Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer

Survival mode. It doesn’t sound particularly enticing, does it?

It seems to be the antithesis of living intentionally, toward your goals and in line with your values. It sounds like just getting by. And who wants to do that? Not me.

And yet, survival mode is where I find myself.

In a season of being newly pregnant and feeling yuck, with my husband in summer school and working longer hours + traveling more than usual, I am just trying to keep everyone alive here, folks.

Because this is my third pregnancy, I know a little about what to expect. For me, the nausea and exhaustion eventually subsides. Before too long, summer classes will be over and Hubs’s travel will slow down a bit.

Thankfully, there is an end in sight. But until then, I am lowering my expectations of myself, reassessing what’s necessary, and giving myself permission to just get by for now.

 In fact, that’s how I’m going to define survival mode: Adjusting expectations and doing only what’s necessary for myself and my family amidst a challenging season.

As a recovering perfectionist, here’s what’s helped me be ok with that.

Why Survival Mode is Ok (and How it’s Working for Me)

Why It’s Ok:

Life is Full of Challenging Circumstances

My current challenges involve the first trimester of pregnancy and an unusual amount of solo parenting, but a myriad of circumstances may cause you to choose survival mode for a time.

Maybe it’s a busy season at work, a husband who is traveling frequently, adjusting to adding another child to the family, or having one or more sick kids.

In any case, new challenges require a reassessment of routines and expectations in the home. And depending on how long the challenging season lasts and how long it takes you to figure out a new “normal”, a time of survival mode might just be your ticket to, well, surviving.

We All Have Limits

I am one person; I can only do so much. Yes, through the power of Jesus, I can often do much more than I would have thought.

But is it reasonable to expect the same things of myself when I’m sick and pregnant as when I’m well? Probably not.

It’s Only for a Season

This is what I have to tell myself to make me ok with operating in survival mode. It’s not ideal, but it’s also not forever.  Frozen pizzas and extra TV time is not the best, but I know it won’t characterize my kids’ childhood.

How It’s Working For Me:

I’ve Decided What’s Essential

And it’s feeding and clothing myself and my family. That’s it.  Meal prep and laundry are pretty much my daily goals.

As food prep makes me nauseous and my daughter changes clothes six times a day, I consider meeting these goals quite the feat.

I’m Saying Yes to Help 

While I used to struggle with asking for and accepting help, I’ve been so grateful for friends who have offered it over the last few weeks. From watching my kids so I could go to the doctor alone to bringing me pregnancy survival kits to time spent praying for little baby, I am so glad to have such a sweet community of support.

And what I’m saying no to? Extras.

Like trying to take the kids to the pool by myself, making fabulous dinners (more often, dinner is an odd assortment of snacky foods), or hosting company (as much as I love it, I’m mostly saving it for the second and third trimesters).

I’m Maximizing My Functional Moments

Most days, I do have a few hours where I feel functional. So I have a short list of chores, phone calls, errands, or other tasks that I try to tackle during those times.

I also try to prioritize getting the kids outside or to see friends when I can. Often, seeing other people (and getting away from my kitchen and all. the. smells.) boosts my mood and helps me forget how I’m feeling.

I’m Talking Things Through With My Husband

Hubs is very aware of his wife’s current state (hopefully, I’m explaining rather than complaining :)). But sometimes, he needs me to be really explicit about what I can and can’t manage to do right now.  So we’ve had some good talks about reasonable expectations for meals, housework, and the budget.

This past month, we tried out a monthly housekeeping service and used a chunk of our grocery budget for eating out. While he prefers a tidy home (as do I), he’s giving me lots of grace when there are no clean towels.

I’m choosing to trust God. (Most of the time).

I could go completely crazy worrying about how on earth I’m going to schlep around Canada for two weeks during my first trimester.  Or what I’m going to do the next time Hubs is away. Or for that matter, how I’m going to manage bedtime duty tonight by myself.

So instead, I try to focus on all the times God has provided strength, help, or encouragement in the past. And on promises about His faithfulness and provision. Help often comes in ways I wouldn’t have expected, but it’s always there.

How do you manage a challenging season of life?

The post A Time and Place for Survival Mode appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer

Last fall, not taking great care of myself finally caught up with me: I was exhausted, stressed, sick more often than usual, and emotionally all over the place.

After catching what I’m pretty sure was shingles, I finally went to my doc, who asked some basic questions: Was I getting enough sleep? Exercise? Water?

