Vanessa

An Intentional Summer

A Simpler Childhood, A Simpler Motherhood

We’ve all heard this before. 18 Summers. We get 18 poolside, popsicle eating, sunshiny summers with our babes. 18 summers of library trips, baseball games, staying up late to catch fireflies, pink cheeks, and fireworks in an inky sky. While you and I know 18 Summers is the reality, many times it’s hard to live there. It’s hard to live there (even when we have prepped for it) when we are fixing snacks for what feels like the 100th time in a day or saying no to screen time or listening to siblings quarrel. I know because I have lost sight of 18 Summers already this summer and we aren’t even a month in. But, perspectives can always be shifted and today I’m sharing my hope for An Intentional Summer.

An Intentional Summer

Intentionality helps us live the life we want and be the people we want to be. Being intentional with how we spend our resources, what we focus on, and how we love people matters. Annie Dillard said it best: How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.

This summer let’s be intentional with our greatest resource: our time. Our hours and days are numbered with each of our kiddos.

Let’s start with a powerful exercise. List each of your kids on a sheet of paper or in your notes app and next to their name write how many summers you have with them before they leave the nest. You can see mine below.

Luke – 10

Lily – 12

Jude – 14

Jack – 17

My heart could barely handle this. I only have 10 summers left with all my babies at home. Jesus be near.

Now that we have some perspective, let’s take some time and think through what is important and how we can sharpen our focus on that this summer.

Word of the Summer

I’m sure you have heard many people talk about their word for the year. At the start of a new year, many people choose a word instead of setting goals. Grace or Love or Intentional or Hustle or Give. I want to take that same idea and implement it into setting the intent for this summer.

Think and pray through what you want this summer to look and feel like with your kids. Choose a word that reflects those things. Maybe it’s Savor because you have babies in your arms and you want to savor this incredibly hard and beautiful summer with your littles. Maybe it’s Connect because you have more time with your kids in the summer and want to connect with them. Or maybe it’s Prepare because your kids are getting more independent by the minute and you need to prepare them and you for more independence.

Take some time and choose a Word of the Summer.

My Word

The word I have chosen for this summer is Align. Align means to support and come together in agreement. This past spring was fuller then normal for our family. And when things get busy, some things fall away and get out of alignment out of necessity. I want to make time to Align with both my kids and my husband this summer. Align our values, goals, parenting style, rhythms, and family time.

What does it mean?

Now that we have chosen a word of the summer, it’s time to determine what it means. I’m a list kind of a girl, so let’s make a list of some practical things we can do to make that word a priority this summer. For example, if your word is Connect your list could look something like:

Spend 10 minutes of one on one time with each kid everyday

Take each child on a date 2 times this summer

Find out what interests each child and do it with them

Make a list of practical ways you can implement your word this summer.

What does it mean for me?

I’ve come up with 3 practical ways I want to Align with my family this summer.

Discuss parenting wins and learnings during Kevin and I’s weekly Sunday meeting.

Continue and increase our read aloud time through the summer to foster more common experiences.

Make a ‘bucket list’ of items my kids want to do together this summer.

An Intentional Summer

I wish I could tell you this was the magic bullet to an epic, quarrel free, magical, intentional summer. That, my friend, would be a false promise. However, whenever we think through and are intentional with pieces of our lives, our lives are filled with more of what we want and less of what we don’t. We are living the life we actually want instead of one that’s being thrown at us day after day.

My hope is taking 15-20 minutes to think and pray through the kind of summer we want will pay dividends the next several months. I will keep you updated as our family moves through our own intentional summer.

Vanessa

What I’m Loving in May

A Simpler Motherhood

There is no way around it: May is full of possibility. It’s new life and colorful blooms and the anticipation of a summer of adventure. Here is What I’m Loving in May.

What I’m Loving in May

Time with My Girl

This has to be first on my list. Many of you know my daughter and I tagged along on one of my husband’s work trips this month. It couldn’t have been lovelier. The one on one time with Lily was precious and I am so glad we had the opportunity to do it. The highlights were mango strawberry lemonades by the pool and people watching. One day at the pool Lily said: ‘Watching people having fun makes me happy, Momma.’ A girl after my own heart. I will forever treasure that time with my girl.

