five good things

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1 // A FUN WAY TO TRACK YOUR HABITS

My big goal for September was to bring some margin into my life.  I have been laser focused on the expansion of our homestead and finally hit burnout stage in August.  Anyway, at the beginning of the month, I made a list of “fun” things that bring me peace/happiness.  I also found this free printable habit tracker to visually see what I’m choosing each day.  Loving the daily check-in so far!  (And you can tell from my tracker above that it’s still way too hot to have a big quilt on my lap, ha!)

2 // “TELL ME WHAT YOU REMEMBER” BOOKS

Inspired by Farmhouse Schoolhouse’s “Friday Exam” tradition, we are incorporating this in our school week too!  She mentioned in one of her blogposts that she was transitioning from butcher paper to blank notebooks and I went that direction too.  I bought these spiral-bound books and each Friday, I ask a handful of questions: “Tell me what you remember about Daniel Boone’s adventures with Finley.  Do you remember how a compass works from our geography studies?  Can you write down a Roman numeral cheat sheet?  What was your favorite part in our read aloud this week?”  We casually chitchat and the kids draw their favorites on one page of the spiral-bound book.  Sometimes they are very detailed, sometimes they choose to only make pencil sketches.  All of it combined shows me what things stuck and what I’ll need to review in the next week.

3 // A NEW-TO-US ART CURRICULUM

We are trying Art Tango for art education this year and loving it so far!  In an attempt to accommodate a range of students, I decided to go down the middle and follow the Third Grade Level.  It’s simple enough for my second grader to understand, but I can easily make it more advanced/detailed for my 6th grader.  And the curriculum is free!

4 // A MIRACLE TOILET RING CLEANER

We get these really awful hard water stains in our toilets and it’s always so embarrassing when we have people over.  I want to block the bathroom door and say, “We really are clean people, I swear!”  I have scrubbed and scrubbed using a variety of products and they barely made a dent.  Insert the Pumie toilet bowl ring remover!  It’s safe for porcelain, contains no added chemicals and can remove anything.  My toilets look brand new again!  I’ll be buying these things in bulk from now on.

5 // A PRINTABLE FOR LEGO FANS

A fun activity that my little boys have been enjoying: coloring this cute Lego minifigure printable in a variety of ways.  I love to see what they come up with.

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1 // MY GO-TO FARMER FOOTWEAR

Last fall, my husband surprised me with these muck boots.  I balked at the price, but they have proven to be worth every penny.  I like that they are easy to pull on quickly and are relatively comfortable for a rubber shoe!  I have worn them in sun and snow and rain and they’ve held up beautifully.

2 // A WICKER BUTTOCKS BASKET FOR COLLECTING EGGS

If you can get past the funny name, this is the best egg basket!  I love the vintage one I found and how it looks on the kitchen counter.  Etsy has a ton of options, including this one, this one, and this one too.  So cute!

3 // OUR NEW FAVORITE BLUEBERRY PIE

For the fourth of July, I made this blueberry crumble pie and the kids still talk about it.  It was the first time I’ve ever included shredded apple in the filling, which helped keep the blueberries from spilling every which way.  And the crumble topping?  Yum.

4 // DAD’S CLASSIC MOVIE SUMMER SERIES

One fun activity my husband has started with the kids is a “Classic Movie Night” filled with some of his childhood favorites.  Some are appropriate for the entire family, some are a little more mature or intense.  A few of their favorites:

5 // A SOLUTION FOR BETTER QUALITY SLEEP

This is turning out to be a list inspired by my husband, ha!  He recently started using this mouth tape and we’ve been amazed at the difference in his sleep quality.  Turns out that breathing through your nose is really important!

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1 // A SAFER NAIL POLISH

Have you heard of Piggy Paint nail polish?  They are a small business focusing on non-toxic, water-based nail polish.  I stumbled on them while looking for Easter basket ideas for my daughter and ended up buying her this gift set.  She loved it.