Um, not so much.

Except the water. Thanks to what I lovingly refer to as “my sippy,” I excel in hydration.

She ran some blood work; turns out I was vitamin D deficient, too.

While poor self-care wasn’t the only cause of all my funky symptoms, hitting this low point helped me realize I needed to prioritize taking care of myself—specifically in sleep and exercise.

For me, the sleep issue was pretty straightforward: I just needed to go to bed earlier.

But as a stay-at-home-mom of two small children, regular exercise was going to take a little more creativity.

When my kids were younger, I’d pack them into the double jogger and we’d all enjoy some fresh air together.  Now, everyone wants to walk, ride their trike, or Stop. Every. Two. Feet. To. Pick. Up. Rocks.

I won’t say I’ve arrived at any miraculous solutions to the mom-exercise question or that I’ve become awesome at consistently exercising myself.

But through trial and error and the input of friends, I’ve got a few ideas worth trying.

Mom-Friendly Exercise Ideas

Prioritize it.

As Michael Hyatt says, “figure out your why.” Decide why exercise is important to you. Write it down. Then set some S.M.A.R.T. goals related to fitness.

Find a buddy.

Share your exercise goals with your spouse or a close friend and see if they might work out with you.  You could get up early to walk, run, or do a gym class with a friend.

And even if you and hubby don’t work out together, sharing your exercise goals can help you support each other in your individual workouts.

Maybe he goes to the gym on the way home from work, but is willing to take the kids when he gets home so you can go run. Or you both get up early, but he runs while you do a workout video.

I recently heard of a group of moms meeting up at a park to workout; with gates shut and an open field, the kids played while the mommies ran.

This used to work.

Get up early.

If you can get up even thirty minutes before your kids, you’ve got time to exercise. Do a workout video or go for a run/walk. Or if you’ve got a gym membership and you can get there early enough, do it.

If you’re not a “morning person,” I submit that it’s possible to become one.

On the other hand, if you’ve got little ones getting up through the night, this is probably not the season for morning workouts.

Be strategic.

Take advantage of chunks of time when someone else can watch your kids. Can Dad play with them in the backyard for 20 minutes while you do a two-mile run?

If you have family close by or a good sitter, it might be worth it to schedule regular childcare so you can get a run (or bike ride, etc.) in consistently.

Even trading childcare with a friend or neighbor once a week could guarantee you an hour of workout time.

Join a gym.

If finances allow, there are decent options, and the childcare situation works well, a gym membership might be an easy answer.

They make my workouts…more fun. :)

Include the kids.

Not my favorite solution, but often a doable one. During the winter, I got hooked on a ballet workout video. My kids would join in as they were able and after a while, would request to “do ballet exercising.”

A friend of mine bikes with her husband; they pull their kids behind.  Another friend is a committed runner and until she had her third baby, regularly jogged with her kids in the Double Bob.

Change your definition of exercise.

Unless your workout goals involve training for an event, we can probably just define exercise as intentionally moving your body to keep it strong and healthy.

And in that case, a myriad of things can count as exercise: gardening, mowing the lawn, pushing a kid in a stroller while carrying another one, following your trike rider around the neighborhood, going on a hike with your family, playing tennis on a date with your husband…the list goes on.

Hiking with him on my back = exercise

Keep it in perspective.

If I go back to the basics of my worldview (and steer clear of cultural messages that define beauty as merely physical), I’m simply exercising to take care of the body God gave me.

Not to be perfectly toned or look exactly as I did before I had kids.

And with that perspective in place, I can probably fit adequate exercise into my weekly schedule after all.

Do you fit regular exercise into your routine? How? Or, why is it a struggle?

The post Mom-Friendly Exercise Ideas appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer

Here in my Midwestern farm town, it’s only Spring according to the calendar. Go outside and you’re confronted by cold, rain, and 45mph winds that supposedly bring warm air up from the south but have yet to bring me anything except damage to my front porch accessories.

But I can see my bulbs poking through and so I trust that someday, spring will come in all of its glory. Until then, I sit in my cozy living room, pinning pictures of beautiful outdoor spaces and dreaming of warmer days.

It’s doubtful that my nondescript, treeless backyard will ever look remotely like the images I pin, but it’s fun to dream. And to see what I can adapt to real life, on a real budget.

