jeep
avatar by on April 30, 2013   •   17 Comments Going Outside Your Family

Project Simplify: that put-off project

So my knee’s healing progress has actually slowed even more, just in time to finish this year’s Project Simplify with a bang. I’m back on crutches at the time of this writing, keeping my knee on ice and walking only when necessary. Ah well… Apparently this is par for the course in healing a reconstructed ACL.

This is my official excuse for not getting as much done as I wanted for this last hot spot—That Put-Off Project. Kind-of ironic, isn’t it? My knee has taught me so much this spring about patience, grace for others, and forbearance. I’m learning to wait on others, let go of ideal, and just rest when I need to. Who knew a body part was so full of wisdom?

Anyway, you’re here to see my put-off project, and here I am, bemoaning my injury.

It wasn’t a major selling feature, but it certainly was cool that our fixer-upper came with a treehouse in the backyard. (It’s not a literal treehouse, because there’s no tree involved. It’s a clubhouse on stilts. But the kids still call it a treehouse, so we just go with it.)

It was kind-of a mess, much like the rest of the house, and since we don’t actually live in it, it’s taken a major back seat. But since this year will be our first full summer in this home, we decided that our put-off project should be a little treat for the kids, even though we have many more important ones to cross off in the actual house. You’re welcome, kids.

So, here they are, our before and after pics in the backyard.

[Read more...]

canvas
avatar by on April 29, 2013   •   22 Comments Personal Growth You

We are all artists

As you start this week, may you find a nugget of courage to do the hard thing your heart is aching to do. May you find enough freedom to do something brave and risky, something that taps that gift you were given but haven’t yet fully and outwardly exercised.

We are all artists in some way, whether our media is watercolor, keyboard, food, camera, numbers, or diaper. What is the main thing keeping you from doing your art—is it time, money, courage, or encouragement? Do you have a voice this week telling you that your work isn’t important?

May you combat lies with truth this week, and may you dare to be you, in the small ways and big. May you look in the mirror and in the words of your journal and love who you truly are.

And may you find enough courage to acknowledge your artistry, and to recognize the little ways your life teems with canvases.

notebook
avatar by on April 29, 2013   •   Personal Growth You

Need a crazy amount of reading material?

This e-book bundle sale has now ended. Bummed? You can still buy the e-books individually—head here to check out the lineup.

I don’t normally post twice in a day, so here’s this week’s benediction if you’re looking for it. But I wanted to quickly let you all know about a pretty sweet deal starting today that includes my ebook, One Bite at a Time. For the next six days, there’s an insane load of cool things sold as a bundle—waaaaay on sale.

Here’s the short-and-sweet info: 97 e-books and e-courses, written by 75 bloggers, on sale for $29.97. The value is just over $600. I’m not good at math, but that’s looking like $570 off the retail price. Head here to see what’s all included.

Now, I’m not big on pushing you to buy things you don’t need, nor am I big on more equaling better—so in some ways, you might be thinking 97 items are WAY too much for you to handle. I understand. But there are a few reasons I think this sale might be good for some of you…

[Read more...]

yellow buds
avatar by on April 27, 2013   •   3 Comments Links

Weekend links

The readers who’ve won a copy of What it is is Beautiful are: Sarah, JoAnne, Bev, Jessica, Jessie, Aimee, Tara, Tina, Bethany, and Amy. Congrats to the ten of you! Look for an email and get back to us as soon as you can.

Got a question for you…

My publisher is starting to work on its marketing campaign for my forthcoming book (release date: early 2014!), and they’re curious about one thing—Simple Mom readers’ view of religion and faith. Would you kindly take this quick, anonymous ten-question survey for them? I’d sure appreciate it. (If you’re reading via email or RSS reader, click over to the blog to see the survey. You can also head to the survey directly here.)

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.” -Anne Bradstreet

mudroom
avatar by on April 23, 2013   •   25 Comments Organizing Your Home

Project Simplify: piles

This past week has been a push and pull of moving things around the house, feeling productive as the spring air peeks through the still-wintery clouds—and having to stop and rest my knee even though the rest of me is eager to move forward. I’ve been looking forward to this week’s hot spot with Project Simplify all month, but my body just wasn’t as cooperative as I liked.

(In case you didn’t know, I tore my ACL a few months ago, had surgery a little over a month ago, and am in full-on recovery mode, with physical therapy twice a week.)

But I did what I could, because our biggest clutter culprit since moving to our fixer-upper last summer is piles. Piles of cardboard, piles of linens on top of the dryer until we build a linen closet, piles of clothes lining the hallway to sort through, piles of old house parts from our remodeling work… You name it, there’s been piles of stuff in almost every part of our home.

Just keeping it real here.

I know it takes at least a year to fully move in somewhere new; even longer when that “somewhere new” is a partially-done remodel that still requires your elbow grease. So I wasn’t feeling like we were behind—I’ve just been ready to have it done.

I’m all about less being more and having plenty of space. Most of you well know one of my favorite quotes from 19th century architect William Morris: “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Well, it was time to purge some of the non-useful and non-beautiful.

So here’s what we accomplished this weekend in the piles department.

[Read more...]