2 // STICKERS!

I decided to try Sticker Giant for the first time and was so impressed.  I designed my sticker on Canva and it was a quick process to upload it to the site and order.  I appreciate that they send you a proof before printing so you can see exactly how everything will line up on the sticker.  We picked the matte finish so we could write on them and it was perfect for our needs.  Our chicken looks so professional!

3 // A REUSABLE SWIFFER PAD

With supply chain issues and the rising cost of everything, I’ve been trying to invest in more long term solutions.  And if I can purchase from a small business, it’s a win/win!  My latest find was from the shop, JuniperSeed Mercantile.  I bought a set of washable, reusable Swiffer mop pads and I love them!  Great quality.  (I also purchased their reusable bamboo hankies, but haven’t tried them yet.  They are on the smaller side, but really soft.)

4 // A SWEET TREAT FOR ALL THOSE STRAWBERRIES

It’s strawberry season!  One of our favorite treats is strawberry shortcake and I use this recipe for the biscuits.  Quick, easy and delicious.

5 // EFFECTIVE FRUIT FLY REMOVAL

Having my sourdough on the counter attracts fruit flies, which is so annoying.  Thankfully, I found a nontoxic trap-type thing called Fly Punch and it’s quickly gotten the problem under control.  I bought mine on Grove, but you can also find them on Amazon.

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1 // SIMPLE MEMORY KEEPING

After a two year hiatus, I’m back to recording little snippets of our everyday life with the 1 Second Everyday app.  I love this type of memory keeping.

2 // HOMEOPATHIC ALLERGY RELIEF

Springtime has not just brought new growth and sunny days, but also our favorite friend: allergies!  In an attempt to save a little money (and avoid some side effects from conventional choices), I decided to try out a homeopathic version.  Honestly, I had low expectations but I’ve actually been highly impressed!  My worst symptom is a runny nose and one pill clears me right up.  My husband and son suffer worse than I do and even they feel like it helps.  And 60 tablets for a little over $6 can’t be beat.  I purchase from iHerb, but you can also get them on Amazon.

3 // READING THE BIBLE IN A YEAR AS A FAMILY

My husband followed the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz in 2021 and enjoyed it so much that he requested that my oldest two sons listen for 2022.  We’ve had such great conversations dissecting what they’ve been learning!  In March, I incorporated it as part of my Lenten discipline and haven’t missed a day yet.

4 // HELP FOR HEALTHY TRANSPLANTS

I heard about this organic mycorrhizal fungi powder from a gardener on Youtube and decided to give it a try.  The claims are astounding: it is supposed to promote vigorous root growth, deceases the amount of watering needed, enables the soil to retain nutrients longer, and reduces transplant shock.  I’ve used the powder for all of my transplants (including fruit trees!) and they’ve all done great so far.

5 // GOOD ADVICE FOUND ON A NOTECARD

I recently found this little card below while decluttering.  I have no idea where it came from or how it came to be in my house, but I loved the rules and taped it up on my mirror.  With everything going on at home and out in the world, I am specifically working on #10: Live one day at a time.  Tomorrow will take care of itself, right?

1 // A FUN SPRINGTIME ACTIVITY

On one of the warmer days last week, we made a homemade bubble solution using this recipe.  I kept the 4:1:2 ratio, but went with a cup versus a tablespoon.  Big hit with the smallest three kids.

2 // HELP FOR NOVICE GARDENERS (LIKE ME!)

When it comes to gardening, I need all the help I can get.  I recently discovered the From Seed to Spoon App and it is a treasure trove of information for novices like me!  The layout is easy to navigate and I especially love how it tells you when and how to plant each variety.  The “friends” section is helpful for companion gardening as well.  I’m learning a lot and have completely revamped my garden plan.