Here are some favorite ideas I hope to translate to reality this spring.  Some require more construction than others but the end goal of all is cultivating beauty or joy in my little backyard.

Simple Outdoor Ideas for Kids:

 The Sandbox

Photo via Young House Love

While enjoying a lovely beach vacation last summer, I became convinced that sand is magical: it occupies my (very active) children for hours.
A mound of sand is deceptively simple. But with plastic gardening tools, measuring cups, buckets, bowls, random kitchen utensils, and some imagination? Cities, castles, feasts, and sculptures can be made.

Thoughts on sandbox construction: The easiest route? A plastic baby pool filled with sand. Or something like this.

Making a more permanent fixture? Consider including: benches/seats for sitting, storage for toys, and some kind of cover if animals are prone to traipse through your yard.

You could simply use a tarp or build wooden covers like this or this.  Rumor has it sprinkling cinnamon in the sand keeps pests away, but I’m not brave enough to rely on it in the face of an outdoor cat.

The Fairy Garden

Where oh where have these been all of my life? For someone who wishes she lived in Narnia, you’d think I’d have constructed five of these by now.

Turns out there’s a whole section of Hobby Lobby dedicated to them.  But woe to the buyer who shops without coupons, sales, or funds from Grammie: fairy garden accessories aren’t cheap, yo.

As Grammie happened to be visiting this week, my (ahem, my daughter’s) first fairy garden is now prominently displayed on our front porch.

Thoughts on construction: Depending on the age of the fairy garden recipient, choose durable features.  I’m already repairing a tiny wooden bird house and I’m pretty sure the ceramic frog’s days are numbered. I expect greater longevity from the metal bird and garden bench.

Also, consider using found objects—a bird’s nest and rocks from your yard, a plant that is languishing inside, twigs and leaves to make a fence and simple fairy house.

The Water Table/Wall

While I’m a big fan of our indoor “water table,” I look forward to the days when my kids can play with water outside.

You can buy actual water tables, obviously, but we just fill up the baby pool and toss in various measuring cups, spoons, bowls, medicine droppers, and my daughter’s plastic tea set.

Also new to me?

The water wall. Come warmer weather, I’m so making one of these.

The Garden

(To distinguish it from the fairy kind, this is the type in which you grow food).

Last year my first garden yielded little, but I’m choosing to believe that was due to poor placement (in a bog-like section of my yard) and am giving it another go in a different spot.

My kids enjoyed watering and picking our meager crops last summer but I’m excited to involve them more in the process of planning and planting this year.

I may even give them their own little pots of veggies to tend in hopes of increasing their interest at dinnertime. But I won’t hold my breath.

A Birdfeeder

While clearly not an interactive play feature, a bird feeder in a spot visible from a child-height window can provide a fun nature show on a wet spring day.

Grab an Audubon book or Google and try to identify the birds with your kids.  So far, we’ve seen finches, mourning doves, and robins.  Only they’ve been renamed “Julia,” “Mud-brown,” and “baby Sam.”

What are your favorite outdoor play ideas for kids?

The post Creating Simple Outdoor Spaces for Kids appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

I bought a birth ball and other birth paraphernalia. I braced myself for 12+ hours of labor, an overdue baby, drug-pushing hospital staff, and laboring on little sleep–all likely outcomes, according to my research.

On a beautiful spring morning, I woke up to a contraction. Four hours later, I was holding my tiny daughter.  She was ten days early and nearly met the world in the front seat of our car.

Labor was so fast and intense that I forgot my pretty little folder of birth plans.

My doula barely made it to the hospital, but she and a wonderful nurse coached me through about ten minutes of pushing, which constituted half my time in the delivery room.

Needless to say, it was not what I expected.

My second baby was born over three weeks early and a few weeks after we’d moved across the country.  Despite my fervent desire not to have a Christmas baby, he was born an hour and a half shy of Christmas Eve.

Just in time for my daughter to have to spend Christmas with the sweet family who was watching her. Who we’d just met.

I have friend who is a big advocate for natural birth, but had to have one baby via c-section and requested an epidural after an exhausting 20+ hours of labor with the other.

Another friend has babies who flip to breech in the final weeks of labor.  Another had zero intention of having an unmedicated birth but showed up too late for the epidural. Another delivered her first on his due date–a rare feat–and her second came out en caul.

Like the rest of life, labor and deliver is full of surprises.

