Beauty in the Ordinary
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Meeting the needs of parents and caregivers loving little ones with special needs The planner I have for you today breaks my rules a bit – because it’s not a planner I currently use. And no, I’m not becoming a full-time professional planner reviewer! BUT! When Amanda, of the glory days co., wrote to me and asked me if I… Read More
featuring: the Erin Condren Teacher Planner I enjoy reviewing some of my favorite planner systems around this time of year! But I feel like reviewing a fresh new planner, while hopefully inspiring, can’t show you all of the potential and the usefulness I’ve found in its pages. And in showing you, it is NOT my hope that you’ll feel as… Read More
Here we are, at the end of another school year, and smack in the middle of a month of new planner launches. As we’re wrapping up a year, we’re also starting to consider what comes next! I have always loved the possibility in a fresh new school year! Almost as much as I love a bouquet of fresh pencils and… Read More
Well friends, every year we await the new launch of the Erin Condren planner lineup, and the 2019 lineup is finally here! I’ve got the brand new coiled LifePlanner and its sister, the LifePlanner binder system – all so you can look at the detail and check out the prices and info BEFORE you shop! These planners and all the… Read More
In the world of lesson planning, I must admit – I am particular. Having been a home educator for 18 years has taught me to appreciate a few key elements of lesson planners and lesson planning in general. After all, with 5 kids, I’ve taught Kindergarten 5 times, 12th grade twice now, and all the grades in between for a… Read More
As we round the corner from Easter and the beginning of spring into summer my calendar is full! I can hardly believe I’m wrapping up our 18th year of home education! We’re about to graduate our second child and send him off to college. Our first grand-daughter is 7 months old and the most adorable drop of sunshine ever! And… Read More
Here we are again, at the start of spring and staring at all the potential around us! The weather is glorious and our schedules are beginning to fill with all the activities and priorities that come with a new season! This time of year is a time of new potential in so many areas, and to meet that need planner… Read More
February is here. Any homeschooler knows what that means. Burnout season. I choose to view it differently, and after 18 years of homeschooling, this February time of reflection has come to be one of the most important times of our year for considering some of our habits, routines and spaces anew – and refreshing! By February, here’s what is usually… Read More
Look around – on desks and counters and tables across the world there are beautiful, shiny, new planners – all full of the potential and possibility of a blank canvas. The days we anticipate, goals we hope to accomplish, lists waiting to be listed, the season we live, responsibilities and duties folded in with fun and relaxation – it all… Read More