3 // NEW IDEAS FOR GETTING EVERYONE OUTSIDE

Have you seen the 1000 Hours Outside kick off packet?  (Thanks for the tip, Tab!)  My kids are a bit older and we already spend a lot of time outside with farm/garden stuff, but I still found value in the printables.  I’m jotting down the best ideas in my planner and plan to surprise the littler kids with special days throughout the year.  Yay for helping me be a fun mom!

4 // A VIDEO THAT MADE MY KIDS LAUGH

The elementary-aged kids and I just finished up the mammal unit in science and they especially loved the section on primates.  One of the animals we learned about was the macaque and this video had them in stitches.  I mean…what a life.

5 // A MORE NATURAL SOLUTION FOR HEADACHE SUPPORT

I occasionally struggle with hormonal and stress headaches.  In an attempt to find a more natural solution, I purchased the Migraine Support roll on from Rocky Mountain Oils.  If I apply it as soon as I feel the headache coming, it really takes the edge off.  Not sure I’d say it completely takes it away, but I’m thankful for the supplementary help.

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1 // A NEW PLANNER FOR A NEW YEAR

I’m just a few weeks into my new 2022 planner from Passionate Penny Pincher and I really love it so far.  Just enough space for each day’s tasks and lots and lots of checklists!  I like that my daily household tasks are included on the weekly spreads to keep me on track.

2 // A WEBSITE FOR VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS

My husband and I have been in research mode as we seek to fix the root problems of a few nagging ailments.  In my search for a vitamin and supplement provider, I found iHerb.  I have made two orders so far and have found that they have a wide range of products, the prices are fair and the shipping is lightning fast.

3 // A PAIR OF INEXPENSIVE BACK-UP GLASSES

Because I wear my glasses almost daily, I wanted to make sure I had a couple of back-up pairs just in case.  I went with GlassesUSA and was really happy with my experience.  The process was easy and they had a wide range of price points.  (I went with some of the cheapest since they were just going to be back ups.)  Very pleased!

4 // A NEW PUZZLE

We always have a puzzle going during the winter and the latest addition to our collection is this Lego minifigure 1,000 piece puzzle.  A big hit.

5 // MY YOUTUBE WEATHERMAN

Have you heard of the Youtube channel called Ryan Hall, Y’all?  He is my go-to guy for anything weather related!  I have learned so much about meteorology from his videos.

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1 // AN IMMUNITY BOOST FOR FALL & WINTER

I’ve been on a big immune system research kick the past few months.  We already use and love Nuun electrolyte tablets, so I was excited to try their Immunity line.  The blend includes vitamin C, elderberry extract, ginger powder, turmeric and echinacea – all good stuff!  I really like it when I’m feeling stressed or starting to get a tickle in my throat.  You can find these on their website, but they’re also available on Amazon.

2 // ANOTHER WAY TO TRACK WHAT I’M READING

A few months ago, I stumbled on a Youtube video called How I Organize My Reading!  In that video, she mentioned Notion and even offered a free template to make a reading tracker like hers.  I was intrigued and decided to give it a try.  Fast forward to today and I LOVE it.  Perfect for a numbers/statistics nerd like me.

3 // A QUICK AND EASY CHILI RECIPE

I have accumulated many different chili recipes over the years, some super simple and some more involved.  This recipe is one of my easiest and has been our go-to lately.  We use it for everything from chili dogs, poured over baked potatoes or eaten as is with big pans of cornbread.

INGREDIENTS 1 lb. browned ground beef 15oz can kidney beans (drained and rinsed) 15oz can black beans (drained and rinsed) 14.5oz tomato sauce 14.5oz crushed tomatoes 2 cups chicken broth

homemade chili seasoning (recipe below)

CHILI SEASONING 2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cumin 1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp onion powder

Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot.  Heat on medium-high until the chili starts to simmer.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or longer.

