After years of being a do-it-all Christmas Season Maximalist, I’ve discovered my sweet spot in a quieter, more carefully curated Advent for myself and my family.

While there is nothing wrong with entering the season of Advent as either a maximalist or a minimalist, the maximalist version of Advent is often considered the proper way to celebrate.

 

Fewer Must-Do’s

Over a decade ago, I found my exhausted self standing in a friend’s kitchen, my newborn in another’s arms, sliding pans of cookies in and out of the oven as six of us worked to make and exchange hundreds of cookies. I love my friends, and I love doing things in community, but cookie exchanges are not my thing. The year I gave myself permission to say a loving no to the cookie exchange was the start of my minimalist Advent adventure.

You can read the rest of the article here. 

—Julie

 

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Be on the lookout in the next two weeks for more tips and encouragement for the Advent season.
 

“Mom, I’m bored,” my daughter said with a sigh as she entered the room. Looking up from
my computer screen, I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.


Bored, really? With a room full of books and toys, an overloaded craft closet, free rein to bake something, a bike and outdoor swing set, and two sisters to play with each day—how could she possibly be bored?
Though I actually think a little boredom is good for my kids—and certainly don’t go out of my way to entertain them at every moment—I dread hearing the words “I’m bored.”

One way to ward off boredom is having a list of ideas available in advance. Even small twists on mundane items—like eating a picnic lunch outside instead of our regular lunch at the table—can remind my kids that if they’re feeling bored, there are plenty of ways to create their own fun.

To that end, here’s a list of 10 fun, frugal outdoor activities to help bust kids’ boredom this summer. Though some ideas require leaving the house, many are free and easily accomplished at home.

To read the rest of the article at Joyful Life Magazine's blog (and for more heart + home inspiration from a beautiful collective of authors), click here.

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My dad always owned his own business. When I was a child he was a farrier, traveling from farm to farm—putting in long days, especially in the summer, coming home smelling like animals and outside and barnyards. I loved it.

When I was in middle school we moved, horseshoeing had become just too physically taxing for my dad to continue doing and so he needed a change. We settled across our state in a small town where he began a financial services business. And although I could say many things about that time of my life, one thing I remember distinctly was how lean the next few years were financially. Not that my parents complained or worried to us kids, but we could sense that things we’d done before wouldn’t be happening those first couple of years, that we needed to cut back on spending. Still, we found we were okay.

And that is why this season, this year, has felt somewhat familiar to me. My husband owns his own business and it has afforded us many benefits for which I am so grateful these past seven years. But this year has been slightly different. Through no fault of his own, some client bases have changed, contacts moved to different companies—leaving us in a season of leanness, at least financially.