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Wildflowers and Marbles

Beauty in the Ordinary

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Well hello!

I've been sharing about the beauty in our ordinary days since 2007! You'll find planning, organizing, home education, our faith, and many book treasures tucked in the corners of my little digital spot. I'm so glad you're here! Subscribe to keep up with the latest!

Create In Me – Word of the Year – free printable

Create In Me – Word of the Year – free printable

January 5, 2021

I realize my blog title is a little misleading. Let me explain. This is the time of year we’re all looking to refresh, to start anew, recommit, and create new ideas, routines, rhythms, habits, spaces, and goals. Attached to this new start – permeated with possibility – is the practice of choosing a word for the year. This word is… Read More

Filed Under: Faith and the Liturgical Year, Goal Setting, Small and Ordinary Notes Tagged With: faith, word of the year

Advent Planner 2020/2021

Advent Planner 2020/2021

November 6, 2020

Here we are again, knocking at the door of the beginning of a new Church season – Advent – which begins in less than a month on November 29! Every year, for the last 10 years, I have been building an Advent and Christmas Planner and sharing it. In truth, this planner has been in existence longer than 10 years,… Read More

Filed Under: Advent, Faith and the Liturgical Year, Home, Planning, Shop Jen Mackintosh Tagged With: Advent, Advent planner, Christmas, Christmas planner, planner, shop

Makselife Goal and Weekly Planner – 2021 Review

Makselife Goal and Weekly Planner – 2021 Review

October 16, 2020

2020. I think we’re all about done, am I right? And goals? Those were shaken up and tossed out around April of this year! Good news – it’s time to start thinking about 2021, and fresh starts, and new goals! This is the time of year that goal setting systems are releasing, and I’m reviewing a relative newcomer – Makselife… Read More

Filed Under: Goal Setting, Planning Tagged With: goal planner, makse, Makselife, Makselifeplanner, planner

A Talk, A Giveaway, and My New Shop

A Talk, A Giveaway, and My New Shop

August 6, 2020

I’m speaking again! This time, I’m going LIVE on August 6 at 4:30 pm EST and my talk is: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty: A Morning Basket for All Ages Register here. The talks will be free and recorded (if you miss the live) will be available through August 10, but you can sign up for the VIP pass and have… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Morning Basket, Planning, Shop Jen Mackintosh

Homeschooling 101 – Common Questions & Answers

Homeschooling 101 – Common Questions & Answers

August 3, 2020

Any Homeschooling 101 series involves sharing about the basics and some steps to get you started, but there are always questions! You’ve got the concept, but you’ve also got questions! Over the last 20 years, I’ve heard some of the same questions many, many times. They are the questions you ask sincerely and you’re looking for reassurance that homeschooling works,… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Homeschool Series Tagged With: crisis homeschooling, early learning, homeschooling, low budget homeschooling, standardized tests, toddlers

Homeschooling 101 – A Guide To Homeschool Methods

Homeschooling 101 – A Guide To Homeschool Methods

July 28, 2020

What’s Your Homeschool Method? In considering homeschooling, knowing the different methods – and there a few of them – is an essential first step before choosing books and curriculum. Some of these methods come with curriculum that will need to be considered carefully as part of your family budget, and others will require more of an investment of time. I… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Homeschool Series Tagged With: homeschool printable, homeschooling, how to homeschool, simple homeschooling

Homeschooling 101 – A Simple Beginning

Homeschooling 101 – A Simple Beginning

July 15, 2020

If you could peek into my inbox right now you’d see a plethora of inquiries about homeschooling – both particulars and general requests. I value the connection and personal communication I’m able to share with those of you that write me, but at the time of this writing, I have so many emails and requests that there is no hope… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education Tagged With: homeschool printable, homeschooling, how to homeschool, simple homeschooling

A Brief History of Education

A Brief History of Education

July 1, 2020

One of my objectives this summer is to explore education starting with a wide, panoramic view, and walking down to the fine detail of the application of education with a view toward supporting those of you that may be new to, or veterans of, homeschooling. I’ve shared and written on the topic of home education here for many years. What… Read More

Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Classical Education, Home Education, Homeschool Series, Montessori, Rebuilding Culture Tagged With: homeschool 101, homeschooling

The Catholic Homeschool Conference (online) – My Talk and A Giveaway

The Catholic Homeschool Conference (online) – My Talk and A Giveaway

June 16, 2020

If my email inbox is any indication, a lot of you are considering homeschooling. And, with information in hand, an enormous number of you are stepping forward! Homeschooling is booming! Many of you had a trial run with Covid 19’s help and found you enjoyed homeschooling and the extra push has given you confidence to step forward. Some of you… Read More

Filed Under: Blogging, Giveaway, Home Education, Planning Tagged With: Conference, conference speaker, homechooling, homeschool conference

Anna Vance Paper Co Homeschool Planner | Review

Anna Vance Paper Co Homeschool Planner | Review

June 15, 2020

Summer is a time I love to review products for you – it’s a time to share so you can consider what might be the best tool for you – your life, your season, your family. I’m eager to write on some of the topics you’ve requested! But before I do, I have an exciting review to share with you!… Read More

Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, CM Teaching, Home Education, Lesson Plans, Planning Tagged With: charlotte mason, charlotte mason homeschool, charlotte mason homeschool planner, Homeschool planner, homeschooling, Lesson Planner

Erin Condren 2020 Academic & Monthly Planner – Review

Erin Condren 2020 Academic & Monthly Planner – Review

June 7, 2020

It’s no secret by now that planning on paper is a way of organizing and taking care of myself, my family, and the many different things I juggle. My life is very full – joyfully so! I often hear, “I don’t know how you do it all,” and my honest answer is often, “I don’t know either.” I just keep… Read More

Filed Under: Blogging, Planning Tagged With: content planner, Erin Condren, Erin Condren Academic Planner, Erin Condren Monthly Planner

Notes – And Coming Soon to the Blog!

Notes – And Coming Soon to the Blog!

May 31, 2020

It’s been a minute! Know that I’m often thinking about writing here – I just don’t always have the time to spend here! It’s a season. And I know that, and I truly respect that. I’m old enough to really appreciate the season I’m in, because I’ve seen enough of them come and go! I know by now that each… Read More

Filed Under: Blogging, Small and Ordinary Notes

Erin Condren LifePlanner Review | 2020

Erin Condren LifePlanner Review | 2020

April 22, 2020

It’s planner season!! That exciting time of year when we begin to look at the new planners and agendas that will be the paper tools that walk us through another year. And, I can’t be the only person ready to close the pages on the first part of 2020, can I? Or at least, I’m ready for possibilities again, some… Read More

Filed Under: Planning Tagged With: Erin Condren, erin condren life planner, planner

Erin Condren Teacher Planner – 2020|2021 Review

Erin Condren Teacher Planner – 2020|2021 Review

April 9, 2020

Here we are, wrapping up a school year and anticipating the next year. Except this year ends with the strangest educational arrangement – and one I never thought I’d see – every single parent is now a home educator. In my letter to reluctant homeschooling parents, I shared a crash course in homeschooling, dis-spelled a few myths, and gave you… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Lesson Plans, Planning Tagged With: Erin Condren, erin condren lesson planner, Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner, Erin Condren Teacher Planner, Homeschool lesson planner, Homeschool planner, Lesson Planner

Educational Resources and Printables for Lesson Planning

Educational Resources and Printables for Lesson Planning

March 15, 2020

Here we go. Where the rubber meets the road. I’ve heard from so many of you after my post sharing ideas and tips for bringing kids home from school and doing *school at home* on Friday, and I hear you. You’re overwhelmed, nervous, and trying to wrap your head around a lot in a very short time. I’m so glad… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Lesson Plans Tagged With: Homeschool planning, Lesson Planner, printable