4 // A NON-UNDERWIRE BRA THAT WORKS

Not to be too TMI, but I have a really hard time finding a great fitting brassiere.  I purchased two of these after reading the glowing recommendation of another blogger and wow, I’m a huge fan.  The fabric is so soft and comfortable!  This is their website, but you can also order on Amazon.  (P.S. Make sure the seller is actually Floatley – bad Chinese knockoffs are being sold under the same listing.)

5 // A NEW-TO-ME FRUGAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I recently found a new Youtube channel called Frugal Jo.  From her description: “My videos are based on making a great life without spending a lot, making do with what you have, frugal living hints and tips, with a bit of cast iron cooking and vintage kitchenalia thrown in.”  Right up my alley!  I’m anxious to catch up on her past videos and learn some new tricks.

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1 // NEW EMERGENCY CANDLES

We’re always on the lookout for items to add to our power outage supplies and recently bought a bunch of emergency candles from Lehmans.  (Have you ever browsed that website?  I have a huge wish list!)  These taper candles are dripless, smokeless, odorless, and supposedly burn for 12 hours.  The candlemaker is Sunshine Candle Works.

2 // A “POOR MAN’S BERKEY”

This ZeroWater pitcher was recommended to me as a “poor man’s Berkey” and since the price was right, I went for it!  We’ve had it for a few months now and I’m pleased so far.  The water tastes great and since we’re on well water, the filter doesn’t have to work as hard and will (hopefully) last us a long time.

3 // A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA FOR CARE PACKAGES

How cool are these printables from Skip to My Lou?  Sometimes we need a little snail mail inspiration and this is a great solution.

4 // KEEPING COOL ON HOT DAYS

This was another purchase for possible summer power outages, but these cooling towels have also proven helpful for just ordinary hot days!  You dip the towel (which is long and narrow like a scarf) in water, wring it out and it claims to stay cool for up to three hours.  Great for keeping cool while mowing the lawn or working in the garden.

5 // MORTGAGE PAYOFF CALCULATOR

I’ve been super motivated to pay off our mortgage and love to use Dave Ramsey’s calculator for motivation.  You can easily manipulate numbers to see how an extra payment will affect the longevity of the loan.  I especially love seeing how much interest I can decrease!

1 // INVISIBLE PEOPLE

I recently discovered a Youtube channel where a man interviews different people facing homelessness. Their stories are heartbreaking and fascinating and my heart quickly broke in pieces for them. After watching a few episodes, I was inspired to search for solutions in my own town and found a short-term family shelter that I never knew existed! I quickly made a small donation (Remember my 20/20 goal from last year? Little donations still matter!) and will continue to check in for volunteer opportunities.

2 // PANTRY ORGANIZATION

With so many people in and out of the pantry around here, it quickly becomes quite messy…and it drives me crazy! I recently took everything out and reorganized the shelves, which was a great start.  I also bought a set of cereal containers (affiliate link) to help.  They hold an entire box of cereal, so I never have to worry about extra bits.  Next on the organization plan is to get a metal rack for canned goods.

3 // THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE

While I have not personally had a miscarriage, there are many, many women in my life who have. I often think of those babies as my special little saints in heaven and ask them to pray for us and watch over their mamas.  A Mom’s Peace is an apostolate in my area focused on miscarried and stillborn babies and when I recently checked out their website for information on donations, I discovered their Garden of Remembrance.  So beautiful. 

4 // A HOMEMAKER IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION “GLORIES” IN HER WORK

I loved this essay from a homemaker in 1932 that was reprinted here.  I especially loved this part: “Please do not gather from this that I am a low-brow drudge who knows nothing else. I play McDowell and Tschaikowsky because I love them, and I enjoy Sinclair Lewis and Edna Ferber and Thackeray and Wells. Washing just happens to be one of my sidelines.”

5 // USBORNE EMBROIDERY KITS

For Christmas, we gifted our daughter a bunch of crafty things, including a beginner’s embroidery kit from Usborne.  It was a big hit!  You may already have an Usborne consultant, but the two I know are Rosie and Sarah.