The Chickens’ New Home

Praise Jesus the chickens are outside in their permanent home. While the kids loved having the brooder inside, I did not. They are currently clucking away in their coop and run and happy as can be. The chickens are much cuter outside. Now to wait for eggs.

The Beginning of Summer

We wrapped up our homeschool year this month and I am savoring the beginning of summer. The freedom, the playdates, the garden, the sunshine, the bike rides. Give me all of it. We are slowly getting into a summer rhythm and I’m excited about all the adventures we will have together these next several weeks.

Tanks in My Colors

This month I picked up a few new tanks from Target in my ‘colors’ and I have been wearing them on repeat. Last spring I had a color analysis done and I’m a ‘fall’. Target had a few summery tanks in burnt brown and gray. If you haven’t had your colors done and are local, I highly recommend checking out Seasons of Colors Omaha. My friend, Amanda, will change your world in the best way and give you such confidence on what you put on your body.

Easy Breezy Meals

While May has been lovely, it has also been full. Soccer and programs and celebrations. With each season comes a slightly different way I meal plan. This month requires flexibility and simplicity. We have done a lot of crock pot meals and snack trays. I have a feeling this type of meal plan will roll with us right into summer.

In the past I have fought hard to keep our ‘school year’ dinner rhythm, but this summer I want to bend with what our family needs. We want to be soaking up the sunshine and fun and dinner will look a bit different because life just looks different in the summer. Brats and veggies on the grill, snack trays, or heading to our favorite local spot after a family bike ride is what most of our summer dinners will consist of. And I’m a-okay with that.

There is so much to love about this month. What are you loving in May?

Vanessa

Prep for Summer

A Simpler Childhood, A Simpler Motherhood

We are in the thick of May. It’s hard to look past tomorrow, let alone the next few months. However, summer will be here before we can say popsicle and doing a little mental prep now will help us be ready for those sweet summer days. Here are a few things we can do to Prep for Summer.

Prep for Summer

The Perfect Day

We are imperfect people living with other imperfect people. The Perfect Day might seen unattainable (and probably is). However, there are some pretty dang good days. You know the ones. The days you plop in bed with an exhausted body and a full heart.

I think it’s valuable to think through how we want a typical, ‘perfect’ summer day to look. As moms, we get to determine the rhythm and flow of our days. While summer’s rhythms and routines are looser and different than other times of year, it can be helpful to determine and sketch our perfect day. If we are intentional, we can make these summer days what our families need and want. In fact, summer is the perfect time to create lovely days and long lasting memories with our kids.

So what does your perfect day look like? Slow mornings, pool afternoons? Playdates with friends certain days of the week? Library time? Screen time boundaries? Chores completed? No one asking what’s for dinner?

You may roll your eyes, but grab an old fashioned pad of paper and pen and write down what you want a typical day to look like. I did this recently and here’s what I came up with:

Our Perfect Day

Kevin serves Breakfast

Essentials Checklist: Chores, 15 Minutes of reading, 2 pages of math

Outside playtime/Playdates/Errands/Crafts/Library

Picnic Lunch (no kitchen clean up, please and thank you)

Reading Lessons & Screen Time

Quiet Time & Quarry (our swimming hole)

Dinner Prep

Our days won’t always look like this, but I will do my best to make sure many do.

Screen Time Boundaries

Before summer gets here, I think it’s worthwhile to have screen time boundaries in place. If your kids are anything like my kids, when normal rhythms go out the window, they can sometimes lean towards asking for screen time. And if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to be asked 20 times in an hour when they can use technology.

Let’s put some screen time boundaries in place. For our family, that looks like screen time after lunch and reading lessons each day. It also looks like them asking before they can look up something or play music on their iPad, which my nine year old has been really into lately. I’m also working on putting their iPads in an inconvenient place for them, so it’s not as easily accessible.

The first week of summer break is a good time to introduce or review screen time boundaries. Let’s be proactive with this. Screen time is a part of our kids’ lives and having boundaries in place will save our sanity and their brains.

Snacks

Feeding kids takes up half the summer. Amen. Deciding how we want to tackle snacks now limits moments of frustration later. Will kids be able to get snacks whenever they like? Will there be a special snack cabinet? Are snacks limited? I’m not sure why we need to think so much about this, but we just do. If you’ve been a mom in the summer, you know it’s true.