An Open Letter to Parents Thrust Into Homeschooling Because of Coronavirus/Covid 19

An Open Letter to Parents Thrust Into Homeschooling Because of Coronavirus/Covid 19

March 13, 2020

The events and news of the day is startling. Words and phrases like Coronavirus, Covid 19, pandemic, incubation, social distancing and self quarantine dominate the vernacular. And it’s beginning to intrude in all of our everyday lives and routines in very significant ways. For those of us with children, it’s causing a big shift in our “normal.” I’ll leave the… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education Tagged With: coronavirus, covid 19, homeschooling

Getting Organized for 2020 – Office Edition

Getting Organized for 2020 – Office Edition

January 22, 2020

There is something about the beginning of a new year – it’s so fresh and full of potential and the hope of new beginnings. It’s an invigorating feeling! Each new year, I like to take a look at my organizing systems and note what’s working and update where needed! I like refreshing my organizing systems regularly because life is never… Read More

Filed Under: Organization, Planning Tagged With: desk organization, home office, home office desk, office organization, organization, organization tools, organizing

Lost in Homeschooling? Apply the Philosophy of Wonder

Lost in Homeschooling? Apply the Philosophy of Wonder

January 8, 2020

Life as a homeschooler isn’t what I imagined it would be all those years ago. I suppose it takes a few years and enough failures to be humble enough to see the simplest lessons. If I were younger and reading my own words today, I’d still be filled with all the hope and joy of youth, and also the sometimes… Read More

Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Classical Education, Home Education Tagged With: educational philosophy, good books, great books, home education, Homeschool, homeschool burnout, homeschooling, philosophy of education, wonder

MakseLife | Integrated Weekly & Goal Planner System

MakseLife | Integrated Weekly & Goal Planner System

November 12, 2019

As we round the corner to wrap up 2019 and begin 2020 (my stars!!) many of us are thinking about our goals for the next year. I’ve shared before that I’m pretty good at setting goals, but not the greatest when it comes to follow through, so a few years ago I discovered the PowerSheets Goal Planning system and I’ve… Read More

Filed Under: Goal Setting, Planning Tagged With: goal planner, makse, makselife planner, powersheets

Weekly Meetings: A Tool For Homeschool Success

Weekly Meetings: A Tool For Homeschool Success

November 4, 2019

Once upon a time there was a peaceful homeschool. The children were cheerful and loved their reading and their work. They completed assignments with ease and initiative and still had plenty of time to identify and sketch every form of flora and fauna in the backyard. Mother happily worked from task to task and child to child each day, dressed… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education Tagged With: Homeschool, weekly meeting

New Fall 2019 Erin Condren Products

New Fall 2019 Erin Condren Products

September 10, 2019

I received some new Erin Condren products and since I love sharing through photos – my little spot here on the interwebs is where I decided to share with you! I was so excited to see some of these new products – so first, a big thank you to the team at Erin Condren for sending these items my way… Read More

Filed Under: Blogging, Planning Tagged With: Erin Condren

Planning Your Creative Content With The Content Planner

Planning Your Creative Content With The Content Planner

September 5, 2019

Before I start this post, let me just say that I didn’t intend to be away from my blog for such a long time! It was a tremendously busy summer with a lot of travel and an exciting doctor’s appointment (in El Paso, TX) that I hope to share with you someday, and then all of a sudden it was… Read More

Filed Under: Blogging, Planning Tagged With: content planner, content planning, social media content, The Content Planner

Erin Condren Kids Planner

Erin Condren Kids Planner

June 11, 2019

Many of us know Erin Condren for her LifePlanners and amazing planning accessories. And y’all know I have been using the Erin Condren planner system for years! But there’s something new on the block from Erin Condren, and I haven’t been this excited about a new planner product in a long time. And the reason is that this isn’t for… Read More