That’s why I’m convinced that the best approach to birth is to surrender my expectations.

I can have hopes, preferences, and desires.  I can communicate these to my husband, doctor, midwife, or doula.

But at the end of the day, I have to hold all of this with an open hand, trusting that God loves me and will work all things together for my good.

Even the surprises.  Especially the surprises.

I didn’t feel prepared for my daughter’s early and rapid delivery, but I’m so grateful for the kindness of the nurse and my doula. (And that my husband paid enough attention in birthing classes to know when we needed to go to the hospital).

I never would have planned to have a baby just after moving to a new town. But I saw God provide for our every need amidst crazy circumstances.

My midwife friend didn’t want a c-section, but now she’s grateful that she can better empathize with women who need them.

I often try to control circumstances to bring about what I imagine is best.  But remembering how God has worked in unexpected situations gives me more confidence to trust Him–in birthing babies and in the rest of life.

Have you seen grace in the midst of the unexpected lately?

The post On Natural Birth, Hopes, and Expectations appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer

One of my goals for 2014 is to speak the words of encouragement I think but often neglect to say: what I love about a friend, what I appreciate about my husband and kids, a note of thanks for kindness rendered or a note of sympathy for a friend going through a hard season.

I know words are powerful. The Bible even says they even have the power of life and death.

I’ve experienced that power, for better and worse. And I’ve seen relationships transformed by words of forgiveness instead of bitterness, words of mercy instead of judgement.

I think I just forget the impact words can have for good. And so I put off writing that note, sharing those words.

But, I’ve resolved: not this year.

This year, I want to restore words of encouragement to their rightful place of priority in my life. I know it will take extra effort and  some helpful systems–and that I’ll never say or do it all perfectly.

But I figure any steps in the right direction are good.

Simple Steps Toward the Habit of Encouragement:

Do It Before You Forget

I want to write that note before I forget, make that phone call before the day gets crazy–or even while the day is crazy.  And if I can’t do it right away, I’ll at least make a note to do it as soon as I can.

I’ve got a running list in my phone called “good deeds.”  The title might sound a little hokey, but it’s doing its job.

I add to it whenever I think of a friend I need to check in with, a note I want to send, or a way I might help.  At the beginning of each week, I check the list and see what I could add to that week’s to-dos.

Keep it Simple

If something feels hard or I imagine it will take a long time, I tend to put it off.  But I’ve realized that words of encouragement don’t have to be fancy or drawn out.

They just need to be honest and…encouraging.  (Profound, yes?)

It can be a quick text, a two sentence email, or a brief Facebook post. It can be a short phone call to check on a hurting friend while your kids are eating breakfast. It can be done as you pass your neighbor on the sidewalk.

Broaden Your Scope

Sometimes, the folks who need a kind word the most are the ones you don’t even know well. Your veterinarian, the nurse at your doctor’s office, the mom with her kids at Target, the postal worker, the tech guy who helps you with your blog.

You might be swimming upstream against culture to strike up a conversation, but a hello and genuine interest shown in their life might be exactly what they need.

Include the Kids

Often, the only time I have to do any of this is when the kids are awake, so I’ve been trying to include them as much as possible.  Many of our Christmas thank-yous were a joint effort; my almost four year old (mostly) dictated the notes, I wrote them, then she “decorated” the cards.

Yes, it takes longer this way.  But I think she’ll learn the habit best by watching and doing it with me. You can also take a look at these free printables for littles.

Don’t Worry About Results

After you’ve shared what you hoped was an encouraging word or two, don’t worry about the results. Maybe the other person will be deeply touched, maybe not.

Our job is just to share love, in words and deeds; the results are out of our hands.

I may never know if my words have any great impact, but then maybe it’s more about me learning the habit of speaking them.

In what ways are you intentional about encouraging others?

The post Simple, Intentional Encouragement appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer

Anyone else ringing in the New Year with some kind of detox?  After consuming more sugar and white flour in the past several weeks than I have during the rest of the year, my body is crying out for fruits and veggies.

Even if you’re not doing anything drastic, maybe you just want make better food choices in 2014–avoid processed stuff, replace some conventionally-grown produce with organic, eat more locally-grown stuff (good luck in January, right?), or just be mindful of how certain foods make you feel.

However, if you’ve started down the road to eating mostly “real food,” you’ve probably noticed it’s easy spend waaay more than usual on groceries.