For our family, we don’t do many snacks, unless we are out and about. I will keep our snack cabinet stocked so we can grab what we need on our way out the door to playdates, the park, the quarry, or zoo. Knowing how I want snacks to be handled during the day and my kids understanding the expectations makes our days run smoother.

Speaking of snacks, let’s stock up on those items now so we won’t be in a bind when we are heading off to the zoo with friends. You know they won’t go to waste.

Gather Supplies

Summer requires different supplies and tools. Sunscreen, bathing suits, s’more ingredients, a sprinkler, snacks, towels, outside gear, crafting bits and pieces. After mentally thinking through the perfect day and deciding about screen time and snacks, make a list of supplies needed to prep for summer. Then put in a Target or Wal-Mart order or head to Costco and gather the goods. Our summer days will be a lot more enjoyable both for us and our kids if we are prepared with the supplies we need.

Summer is a magical time. Lazy days and starry late nights. Pool afternoons with sun kissed faces. Popsicles and neighbor friends and sprinkler parties. Road trips and ice cream dates. Before these sun-shiny days are here, let’s prep for summer so we can savor and enjoy this season with our people. How will you Prep for Summer?

Vanessa

Why I Walk

A Simpler Motherhood

I have walked almost everyday since January 1st of this year. If you hang out here much, you know I have a 12 month walking goal of 400 miles. And while I may or may not reach my goal, walking has proven to be incredibly life giving for me. Today I’m sharing Why I Walk.

Why I Walk

Growing up I was an athlete as long as I can remember. Running and jumping and shuffling is what my body has been trained to do ever since I was old enough to play an organized sport. While I still do those things for short durations during my early morning workouts, my body has transitioned to needing and craving more low impact movement. This is why I started walking, but I have slowly found many other reasons to walk.

The major reason I made a walking goal this year is because of the mental health benefits. It ensures I have 15-20 minutes everyday of alone time. The introvert in me craves solo time when most of the day is spent with my favorite little people. Currently I walk in the afternoons during quiet time. Walking allows me to recharge and reset for the rest of the day. This sacred 20 minutes helps clear my head so I’m able to take on the rest of the day in a good headspace. Walking makes me a better mom and a better wife. It gives me the mental break I need to finish the day strong.

I remember watching ‘old’ people walk as a young athlete and thinking that will never be me. Never say never. Here I am, in love with a mile stroll around our farm. While I don’t consider myself old, it is true my body is changing and this is one small way I stay physically and emotionally healthy. Most of us have heard all the benefits of walking countless times, but I’m going to recap them both to motivate myself and maybe some of you.

Benefits of Walking

Walking can reduce stress

The Anxiety and Depression Association of American sites walking just 10 minutes can relieve anxiety and depression and improve our mood. Exercise produces mood boosting endorphins, which help regulate our emotions. Walking absolutely can improve our mental health.

Walking improves sleep

Walking, especially outside, boosts the sleep hormone, melatonin. An early morning walk can be a bit more beneficial because it helps set our circadian rhythms to be more awake in the morning and sleepier at night.

Walking improves our health

This is a no brainer, but I thought I should mention it anyway. Walking is great for our cardiovascular health and can reduce the risk of heart disease. It lowers our resting heart rate and blood pressure.

Walking also improves our immune systems. One study of over 1,000 men and women showed those who walked 5 days a week for 20 minutes a day had 43% fewer sick days.

A Walking Goal

Beginning a walking habit doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, habits become habits when we start small. Begin by simply walking for 5 minutes a day or walking around the block. When we begin small, we see and feel success and can build upon that success. I try to walk one mile a day, but sometimes it’s cut short to a half mile because someone needs me. But, simply getting out to walk each day is enough for me.

There is a chance I won’t reach my walking goal this year and that’s okay. So far it has done what I wanted it to do: it has gotten me outside to walk, which in turn has improved my mental and physical health. I am so grateful for my daily walk.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. -John Muir

Vanessa

Here’s to the Good Moms

A Simpler Motherhood

There is no way to be a perfect mom and a million ways to be a good one. -Jill Churchill

We want to be good moms. We want to love, care for, give to, encourage, raise up, and help our babies to flourish. And while we all make mistakes and none of us can claim to be perfect, there are ways every day we are good moms.

