up with a sore throat and asked if I would make her a soothing smoothie. then reminded me that we need to practice driving and pick up a job application today. My oldest just sent me a text that said, “Prom dress shopping?” a request I was not able to say ‘yes’ to yesterday, so I’d really like to say it today!

I am working hard at saying ‘yes’ more than ‘no.’ I know these days are so fleeting and before I know it they will be up and out of the nest, and I will be hoping for my phone to buzz with a shopping request. I wanted to get to the gym, grab a shower, work on a few piles of clutter, and buy some groceries. These are all good things, but they will be pushed aside today to spend time with my girls.

So often, decisions on how we spend our time is choosing between good, better and best. Oftentimes our good is set aside for another’s best. Today, my yes is to my girls, who are home in front of me, wanting to spend time with me. Today, this is the best ‘yes.’

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Rescue My Home — dust, sweep, vacuum, mop, bathrooms

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

Do a Pin — Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

Daily To-Do

Spiritual –journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body–walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients –water (goal is a gallon a day); leafy greens & berries, vitamins, powdered greens

One Full Load — dishwasher & laundry

Cleaning, Clutter & Computer Zones — {bathroom + extra room}, {bins away}, & {tasks in gmail}

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Specific Goals

Continue reading: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality & Anti-Cancer: A New Way Of Life

Finish reading: Take Me With You

Start reading:Katharina & Martin Luther

Focus in on new content for New Nostalgia

All bins loaded and put in storage

Fix vacuum

Recipes I’m Making Week

“Best Recipe I Ever Messed Up” Bars

Popcorn Chicken

Instant Pot Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Crockpot Bone Broth –every week (made it in Instant Pot this time..post coming soon!)

Instant Pot Yogurt –every week

Spaghetti with Grass Fed Beef

Butter Chicken

Cincinnati Style Chili

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

………………..

Watch my Instagram Stories for a glimpse of the making of these recipes. I often capture my cooking process!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you wanting to get done this week?

What recipes are you planning on making?

Are you on Pinterest? Share a favorite pin you want to accomplish.

Weekly Update

I am up to my elbows in all things crafty! IF: Gathering (a women’s conference) is this week and I am doing the decorations on a small budget, so that means getting crafty. It is amazing how one can find inexpensive things (like coffee filters, straws, Popsicle sticks, hula hoops, wine bottles, tiles, & paper grocery sacks) and make beauty out of them! All of the linked ideas have come from Pinterest or YouTube. What did we do before Pinterest?

I have had to let things go around the house as I am so focused on IF right now, so next week will be catch up week! We have a bigger space to decorate this year and room for more women, so decorating feels bigger this year. I love every minute of it, and I’m trying to let go of wanting my home to be in order at the same time.

It is so easy to think one can add a project or commitment and still expect other aspects of life to keep running smoothly, but oftentimes that is not reality. It is ideal in a balanced life, but life has a way of keeping us off-balance at times, even when trying to embrace slow living. Sometimes living fully means letting go of slow, and in those moments I work extra hard in keeping my mind slow & steady, focusing in on what matters, even if life is crazy busy for a period of time.

Want to know more about IF: Gathering? I wrote a post about it here. Gatherings are happening all over the US and Internationally, so if you are interested make sure to check and see if there is one by you!

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Rescue My Home — dust, sweep, vacuum, mop, bathrooms

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

Do a Pin — Paper Flowers — Making these for IF: Gathering decor!

Daily To-Do

Spiritual –journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body–walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients –leafy greens & berries, vitamins, water, powdered greens

One Full Load — dishwasher & laundry

Cleaning, Clutter & Computer Zones — {living room}, {IF:Decor}, & {tasks in gmail}

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Specific Goals

Continue reading: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Finish reading: Take Me With You

Start reading:Katharina & Martin Luther

Finish making all  IF: Local Gathering decor

Decorate for IF:Local

Recipes I’m Making Week

“Best Recipe I Ever Messed Up” Bars

Spinach Salad topped with Chicken Strips

Instant Pot Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Beef Tacos

Crockpot Bone Broth –every week (made it in Instant Pot this time..post coming soon!)

Instant Pot Yogurt –every week

Spaghetti with Grass Fed Beef

Green Smoothie For Kids (and adults)

………………..

Watch my Instagram Stories for a glimpse of the making of these recipes. I often capture my cooking process!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you wanting to get done this week?

What recipes are you planning on making?

Are you on Pinterest? Share a favorite pin you want to accomplish.