The reality is quality food costs more than junk.  It’s a bummer, but it’s true.  And, in many ways, it makes sense.

Is that to say you’ll have to dole out hundreds more to eat well?  Not necessarily.

In my experience, it is possible to eat real food while sticking to a reasonable grocery budget. It just takes a little planning and strategy.

9 Tips for Eating Real Food on a Budget

1.) Meal plan. Just do it

Seriously, it’s the easiest way to mind your costs.  Make a list of favorite meals, write down the ingredients needed, and stick to that list at the store.

Though I’ve never tried it, I’ve heard Plan to Eat is great. You enter your favorite recipes and it produces your grocery lists.  Sounds simple and there’s a free 30-day trial.

2.) Be strategic

As you plan, be mindful of spreading out more expensive items over multiple meals.  For example, roast a whole chicken on Monday, then use it later that week (or month, if you freeze it) for chicken pot pie, chicken enchiladas, chicken soup, etc.

3.) While we’re talking chicken, buy whole chickens

It’s so much less expensive per pound than breasts and even if you’re not a dark meat fan, in soups, casseroles, and the like, you probably won’t notice it’s not white.

Not a meat eater? Great! Beans are cheap!

Seriously, though, a few hearty vegetarian meals in the rotation will help the budget loads.

4.) Buy in bulk

Whether it’s from a co-op, Costco, or the bulk isle at your local grocery, bulk almost always equals better prices.  Some co-ops I’m a fan of are Azure Standard and Frontier–and, if you’re in the Midwest, Country Life Natural Foods.

Buying a whole or portion of a cow is also super cost-effective.  Check out this site for options near you.

5.) Start a co-op

No Azure Standard drop-offs in your town?  You can start one if you can get enough families ordering.

No room for 25 pounds of almond flour? Find some friends or neighbors to split.

No raw cheddar cheese available locally?  You can found a cheese club that buys in bulk from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania.  Not that I’m in a cheese club or anything…

6.) Price it out

As in, figure out the price per ounce.  Tedious, perhaps, but the only way to know if you’re getting the best deal.

If, like me, you’re not math-minded, it can be hard to tell if that gigantic box of whatever at Costco really is cheaper than a single item at your grocery store. And while co-ops generally offer great prices, they don’t always offer the best price.

Plus, if you price it out and make an awesome spreadsheet of your findings, you’ll end up unintentionally memorizing fun facts like coconut oil is 29 cents per ounce at Costco.

7.)  Start a garden

Unhelpful in January, but awesome come July.  There is nothing like heading to the backyard and coming back with a gigantic dinner salad.

8.) Learn from others

Real foodie folks in your neck of the woods (who are budget-conscious) will often know of local deals or might be willing to split bulk items with you. I’ve also found nutritionally like-minded friends and blogs super helpful in sourcing real-food recipes and budget tips.

Other favorite resources are Plan it, Don’t Panic and Real Food on a Real Budget.

9.) Give yourself a break, prioritize, and be realistic

If you’re on a budget, you simply can’t do it all.  So relax, decide what’s most important, and don’t worry about the rest.

Maybe you can cut back in other areas to increase your food spending a little.  Maybe you don’t eat every single thing local or organic.

Maybe you prioritize quality meats and dairy and do what you can with produce.

What are your best tips for eating real food on a budget?  I’d love to hear.

Especially since I’m apparently only eating quality meat and produce in January. 

Top Photo by

The post Real Food on a Budget appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer

The only preference I’ve ever had regarding childbearing was no Christmas babies.  To me, labor and delivery around the holidays seemed crazy stressful.  Not to mention the poor kid’s birthday would be forever lost in the busyness of the season.

Turns out the good Lord thought having a Christmas baby is exactly what I needed.  As per usual, He was right.

Sweet baby boy entered the world about an hour before Christmas Eve; the grace I received during my pregnancy, his birth, and the newborn weeks was a huge example of God’s loving care and provision for our family.

And I learned in a very tangible way that a baby–regardless of timing–is always a blessing.

Huge reminder that I’m not in control and often don’t know what is best for me: check.

How to celebrate Christmas birthdays sans stress and still make the kid feel special?  Read on.

I’m only two years into this game, but my appreciation for a good party–and simplicity—has made me a quick study.