Here’s to the Good Moms

Here’s to the mom who has slept 4 hours in the last 3 days. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom who scraped melted fruit snacks off the sides of the car seat. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom who got an extra shot in her drive thru coffee this morning. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom reading one more Bible story. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom being patient when her initial reaction is to respond in frustration. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom playing the Encanto soundtrack again. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom praying over her babies. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom picking up a screaming toddler from the floor of Target, the bathroom, Grandma’s house, Chick-fil-A. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom letting her kids play with play dough. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom counting to three before speaking to her preteen. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom working outside the home and being present with her kids inside the home. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom reading the books, listening to the podcasts, asking the friends about the teen years. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom driving kids to soccer and church and piano and football and all the things. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom on her knees asking for guidance. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom rediscovering something she is passionate about. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom loving her kids through the hard, the ugly, the stuff no one likes to talk about. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom scheduling an appointment for her kid to speak to a therapist. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom going away for a night or a weekend to recharge. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom talking to her kids about love and boyfriends and girlfriends and sex. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom forsaking her skinny jeans for mom jeans because her daughter insisted. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom forcing her eyelids to stay open until her kids get home. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom holding back tears everyday and preparing to let her baby fly the nest and graduate. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom loving her kid from across the state with texts, visits, and care packages. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom rejoicing (and also crying) when a child gets engaged. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom letting her kid struggle and make mistakes and fall. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom surprising her daughter with a visit and a coffee. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom traveling with her kids so they can spend uninterrupted time together. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom loving and showing up for her kid even when he/she has done the unthinkable. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom pouring into her grand babies: teaching them, loving them, showing up for them. You’re a good mom.

Here’s to the mom pointing her kids to Jesus over and over and over again. Even when they don’t listen. And roll their eyes. Even when she feels like giving up. You’re a good mom.

There is no way to be a perfect mom and a million ways to be a good one.

Let’s build each other up. Encourage and love one another. Let’s point each other to truth and to Jesus.

Tell your mom, your grandma, your sister, your friend, your neighbor: You’re a good mom.

More Motherhood encouragement: Moms Matter, Let’s Talk About You

Vanessa

What I’m Loving in April

A Simpler Motherhood

Spring is (finally) starting to make an appearance. It hasn’t been the warmest April ever, but things are still turning green, seeds are getting planted, and the promise of warmer days are close. Here is What I’m Loving in April.

What I’m Loving in April

Color

Color is everywhere. Yellow daffodils, blue skies, green grass, rosy robins, and our not-so-little yellow and black chicks. While every spring I expect the brown and gray to come alive again, my senses are always in awe at the onset of color. In just a few weeks we will plant more of our garden, including loads of zinnia seeds and I am dreaming of the purples, reds, and pinks that will border our yard in the not so distant future.

Pork

I acknowledge pork is a weird thing to be loving in April. However, it’s true. We ordered a pig from one of Kevin’s co-workers and picked it up from the locker this month. Brats, pulled pork, bacon, and pork sausage have been on the grill and in the oven on repeat. (Bacon and cheddar quiche is a favorite.) There is nothing like fresh meat. If you’ve never visited a small town locker or meat shop, I highly recommend it. To take it a step further, find a farmer to purchase the meat from and have it processed locally. You won’t regret it.

Soccer Games

I’m a soccer mom and boy do I love it. I’m not sure why it’s unexpected, but it is – how much I love watching my kids do something they enjoy. My two oldest kids are playing soccer this spring and we have loved every minute of it – win or lose. I never played soccer growing up, but I am finding a lot of joy in watching my kids play this game.

Anticipating May

I love a reason to celebrate and May is a month of celebration. For our family, we will be celebrating the wrapping up of the school year in a few short weeks. My husband and I will be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary at the end of May. There is a wedding, Mother’s Day, and a few other birthdays and anniversaries in between. I am excited to celebrate next month!

More Reading

Last week I started digging into the book The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gordon. We have always been readers at our house, but this book is challenging me to read aloud more to my kids as well as enjoy books on my own. I finished reading Yellow Wife and am currently enjoying The Hideaway for my fiction read. The kids and I are reading a plethora of spring themed books from Sarah MacKenzie’s May booklist. What are you reading right this minute?

Color, pork, soccer, and books. That is just about as random as it gets. What are you loving in April?

