Thriving and Surviving (+ my weekly meal plan is back!)

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG:

The photo above is one of my favorite spots in our landscaping. We "refreshed" this area in April, and it's all coming in so well.

The shrubs give great coverage, the perennials are healthy, and the annuals filled in wonderfully. The bright red impatiens really pop against the lavender catnip and the celadon green hostas and dutzia shrubs.

But then I thought, Of course this area is thriving... it gets the perfect amount of sun and shade, it's thoroughly watered by our irrigation, and we walk past it dozens of times per day, so we can easily pull a stray weed or trim an out-of-place branch.

Its circumstances are ideal, so it thrives.

As I sat in "my spot" in the hot tub, looking at this thriving corner of our yard, I thought about how humans are similar. When we have ideal circumstances (a caring spouse, financial stability, good health, obedient children, a fulfilling career, plenty of sleep, etc.), it's much easier to thrive in our everyday lives.

Unfortunately, those ideal circumstances aren't possible or probable. But that doesn't mean we can't take steps to move towards thriving, or that there's not grace for the days we fall short (which might be more often than not this time of year!)

Whether you're in a season of thriving or barely surviving, I hope this week's content gives you something to chew on (literally and figuratively) as you continually work to better your homes, simplify your lives, and serve your families well.

Happy Wednesday!

simple food.

Here's a homemade treat you can feel good about sharing with friends and family.

These from-scratch granola bars are loaded with nutritious ingredients that will keep you fuller longer (they're really easy to make, too!)

get my recipe -->

organized home.

A recent power outage got me thinking about how well our organizational systems work based on whether or not I could find what I needed in the dark...

I call it my "Organizational Litmus Test," and this archived post dives deeper into the topic.

learn more -->

Intentional living.

Do you have a pain point in your home or life? A space or a task or a situation that constantly leaves you feeling aggravated, agitated, and worn out.

Chances are, there's a relatively simple solution that will alleviate much of the "pain". Don't believe me? Keep reading!

keep reading -->

**Look For Your Paint Points... and Fix Them**

in other news:

School Started: Dave and the kids have been in school for a full week already. It's the last year all 4 kids are in the same school (Nora goes to high school next year), and we're excited for a great year in 8th, 6th, 4th, and 2nd grades.

It's Already Soup Season: The weather has been unseasonably cool this past week, so I made a big pot of soup and tried these Zucchini Cornbread Muffins. They were a hit... and another great way to use up all that zucchini!

Our New Lawn Care Service: Dave finally "gave in" and let Simon start mowing the lawn... Simon was thrilled, and the price is right! 😉

Random Tip of the Week: Whenever I slice big blocks of cheese (which I do at least once a week), I put the blocks in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before slicing. It firms them up a bit, making it much easier to get super thin slices.

I mentioned this to a kitchen-savvy friend last week, and she had never tried it before... so I thought it might be worth sharing here too. If you're worried you'll forget the cheese in the freezer, just set a timer!