What Can You Expect Here?

That’s what this blog is about. I’m just a mom doing mom things, like you. Welcome. Or, as I like to say, “sorry for the mess, but we live here.” In the spare moments I find between homeschooling, homesteading, and homemaking, I share the easy and tangible tips I’ve learned that have made taking on any new skill less daunting, less overwhelming, and more doable – even if you don’t think you have enough time, space, or money.

The world will tell you life is black and white, but I’m here to tell you to live in the gray (grey? It doesn’t matter!) We live in a world of extremes, of no middle ground, of all or nothing, of this or that, not both. But there is so much contentment and peace in realizing that there is a middle ground, you can have some of both, and you don’t have to choose between all or none. It’s called balance. Moderation. The moment you give yourself permission to do things some of the time and not all of the time is the moment your life changes and you can experience more joy, less stress, and less guilt.

Case in point: I cook from scratch most of the time, but pizza is my favourite food (and not the homemade kind). I believe in getting away from processed foods and seed oils, but my sweet tooth is incurable. I believe in getting your hands dirty, but also washing your hands. I’ve got one foot in the 21st century, and one foot in the old-fashioned world. I think it’s important to get back to our roots, get outside, and connect with nature, but I also appreciate modern conveniences like washing machines, dishwashers, and toilet paper. I loved country living but I also like being close to the amenities of town (like ordering pizza, of course). I start most seeds myself, but not everything. I can strawberry jam and pasta sauce, but sometimes buy it. I find satisfaction in learning to be more self-sufficient, but also in meeting locals who fill in the gaps and offer things I don’t.

Along those lines, there’s no right or wrong way to garden, do sourdough, cook, homeschool, even can. There’s just different ways. When it comes to learning a new skill and getting closer to the life you want, it’s about progress, not perfection. We’ll never be perfect, feel ready, or have it all together, but we can make progress by taking things slowly, one step at a time, and learning as we go. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

The key is, you just have to start. There’s magic in just beginning. It doesn’t matter how small you start, just start. Everyone starts somewhere, even the experts and the people who have been doing what you want to do for years – and that somewhere is at the beginning. Nobody else’s story is yours, nobody else’s journey is yours. Don’t compare your Day 1 to someone else’s Year 5. Recognize the season of life you’re in and what you can realistically handle, and work with it, not against it. If you get in the right mindset, your success is inevitable.

This is a space where you can feel inspired and encouraged, enabled, and empowered to start whatever it is you’ve been wanting to start, or learn whatever it is you’ve been wanting to learn. Life is too short to let fear or doubt hold you back. Life is better when you make space for what you love and want to spend time doing.

After all, it’s the little things that make a big life.