Vanessa

5 Ways to Simplify May

A Simpler Motherhood

May is the climax of spring in all her glory. It’s graduations and purple blooms and recitals and weddings and concerts and planting seeds and the wrapping up of allllll the things. May is the month of celebration, but it can be overwhelming if we aren’t intentional with how we walk through it. Let’s talk 5 Ways to Simplify May.

5 Ways to Simplify May

Do a Brain Dump

This is my go to tool when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I grab a notebook and write down every date, to-do, and random thing hanging out in my mind. If you’re more of a digital gal, open your Notes app and make a list. A Brain Dump relieves our minds of holding all the information and gets it in one spot. It helps us successfully achieve tasks before the tasks become emergencies. A Brain Dump is one simple way to relieve stress before May gets here.

Get Alllllll the Things on the Calendar

If you’ve done a Brain Dump, this is a great next step. Sift through the Brain Dump list and put all the things on the calendar. Programs, recitals, birthdays, graduation parties: get all these things in one place on a paper or digital calendar. This will ensure nothing will be forgotten.

Purchase Gifts and Cards Now

If your calendar is up to date, this is an impactful way to simplify May. As we know, there is a lot going on in May and many times there are gifts and cards to purchase for all the celebrating. Make a list of gifts and cards you need to purchase for the next month. End of year teacher gifts. Graduation cards. Wedding and birthday and Mother’s Day presents. Make that list and set aside some time to purchase and prepare those gifts and cards now so you it doesn’t sneak up on you in May.

Monthly Meal Plan

Meal planning. Whether you love it or loathe it, this may be the month to embrace it. I usually do a weekly meal plan, but in May I will do a monthly meal plan to make life simpler. I have 31 days of dinners planned out and while they aren’t specific with the actual date, I will have all the items on hand at the beginning of the month so I don’t need to think about dinner. Yes, I still have to prep and cook, but the brain work is already done.

A monthly meal plan will be a stretch for some of us (it is for me). If that’s the case, think about a meal delivery service like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron or prepping some freezer meals to have on hand for busy nights. We all operate differently when it comes to dinner time. Although a monthly meal plan isn’t the way our family normally does dinner, it helps to simplify this month for us.

Prioritize

We’ve all heard this word and it’s probably extremely overused. However, when it comes to May, this is the name of the game. Prioritize what actually needs to get done and let go of the rest. Each one of us will have different priorities based on our preferences, values, and what is on our calendar this month. A practical way to get clear on priorities: Look at your Brain Dump and circle or highlight things that need to happen this month. This is a good time to do a gut check and reflect if these are the things that are actually important to us. Be okay with letting everything else wait.

For many of us a Mother’s Day card for our mom is a priority. For most of us, doing a basement overhaul won’t be a priority this May. If you’re like me, you might have a fantasy to-do list. Let’s put that aside for this month and pick it back up after our calendars feel a little lighter.

May is the month of celebration. Let’s embrace and be present for all the celebrations both big and small. Let’s simplify, plan, and prepare so we can enjoy this month with the people we love. How will you simplify May?

Vanessa

A Closet Clean Out for All of Us

A Simpler Home

If you’ve ever watched an HGTV bedroom reveal or a Youtuber showing off her refreshed closet, you have probably viewed a minimal, attractive closet. Wooden hangers hung with pretty colored clothing, spaced an inch apart. Shoes lined up just so. An airy, uncluttered, beautiful closet perfectly curated with all the right pieces.

If you’re anything like me, you immediately ponder how you can get your closet to look just a teensy bit like the one on the screen. And then you go and look in your closet and realize it’s just not possible. But I’m here to tell you we can all take a step in that direction. While it will take some work, all of our closets can look a bit better and, more importantly, function better. Today I’m sharing: A Closet Clean Out for All of Us.

A Closet Clean Out for All of Us

Why A Closet Clean Out

Real quick before we get to the practical side of a Closet Clean Out, let’s get clear on why it will benefit us. First, all of us get dressed (almost) everyday. We open up our closet and make a decision on what to put on our bodies. The less clothes we have to sort through in the morning, the better. Why? When our closet is only filled with the things we wear and love, we don’t have to sort through the rest: the out of season clothes, the ill fitting clothes, the clothes we just don’t like. We simply can choose an outfit that we love day after day.

Another reason for a closet clean out is others can benefit from what we don’t wear. You’ve probably heard this statistic: We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. Let’s let the 80% go so others can wear what we aren’t.