Simple Holiday Birthday Celebrations

Plan Ahead

My answer to most of life’s challenges, a bit of forethought can help diffuse stress on mom and the budget.  For example, for baby’s first birthday, I bought invitations and other party paraphernalia the month before the party so the December budget wouldn’t feel quite so tight.

And if you’re committed to a birthday party in December, it’s probably best to get invitations out extra early in light of everyone’s full calendars.

What’s that you say–it’s already the middle of December? I’m right there with you: zero forethought this year. Which brings me to…

Keep it Stress-Free

Remember that children are satisfied with a whole lot less than we might imagine. It doesn’t have to be a big ‘ol Pinterest-fied (did I just make that up?) party.

Last year, I kept it stress-free by limiting the guest list to only a few families, serving easy food, and decorating with what I already had.  (For more on simple, stress-free kids’ parties, go here).

This year, we may just share cake with a friend or two.  A friend of mine celebrated her preschooler’s Christmas birthday with a simple dress-up themed play-date.

Especially during the holiday season, I try to be intentional about what I take on and reevaluate when I start losing sleep over things like party favors.

Move the Party

If the December calendar feels too full, consider a November or January party with a special family meal on the actual birthday.  I’ve yet to meet a kid who would object to stretching out birthday festivities.

Shoot, in my house we do “Birthday Princess Week.”  For my daughter, of course.  Ahem.

And there’s also the option of a half-birthday celebration during the summer to avoid the craziness of the holidays.

Minimal Gifting

Between the Christmas gifts Hubs and I give and the generosity of family members, our children always end up with a bounty of presents.  Throw in a December birthday and new toys start getting lost in the shuffle.

So, for now, we’re keeping our Christmas-birthday boy’s presents to a minimum.  He’ll get one or two gifts from Daddy and Mommy now–and maybe we’ll set some birthday funds aside to get him an outdoor toy come spring.

A Quiet Celebration

Of course, it’s also possible to celebrate your child’s birthday without an actual party.

I’m a pretty big fan of parties, but some years it feels best to do a low-key family celebration.  This year, I think we’ll do a special dinner followed by baby boy’s favorite activities (trains and wrestling with Daddy) and some birthday cake.

If the whole point is simply to rejoice that your kid was born and remind him of how special he is, I’m pretty sure we can do that without a guest list of twenty.

Do you have any holiday birthdays in your family?  How do you prefer to celebrate them?

The post Birthdays Amidst the Holidays appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

The holiday season is nearly upon us.  Soon our calendars will be brimming with family gatherings, travel plans, parties, and holiday feasts.  Shopping trips, family traditions, and December birthdays will abound.

So with the busyness of this season could come the temptation to just tell friends and neighbors, “see you in January!”

Certainly that would be easiest.

But as a believer in the power of real hospitality to foster deep relationships, bless others, and increase your enjoyment of your home (and as one who just finished writing about Real, Simple Hospitality for 31 days), I say let’s keep sharing meals and lives, even in the midst of a full holiday season.

How? Keep it simple, intentional, and flexible.

Simple

Hospitality doesn’t have to mean serving a sit-down dinner.  Dessert and coffee will do just fine.  Heck, drinks alone will suffice.

And I love a welcoming, cozy atmosphere but this can be achieved by simple means—namely candles, music, and kindness.

Isn’t this the time of year your house is the prettiest anyway?  Take advantage of the fact that you put up your holiday decor the day after Thanksgiving and invite some friends over to enjoy the festive atmosphere with you.

Lower Your Standards

For me, half the stress of hospitality is getting my house in decent enough shape for guests.  I’ve found that considerably lowering my standards helps with this.

If you come over for dinner, you can expect a relatively tidy main living space offset by a chronically dirty stove-top and just enough Megablocks to give the kitchen floor some lovely pops of color.

Still stressed at the thought of hosting anything at this time of year?  Remind yourself of what hospitality isn’t.

Intentional

Especially in this season of life, if it doesn’t get put on my calendar, it doesn’t happen.  If this sounds familiar, think of who you’d like to spend time with, who you’ve been wanting to get to know better, or who is new to town and might be blessed by an invitation.

Then look ahead a few weeks ahead, make some calls, and get it on the calendar.

Yes, coordinating schedules might be challenging.

So maybe just plan a couple get-togethers over the next two months.  Keep them low-key and I bet you’ll be glad you shared your home.

Flexible

If, for me, intentionality is how hospitality happens most of the time, flexibility is how it happens the rest of the time.

