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Wildflowers and Marbles

Beauty in the Ordinary

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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

A Mother’s Morning Basket

A Mother’s Morning Basket

May 26, 2017

If you’ve read here for any amount of time you know that almost 12 years ago, homeschooling my young but growing children, I sought to provide a common point in our day with what I coined, the Morning Basket – a simple collection of worthy books that lived in…a basket…and we read from each…morning. Thus, the Morning Basket came to be. (You can read all… Read More

Filed Under: Faith and the Liturgical Year, Morning Basket, Rebuilding Culture

Morning Basket – Term 2 Plans & Printables

Morning Basket – Term 2 Plans & Printables

January 24, 2016

How is your Morning Basket going? A friend asked me: “How can I plan a Morning Basket? I’m not sure what to include – my kids are young and I’m overwhelmed looking around at all the plans and ideas.” Let’s see if I can offer a few ideas for Morning Basket that might simplify the process if you’re trying to… Read More

Filed Under: Morning Basket

A Little Morning Basket Podcast

A Little Morning Basket Podcast

October 27, 2015

Pam at Ed Snapshots invited me to join her for one of her podcasts – chatting about our Morning Basket!  It was so much fun (although – I’m a total newbie to this podcast thing!), and chatting with Pam was like chatting with an old friend! Take a listen and let me know what you think! YMB #6 – Jennifer Mackintosh: A Considered… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Morning Basket

Morning Basket Series: Using an Erin Condren Teacher Planner

Morning Basket Series: Using an Erin Condren Teacher Planner

September 23, 2015

I’m back to continue my Morning Basket series and share with you about the lesson planner I use to record our actual Morning Basket work.  I’ve recorded  (and not recorded >>gasp<<) our Morning Basket in so many ways over the years.  But the last two years, I’ve really enjoyed using a write-it-down-as-you-go lesson planner.  I’ll tell you why… I’ve found I… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Lesson Plans, Morning Basket, Notebooks, Organization

The Morning Basket Series: My Master Notebook

The Morning Basket Series: My Master Notebook

September 14, 2015

I promised a look through my new Morning Basket binder when I shared our Term Plans and Printables with you, and here it is!  I had hoped to get this posted last week…but alas the beach called louder!  You understand, don’t you? I’ve always collected all my Morning Basket papers and resources in a few different files, but after years… Read More

Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Classical Education, Home Education, Morning Basket, Notebooks, Organization, Planning

The Morning Basket Plans & Printables – 2015

The Morning Basket Plans & Printables – 2015

August 31, 2015

  I’ve been meaning to share a few plans and printables with you for the Morning Basket this year.  This year, I’m working with a 9th grader, 5th grader, 2nd grader, and 2 year old.  Our Morning Basket shares the same principles it has always embraced – a lovely, common starting point for the day – although this year I… Read More

Filed Under: Morning Basket

Revisiting Morning Basket Plans for the New Year

Revisiting Morning Basket Plans for the New Year

July 1, 2014

I’m in the midst of planning week here, and I thought I’d take a minute to share the Morning Basket plans for the year and for Term 1! If you’re new here, or need extra information, check out this post on the Morning Basket: Morning Basket: Ageless, Inspiring, and Still Standing It contains history, explanations, and links to past posts… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Morning Basket

Morning Basket – Ageless, Inspiring…and Still Standing

Morning Basket – Ageless, Inspiring…and Still Standing

May 15, 2014

As we wrap up our year, I’m looking back at a few plans and books to review and chat about.  Without a doubt, our Morning Basket time continues to serve our growing family.  What began around 8 years ago as a common point in the day with shared reading time, has evolved and grown into something that is full, and… Read More

Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Home Education, Morning Basket

Refreshing the Morning Basket

Refreshing the Morning Basket

March 7, 2012

A couple of years ago, I posted about our Morning Basket and how much we enjoyed our together work which we keep in this family basket.  I thought I’d share again about our Morning Basket.  It seems to grow and change with our family and our family needs as they differ from year to year, so I hoped to show… Read More

Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, High School, History, Home Education, Learning Spaces, Lesson Plans, Living Learning, Morning Basket, Organization

The Morning Basket: A Place for the Good, True & Beautiful

The Morning Basket: A Place for the Good, True & Beautiful

August 5, 2009

How did the Morning Basket come to be? As my children grew and I added younger children to the mix of older children it became clear to me that expectations might be changing, but our philosophy hadn’t changed just because a child reached a certain age. There was a need to anchor the day for all of us in our… Read More

Filed Under: Home Education, Learning Spaces, Lesson Plans, Morning Basket Tagged With: morning basket

Well hello! My name is Jennifer Mackintosh and I’ve been collecting wildflowers & marbles and sharing here about all the ordinary things that make life joyful since 2007. You’ll find a little bit of everything here – planning, organizing and decorating ideas, Charlotte Mason & Classical home education ideas, lots of books, our Catholic faith, and a peek at a few of the corners of our life. I’m so glad you’re here!

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Catch up with me – snapshots of ordinary days

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

Shop Cloth + Paper Inserts and Planners – use code JEN10 for 10% off your order

First Erin Condren order? Click below and you’ll receive a $10 coupon!

Click Below to receive a $10 coupon to Simplified

Favorite Things

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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