The last reason for a closet clean out is to have that attractive, functional closet we see on HGTV and YouTube. It’s not going to be perfect, but it can be functional and bring us a little joy each day when it holds only the things we wear and love.

A Closet Clean Out for All of Us

Most of us have multiple closets in our home. Hall closets, bathroom closets, entry way closets, clothes closets, pantry closets. Today, let’s focus and get clarity on our clothes closet.

Before we begin, I want to acknowledge we all have varying degrees of time and energy. We also all have closets with different amounts of clutter and organization. Instead of sharing a one size fits all closet clean out, I’m going to share three phases each building upon one another. You can start with Phase One and call it a day or you can move through all three phases when you have the time and energy. Let’s head into the closet.

Phase One

Let’s start small, but still make progress. We are going to declutter the obvious things that need to go: stained, ripped, and unwearable clothing. Finally get those out of the closet. Let’s also remove anything we haven’t worn in over two years. We are going for the easy wins here. These are decisions we don’t have to think too much about.

After the first pass through, let’s box up all out of season clothing. When this post goes live, we are at the front end of spring. All fall and super wintery clothing can go in a tote or an Amazon box and get put out of sight. I suggest under the bed or in another room.

Phase Two

You’ve made it through Phase One and you want to take your closet a step further. Let’s dig a bit deeper and box up half of what’s left in the closet. Don’t stop reading, we aren’t getting rid of these, yet. Choose things you don’t reach for often. Don’t think too much about it, just take half of everything and put it in a box or another room. We are going to leave it there for two weeks and see what we miss and want to keep. This is a good exercise in how many of our clothes we actually wear. You might discover you wear a lot of your wardrobe or you may find you don’t miss as much as you thought. It’s a great, low risk experiment in dressing with less.

When the two weeks are up, donate or sell any clothing you didn’t miss or reach for during the last few weeks. If this makes you nervous, keep it for another two weeks and then make decisions.

Phase Three

If you’ve made it through the first two phases and want more, get ready. This is the deep work. Look at what’s left in your closet and do a gut check. Let’s be real with ourselves and ask some hard questions. Instead of asking: Have I worn this in the last 6 months? We are going to ask: Would I buy this again? If the answer is yes, we will dig deeper and ask: Can I live without it? I know these questions could seem extreme, but I have found the way to a beautiful, curated closet (and life) is being real with ourselves, cutting way down on what we own, and only keeping the things we truly wear and enjoy.

Once you’ve asked the hard questions on the items in your closet and let go of the ones you wouldn’t buy again, it’s time to organize. Friends, there is no right way to organize. The only right way is the way that works for you. You can organize by color, category, height of item. Decide what works best for you and organize accordingly.

If you’re still reading and completed all three phases…Congratulations!

Maintenance

If we want our closets to keep functioning well, maintenance will be required. One rule I like to use is the 1 in 1 out rule. If I purchase something new, another item has to leave my closet. This keeps me accountable and doesn’t let my closet get out of control.

Something else to consider when it comes to purchasing new items: only bring in items that go with things currently in our closets. If we want to buy a skirt, but have nothing to wear with it, chances are we won’t wear the skirt or we will purchase a few more things to make it work. If we are intentional with our purchases moving forward, our closets will continue to function well.

There also may be times we need to do another declutter. I shoot for a few times a year, usually when the seasons change. My preferences change and so does my body, so I try and let go of items that are no longer serving me.

A beautiful, functional closet is possible for all of us! Will you do a Closet Clean Out this spring?

Vanessa

Reading List for Spring & Summer

A Simpler Motherhood

A book is a gift you can open again and again. -Garrison Keillor

Reading is one of my favorite things to do when I have five minutes to myself. It offers new perspectives, entertains me, stretches me, and makes me happy. While spring and summer around here can be a bit full, I still try and find time to read. Here is my Reading List for Spring & Summer.

Reading List for Spring & Summer

The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

I started this one and it’s hard to put down. This book has been a tough one to read because of all the heartbreak and cruelty. The Yellow Wife tells the story of an enslaved woman in 1850s Virginia. Like I said, lots of heartbreak and cruelty. This has been on my TBR list for awhile and I know it won’t take long to finish.