Whether it’s my husband inviting folks over for pizza or agreeing last minute to host our church small group, these unexpected opportunities to practice hospitality are opportunities to remind myself:

• It doesn’t matter if the laundry isn’t put away.
• It doesn’t matter if I don’t have any salad fixings to go with the pizza.
• It doesn’t matter if we’re in the middle of a remodel/pet catastrophe/busy season of life when nothing gets cleaned very well.

Hospitality Beyond Walls

Also: at the heart of hospitality is opening your home and your life to others—so, especially at this time of year, think beyond your walls.

Could you invite another family to join yours in serving a meal in a local shelter?  If the first snow comes early, maybe ask some new friends to go sledding.   Or, is there a candlelight Christmas service you could invite your neighbors to?

Here’s to enjoying the upcoming season—with old friends and new ones.

top image: Photo via

Does the thought of practicing hospitality at this time of year stress or excite you?

The post Hospitality Amidst Holiday Craziness appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn, Contributing Writer

Several months ago, I came across a few blog posts and videos explaining how to set up a household notebook.  While hardly revolutionary, I had never heard of such a thing. Thank you, interwebs.

Since then, I have adopted my own version and don’t know how I’d function without it.  Nearly every piece of paper I regularly need or receive can be contained in my cute little binder from Target.

It helps me live more intentionally, be more organized, and collect less clutter.

I also like that:

• Important receipts don’t get lost.

• Meal plans and ideas are easily found.

• Grocery lists and related food documents (co-op info, etc.) are all in one place.

• I stay on budget better.

• I’m more focused and intentional in my house projects.

• Random kids’ papers have a home.

• My random papers have a home.

It did take some time to set up, but the initial investment was totally worth it.  I refer to it daily, even if it’s just to see what’s for dinner or to drop in a receipt.

Occasionally, I’ll clean out anything that’s dated or needs to be stored elsewhere (kids’ coloring pages pile up after a while).  But generally, my notebook is not something that adds to my workload; rather, it makes my life way easier.

Everyone will likely have different preferences about categories and format.  Here’s what has worked for me so far:

My Household Notebook

Materials:

• 1 Three-ring binder (mine is from Target), cute factor preferred

• Avery Pocket Tab Dividers (These are my absolute favorite).

• Several plastic sheet protectors for important documents

Categories:

Home :: This section contains spring cleaning lists, house project ideas, Christmas and birthday ideas, pet information, and any documents or loose items related to current house projects (swatches, etc.).

I use this section the most on Sunday evenings when I check the house project list to see what I might work on during the week.  I’m usually in the midst of at least a couple of projects and the master list helps me prioritize.

Budget :: This holds my monthly budget spreadsheet (see above), where I attempt to document what I’ve spend each week for groceries and miscellaneous items.  We use a cash envelope system for one area of our budget (where we have the least self-control) but use a credit card for the rest.

Basically, I keep my receipts in the pocket of the tab divider and, about once a week, enter the amounts I’ve spent in the different categories on the printed spreadsheet.  Having this information readily available helps keep me on budget.

Yes, using cash for everything would save me this step.  But we don’t keep a balance on our credit cards and cash doesn’t earn you airline miles .

I also make a short list of anticipated expenses for the month—irregular things like family pics, garden supplies, an upcoming road trip, etc. I don’t (and couldn’t) account for everything ahead of time, but the list helps me prioritize and be more intentional in my spending.

Meals :: This section holds my monthly meal calendar. I only plan for dinners, about two weeks at a time.  I refer to my List Plan It seasonal lists of meals when I’m meal planning—I got mine with Stephanie Langford’s Plan it Don’t Panic eBook (highly recommend) but you could also get them here.

Grocery :: This holds any document related to food or food co-ops I’m in—my crazy cost-comparing spreadsheets, Dirty Dozen list, grocery checklist (another List Plan It favorite), etc.

Kids :: This contains the babysitting info sheet for sitters, kids’ favorite works of art, letters from Grammie, medical papers, and any other kid-related bits.

Personal ::  I admit, I labeled this section “Wifey.” That’s me.

This is dedicated to anything of personal interest that is unrelated to blogging or home decor (I have other binders for those).

Right now, it holds batik bookmarks from our friends in Malaysia, a pamphlet on a local nature preserve, Simple Mom’s reflection questions for New Year’s Eve, a muscle testing info sheet, and some favorite articles on parenting and prayer.  And this fantastic list from Ann Voskamp.