Filed Under: Planning

Erin Condren | Deluxe Monthly Planner Review

Erin Condren | Deluxe Monthly Planner Review

June 3, 2019

In the world of planners, there are daily planners, there are weekly planners, and there are monthly planners. Each of these different types of planners fills a different need, and today’s review shows a monthly planner from Erin Condren – the Deluxe Monthly Planner from Erin Condren – which launches June 4, 2019. Quick housekeeping: the links on this post… Read More

Filed Under: Planning

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Catch up with me on Instagram

What’s your ride-or-die pen?? 🖊 These are m What’s your ride-or-die pen?? 🖊 

These are my favorite writing tools! And they’re in my favorite pouch - the @mytruffle clarity mini jetset case! (Coupon code in profile). Swipe to see the names and a pen test. My ride-or-die? It’s the pentel energel needlepoint 0.5!! It’s smooth, precise, and fast drying! But clearly...my pentel has a lot of friends!! 🤣 I believe in community! 🤣

Recognize any of your favorites in here?

#jensdeskandoffice #favoritepens #stationery #stationeryaddict #stationerysupplies #writingtools #planneraddict #plannercommunity #tombowdualbrushpens #zebrasarasa #zebrasarasamarkon #mujijellpen #unipin #uniballsigno #pentelenergel #sharpiesgel #kokuyo
Do you try to bring current style trends into your Do you try to bring current style trends into your home? I love following styles and trends, but I’m not going to drop a couple hundred $$ on new flatware or to replace fixtures. BUT I love adding something inexpensive that adds to the visual feel of a space! Like these little gold coffee spoons - they were $6.99 for 4, will be perfect for stirring coffee or hot chocolate, or tasting sauces while I’m cooking - and they add that little touch of on-trend gold!

They’re from Amazon - I linked them in my kitchen Amazon favorites in my profile. 🙂

I’d love to know more little/inexpensive  ways you like to bring current trends into YOUR spaces!
Wanna know my secret to a {reasonably} clean home? Wanna know my secret to a {reasonably} clean home??? It’s the Quick Tidy! Read on if you want to save your sanity!

I came up with something I call the Quick Tidy....years and years ago. When Sarah was little. (Sarah is now 24) And it’s still a part of my everyday routine (in fact, if you look at the post before this, you’ll see QT/quick tidy on my planner!). It was a system that got the kids involved, wasn’t overwhelming because it only took 10-15 minutes, and kept the house reasonably clean between big cleaning days! Friends, it’s so simple and it’s a sanity saver! 

My Quick Tidy system:
✳️ Quick tidy ONLY applies to the living areas of home; not kids’ bedrooms!
✳️ Everyone grab an empty laundry basket! All kids are involved - even toddlers can/should help!
✳️ Start in the kitchen, move to the family room, stairs, learning room (if you have one), home office, primary bathroom - and start picking things up!
✳️ Throw into the basket: random socks, candy wrappers, books, electronics, toys, blah, blah, blah. All the stuff that’s left out.
✳️ Take the basket full of stuff to the appropriate rooms/places: trash in trash, dump your son’s socks in his room, cups in the sink, etc. Just put it in the right room/space...and leave it.
✳️ Go around the living areas and fluff the pillows, move furniture back into place 🤪, clear the counters and wipe them.
✳️ Put away laundry baskets. 

DONE!

15 minutes, everyone working together! And the house is tidy! Do this every day! And then your big clean up days will be so much easier! If I could put the quick tidy in a package and market it, I’d be a millionaire - because it’s so simple and it works!

By the way, this works fantastically when you’re going to have company you weren’t expecting! All you need is 15 minutes to tidy the house!

I’m off to Quick Tidy the rest of the house now that my desk is done!