Will by Will Smith

I am currently listening to this on Audible and, if you want to read this one, the audio book is the way to go. Will Smith reads it and it makes me happy hearing the Fresh Prince in my earbuds. It reminds me of Jessica Simpson’s memoir, Open Book. Reader beware that there is quite a bit of language. If that’s not your thing, steer clear. I listen to this often on my daily walks. And for the record, I started listening to it before the Oscars. 😉

The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon

This has been on my TBR list for awhile. I am planning on this book being my professional development for the summer. Reading aloud to my kids is one of my favorite things, but sometimes I need some renewed inspiration. While we don’t homeschool all year round, we still try and read a lot through the summer months. My hope is this book will get me excited to keep our read aloud time thriving this summer.

The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needle and Virginia Johnson

We are been working on a few home projects and I have been wanting to flip through this book for awhile. Now is the perfect time. Interior decorating is not my gifting so I’m hoping this book will be one of my guides as I make our home feel more like us.

M is for Mama by Abbie Halberstadt

There are a million memes on motherhood. The good, the bad, and the ugly. But the truth is: it’s extremely important work, raising the future human race. If you’re a mom, there’s a good chance you have felt overwhelmed, unimportant, and unqualified for the task at hand. You’re not alone, I’m right there with you. But, I want more. I want more for my kids, my family, my friends, myself. I want us to thrive and live in the purpose God has laid out for us. Many women of faith have loved this book and I am excited to read the wisdom this mom of ten has to offer about motherhood. I have a feeling this is going to be a good one.

It always helps to have a list of books to read when I’m ready for a new one. I’m excited about every single book on this list and can’t wait to dive into each one of them. What do you want to read this spring and summer?

Vanessa

What I’m Loving in March

A Simpler Motherhood

March is officially here and so is spring. After the long winter, there is much to love about the beginning of a new sun-shiny season. Here is What I’m Loving in March.

What I’m Loving in March

Researching Chickens

Our oldest son has been saving for chickens since last spring when we went to admire the baby chicks at Tractor Supply. ***Warning: If you don’t want to get asked begged to get chickens, maybe skip visiting the baby chicks.***

My husband and I told our son if he raised enough money and still wanted to do it the following spring, we would. Let this be a lesson, friends. Here we are, one year later: researching chickens and building a chicken coop in our backyard. Jesus, be near.

If I am being transparent, this whole thing has me on both sides of the (poultry) fence. I am nervous about having more living things to care for and excited for the learning opportunities for our family. It has been fun to see my son light up when we learn something new about our future feathered friends. Although I know this is a big commitment, it has been a blessing for our family to learn and plan together.

Focusing on Home

When we returned home from travel, I was inspired to take on some projects that have been on my mind the past few months and years. I was reminded how fresh paint can do wonders for a room when I refreshed our main bathroom with a coat of Repose Gray.

The Nester talks about Quieting the House and I have been doing just that. All the winter decor is tucked away and I am ever so slowly pulling out spring things as I feel inspired. Also, nothing has gone back up on the main bathroom walls or counters. I am going to let it sit for awhile and decide what I really want in that space.

This is my last chance to do some things inside before my focus moves to outside.

Coffee at Home

Okay, loving this could be a bit of a stretch, but it’s been a good experiment for me. A friend who shares the love of coffee like I do, decided to cut back on drive-thru coffee for Lent. When we were chatting about it, I knew I needed to do it, too. While the coffee I make at home is not as good as what I get in the drive-thru, it’s nothing to complain about. I use a Nespresso and a frother for a homemade latte and this cold foam recipe is a game changer. It doesn’t happen often, but when I do grab a shaken espresso with cold foam, it is a decadent treat.

Zucchini Muffins

Last summer I had a plethora of zucchini. The only logical thing to do with it all was shred and freeze what we couldn’t eat. I’m so glad I did. I have been pulling the shredded zucchini out of the freezer to make these yummy muffins and they have been making March a little bit sweeter.

Raising Girls and Boys Podcast

When we were traveling, I listened to a lot of podcasts on my extra long walks. The Raising Girls and Boys Podcast has been recommended to me numerous times from trusted friends, I just never subscribed. I finally did and it’s been uplifting, refreshing, and I’ve learned so much already.

I mentioned it to my husband and we decided we would listen to it separately and then discuss it together. This has been not only life giving for our parenting, but life giving for our marriage as well.

A new season is here. What are you loving in March?