I have resisted the urge to bring out the Christmas decorations early, even though we will be home for the holidays. At times, I thought about just digging out all of our favorite Christmas decor, but I kept the decorations tucked away as I anticipate a long January. I may need the season to hang ... Read More about Simple Home for the Holidays Traditions
Cultivate Simple Celebrations Amid Shutdowns
Last week, I planned out much of our Christmas season. I purchased tickets to the Lincoln Park Zoo lights, scheduled our weekend to attend the Geneva Christmas walk, and selected dates to view the Christmas Around the World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. With all these holiday ... Read More about Cultivate Simple Celebrations Amid Shutdowns
Cultivate Simple Christmas Eve Traditions
The memories of Christmas Eve during my childhood are hard to beat. The church I was raised in was a small community that knew how to celebrate the Christmas season. Each year, the church hosted a very well attended night of Christmas caroling in the church's neighborhood. We would all bundle up ... Read More about Cultivate Simple Christmas Eve Traditions
Cultivate Simple Christmas Traditions: Advent
As the weather gets colder in the Midwest, our family starts to settle into a slower rhythm of life. The sun goes down before dinner, so our evenings consist of reading books aloud, puzzles, games, or handicrafts. Most of the girls' school activities are pausing for the winter months, making our ... Read More about Cultivate Simple Christmas Traditions: Advent
Cultivate Purposeful Parenting in Precarious Times
Parenting in 2020 has definitely kept me on my toes. As my girls are getting older and the world is constantly changing, I have to refine and reconsider what values I want to instill in them. Mike and I want our girls to be kind, critical thinkers, problem solvers, exhibit ingenuity, and be ... Read More about Cultivate Purposeful Parenting in Precarious Times