#quicktidy #tidyup
A day in the life. ✨ Sources: ✨Daily planner A day in the life. ✨

Sources:
✨Daily planner pages: @8lotus.co (see profile for coupon code)
✨Pen: Tul pen with pentel energel .5 refill
✨Financial stickers: @8lotus.co
✨Transparent page flags: @paperpanduh 
✨Word sticker sheet: @paperpanduh 
✨Acrylic desk organizer: linked in my Amazon favorites
Snow day. And ice day. And wind chill of 0 day. 🥶 Not your typical Alabama weather. I’ll be curled up in front of the fire with a coffee IV drip if you need me! Hope you’re warm and cozy wherever you are!
My rolling cart is so essential to my home office My rolling cart is so essential to my home office productivity! It’s mobile, organized, and holds all my favorite tools! I spent some time re-organizing it - because who doesn’t love a freshly organized cart? ❤️ 

Anything that adds to my cart’s function and organization is a welcome addition for me! Like my little magnetic storage shelf!

I love keeping my most used tool pouches out and accessible on my magnetic shelf! Sometimes I add stationery note cards and stamps here for an easy stationery collection! And I love using this in homeschooling for our flash cards or math manipulatives! So many possibilities! Part of the functionality of this little shelf is that it’s magnetic so it moves all over my cart - it works great as an organizer on the inside of the cart, too! (It can work on your fridge, too, if your fridge holds magnets!) And the magnet is legit! You’ll be able to add substantial items and not have this budge!

I put the link to this little organizing shelf from @lotsastyle_shop in my profile - along with a coupon code for 30% off that @lotsastyle_shop graciously gave me to share with you! (30JENMACK)

SOURCES:
Magnetic storage shelf: @lotsastyle_shop 
White and clear pouches: @mytruffle
Rolling cart: @michaelsstores

#rollingcart #plannercart #lotsastyle #lotsastorage #craftroom
What’s in my bag today! 👜 Today is ortho day What’s in my bag today! 👜

Today is ortho day for two of the kids and I’m in the car for a good part of the afternoon! I like packing my bag as a “mobile office” so I can get a little work done while I wait in the car! And I love organizing in pouches! It’s a great way to organize collections!

I love the Everyday Packing Tote set (of 3) from @austinandfowler for organizing my bags. (Mine are in oatmeal.) I’m a stickler for bright interior lining in pouches and bags so I can find things, and these pouches are perfect - the nylon is wipeable (a must for this busy mom!), and I love the leather trim details! The set includes a leather strap for the largest tote in the set to serve as a crossbody! Thank you for sharing them with me, Steph!❤️

If you haven’t checked out Steph’s collection of gorgeous bags at @austinandfowler, please do! I have the Omaha bag, and the Briggs bag is my favorite weekender bag! 

I know you’ll love Steph’s classic collection of bags that she has designed for busy women! If you shop use my code: JENNIFERM10 for $10 off your order!

How do you like to organize in your bag???

#whatsinmybag #wimb #austinandfowler #austinfowler #organizedbag #organizeyourbag #inmybag
I’m always looking for ways to get fresh produce I’m always looking for ways to get fresh produce in the house! Supermarkets can be hit or miss for me lately. 😞 I found @misfitsmarket online and started following them. I fell in love with @bobbyflay sharing how he would cook with items from the Misfits Market boxes!! So I started subscribing. I get the “Madness” size box, which is a good fit for our family size, but there is a smaller box! Delivery can be weekly or biweekly- your choice! And you get to choose what goes in your box!

The amazing thing about Misfits Market boxes is that this amazing organic food would have been wasted because it doesn’t meet specific size/weight guidelines for supermarkets. So...maybe my carrots are a little odd shaped! They’re healthy, affordable, and yummy! AND...the best part is the box lands on my front porch!

I’m not an affiliate, I just wanted to share in case you’re looking for fresh produce like I was. I do get to share a coupon code link with you - it’s a swipe up in my stories, and I’ll put it in my profile. It saves you 25% off your box!

I’m off to plan menus around all this beautiful produce! 🍎🍊🥭🍅🥦🥬🫑🥕🧅🥔

#misfitsmarket
would you like to see more? Catch up with Jen on Instagram

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All original written and photographic material on this site copyright © 2007 – 2020 Jennifer Mackintosh. Contact me for copyright questions.

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