In case you were interested.

So, there it is.  Again, nothing revolutionary, but a great help to me in this season of life.

Do you use a household notebook?  If so, how does it work?

The post What’s So Great About a Household Notebook appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Written by Jenn, Contributing Writer

As the summer heat dies down and hints of fall are in the air, exploring the outdoors with the littles again becomes one of my favorite activities. The room to run and endless supply of objects to investigate always makes for a enjoyable outing.

In a beloved book on education, the author remarks that as we explore the natural world, “we are observing God’s handiwork. And it is spine-chillingly wonderful.”

This is the perspective I want to cultivate in my children, even if at one and three they simply enjoy digging in the dirt, picking flowers, and shouting about seeing the moon. “IT’S THE MOON, MOMMY! THE MOON! LOOK–IT’S SO BIG!”

Studying in greater depth will come later; for now I will do as 19th century British educator Charlotte Mason would suggest and just “involve them directly with the world, letting them enjoy, wonder, and question.”

With all of this in mind, we take our fair share of nature walks. Recently, I got all Charlotte Mason and decided we needed to preserve the bounty collected on these trips.

Making a real nature notebook might be a bit beyond my 3 ½ year old. But as I enjoy this sort of thing as much or more than her, I’m willing to endure a little glue mess and broken pressed flowers in the name of identifying and appreciating the flora in our little neck of the woods.

Frankly, I could probably do to say “yes” to a little more mess in our lives anyway. Which is why I encouraged the use of glitter in decorating our nature journal.

Making a Nature Notebook

Supplies:

Notebook with unlined pages
Paper towels
Heavy books
Basic Elmer’s glue or wood glue
Colored pencils/pens/crayons
Bits of nature

How To

1.) Go on a nature walk. Take it slow. Keep your eyes wide open.

City-dweller with not much nature to speak of? Find a pretty park or take a short drive to find a little more green space. You don’t need expansive forests and fields of flowers to make it an enjoyable experience of creation.

I had to force myself to slow down and let my daughter pick dandelion after dandelion. “LOOK MOMMY! ANOTHER YELLOW FLOWER! SO PRETTY!” What can I say? She has a zest for life.

2.) Point out all the plants and creatures.

Overlook the construction, stoplights, cars, and houses.  Look for what man didn’t create.

Trees, rocks, flowers, grasses, bugs, and small critters abounded. We threw rocks in the stream and ran squealing from hoards of grasshoppers in the tall prairie grasses.

3.) Let the littles pick their favorite flowers and leaves.

Ask them questions about what they see and help them find adjectives to describe their treasures.

Yes, that one has red berries. Yes, so pretty. No, don’t eat them. Or give them to your brother. I know he wants them, but he’ll just eat them/put them up his nose. Actually, it’s probably best that you don’t touch them. Here, give it to Mommy.

3.) Bring the bounty home to press.

Put the flowers and leaves between paper towels and carefully place them between the pages of a large book. Stack more books, canned goods, hand weights, etc. on top.

4.) Wait a few days for everything to flatten and dry.

I’ve read that it can take up to a few weeks for flowers to completely dry (and that you should change out the paper towels every few days), but our flowers were small and starting to dry out in the late summer heat anyway. It only took a couple days for them to flatten and dry.

5.) In the meantime, decorate a notebook.

I covered the front of ours so that my little big girl would have blank slate to decorate.

This is where I used glitter as a tool to combat my fear of mess. It was only somewhat effective.

6.) Glue the flowers and leaves into the notebook.

I advise using small drops of glue so you can do more pages at a time. We followed the “more is always better” philosophy on page one and had to wait a good hour to continue. The final results weren’t quite as lovely as these, but they served our purposes just fine.

7.) Identify and label each flower/leaf.

We picked up this helpful book from the library to guide us. But, being committed to accurate flower identification, I may also have consulted to internet to confirm my guesses.

8.) For further study:

Older kids or even eager young ones could write (or dictate) descriptions of their findings or a short poem about what they saw on their walk. I love Kristen’s free printable nature journal pages and accompanying poetry lesson idea.

What are your favorite outdoor activities now that summer is fading?

*this post is linked to: Encourage One Another, Titus 2sdays, and WFMW*

The post Nature Notebook for Kids appeared first on Day2Day Joys.