20 questions for reflecting on your 2011

bowl of popcorn

Happy New Year’s Eve Eve! Today I’m over on (in)courage, sharing my annual list of questions I use to reflect on the previous year. Head over there to read the post and to share your thoughts. Then, head back here and download the free PDF of questions. Use it to journal in solitude or to [...]

Everyday Ways to Foster Independence in Kids

jumping girl

I feel that one of my main parenting jobs is to help my kids leave the nest knowing to look both ways before crossing the street, how to boil water, and that it’s a good thing to pay bills on time. How to be a grown-up, in other words. By the time my kids are [...]

My favorite music, movies, television, and books of 2011

fleet foxes helplnessness blues

You know, I was going to write a post revealing great ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve with little kids. But then I realized I don’t have any great ideas. Stay home. Play a board game or two. Pop some popcorn. Maybe watch a movie and stay up a bit later than usual. Talk about [...]

Merry Christmas!

card

From my family to yours… May your days be merry and bright. “Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” -Washington Irving “I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every [...]

A Simple Holiday Season (the latest on The Simple Mom Podcast!)

homefries

The latest podcast is up! In this episode, I’m talking with my friend Megan Tietz of Sorta Crunchy. We’ve been trying to podcast all throughout the fall, so it was great to finally catch up with each other! In this episode, Megan and I chat about We talk small houses (and how to deal with [...]

4 minimum requirements for vibrant living…are you meeting them?

Photo by Simon Blackley

Written by Lisa Byrne of WellGrounded Life A few weeks ago I was walking out of my children’s preschool when I bumped into another mom I’ve known casually over the past two years. We stopped to say hello and catch up a bit, and the conversation moved into talking about my business. As I was [...]

Adoption: Our Family’s Story

children running

A note from Tsh: I love my assistant, Katie, and I love her family—and I also love their story. I found it worth telling, so I’m honored to have her share it today… “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” – Mother Theresa Next month, our family will complete a journey [...]