Use your fancy forks today! 🥰

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

NEW ON THE BLOG:

Clara set the table for breakfast yesterday... and, as she always does, she used what she considers our "fancy forks". She displayed the napkins nicely and slid each fork inside the napkin ring. After we all sat down to eat, she made sure we noticed how nice the napkins and forks looked. And they did!

It struck me how we are all drawn to beauty and order -- even in the little things.

Creating beauty and order in our homes isn't about perfection, though — it's about intention --choosing to make space for it, even in the midst of the chaos. A tidy corner, a made bed, fresh flowers in a jar, a nicely set breakfast table with fancy forks.

In the busyness of life, it's easy to forgo these little things because they seem insignificant -- even silly. But they make a difference... and they usually don't take much time, energy, or money to pull off.

Our homes are more than just walls and furniture and stuff. They're the backdrop of our lives, and we have the ability to intentionally shape the atmosphere.

So today, I challenge you to do one small thing to create beauty and order in your home. Put flowers in a vase, light a candle, make your bed with all the extra pillows, open windows to let fresh air in, or maybe use your fancy forks. 🥰

You won't regret it!

simple food.

Enjoy the taste of fresh garden veggies all year long with this extremely quick, easy, and versatile "salad" recipe that pairs well with almost anything on your menu!

And I say "salad" but it works as a dip, a condiment, a side dish, a topping, or even a main meal!

get the recipe -->

organized home.

Want ONE piece of advice that will forever alter the way you view your home-keeping efforts and get you through those super busy and chaotic seasons of life?

This is it -- maintenance!

keep reading -->

intentional living.

Less stress, less overwhelm, less guilt… more time, more joy, more freedom.

These are just a few of the benefits you'll experience when you give yourself permission to quit a tradition that no longer works for your season of life.

learn more -->

In other news...

I never thought I'd read this: Thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I'm almost finished listening to the 3rd Hunger Games book (I just started on Friday!) If you asked me any time over the last 15 years if I'd ever read these books, my answer would be a resounding "NO WAY" because the concept of the storyline seemed terrible to me. However, my friend said I'd like them, and honestly, they are good. The storyline IS terrible, but I'm officially hooked on the books and curious about the movies too.

I never thought I'd own this: Back in June, I found a crazy-expensive pair of Madewell jeans at our local thrift store for $4... and yes, they were the exact right size for me! They are the Perfect Vintage Wide Leg Crop, and they fit like a glove... the most comfortable pair of jeans I've worn in a very long time. The only problem is, now that I have a taste for how expensive jeans fit, I want to buy more!

I never thought I'd do this: I do not pride myself on my craftiness... but thanks to a $14 kit from Amazon (and help from my crafty daughter), I made a balloon arch that didn't look terrible!