This post contains affiliate links. 1 // SMILE’S PRID HOMEOPATHIC DRAWING SALVE I’ve been meaning to share this homeopathic salve for months.  We use it most often for bug bite relief but it also supposedly works on blisters, splinters and ingrown hairs.  And a little goes a long way!  A good one to keep in your medicine cabinet.   
2 // A WAY TO USE UP A BOX OF CHEERIOS We had a box of plain Cheerios in the back of the pantry that was nearing its expiration date.  Since no one was very keen to eat them, I searched for a way to use them up.   Enter No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars!  It’s a super easy recipe and needs only three ingredients, although we drizzled the top with melted milk chocolate because we’re sugarholics.  A yummy treat.    3 // THIS PRAYER WHEN LIFE FEELS DARK AND SCARY

I found this prayer recently and will keep it on hand for the times I feel overwhelmed and worried.

4 // A CREATIVE WHO RECREATES AMERICAN GIRL DRESSES
By the wonder of the Internet, I stumbled on a really cool series on the blog, Stars + Field: The Kirsten Project!    The research and attention to detail on her finished pieces are just incredible.  I’m selfishly hoping that she moves on to Samantha (the American Girl doll I had as a kid) next.   

5 // A BOOK FOR BEGINNER READERS

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1 // A NEW PUZZLE
One good thing that has come from 2020 is our new love for family puzzles!  We took a break through the summer, but I bought this United States of America puzzle from Mudpuppy to get us back into the habit.  It is 1,000 pieces, very colorful and has lots of fun details.  More importantly, the pieces are sturdy and uniquely cut…nothing is more frustrating than buying a cheap puzzle where every single piece is the same shape.  You can find it on Amazon, sometimes your local bookstore (even through Bookshop!) or there’s even a few on eBay too.

2 // A REUSABLE OPTION FOR LEFTOVER BITS AND PIECES
My older kids cook a lot of their own breakfasts and lunches (omelettes, stir frys, etc.) and we always seem to have sandwich baggies full of half-used onions or peppers in the fridge.  I wanted a less wasteful option, so I found Stashers!  They are reusable, silicone bags that are dishwasher safe and come in tons of sizes and colors.  I bought mine from Freckled Hen Farmhouse, but you can find them on Amazon too.

3 // THIS INSTAGRAM POST FROM ROSIE

I’ve all but abandoned my public Instagram account, but hopped on recently to check on a notification.  The first post I saw before closing out was Rosie’s above…and can I just say, AMEN?  In my almost 14 years of motherhood, I learned pretty quickly that if I wanted a houseful of children AND my sanity…well, a perfectly curated, always tidy home was out of the question for awhile.  It’s a special kind of “death to self”, a forced (but necessary) lesson in letting go of control and perfection.  Messes still drive me completely crazy, but I’m hoping they’re sanctifying me a little bit too.    4 // A NEW WAY OF KEEPING TRACK OF ALL THE THINGS I’m typically a planner girl, but this summer, I kept track of my to-do list with an old notepad that I used to sell back in the BWF days.  I recently used the last page so I quickly purchased another weekly notepad (but in a new design!) from 1canoe2.  They also sell this mint version, which is beautiful too. 5 // A NEW TO ME YOUTUBE CHANNEL I somehow stumbled onto a Youtube channel called Megan Fox Unlocked, who is a young Mennonite wife and mother.  Her video about Assumptions was so interesting to me and I learned a lot about her life and Mennonite beliefs.  It made me wonder – what must people assume about ME?  I’m not sure I’m brave enough to ask, ha! A few months ago, I was organizing my cookbooks when I came across a little book toward the back of the shelf.  It was given to me years ago by my grandmother (who has now passed away) and was a collection of recipes from members of her church.  I finally took the time to browse through the booklet and what a treasure trove!  So many simple tried-and-true recipes were inside.  I decided to start with a cookie recipe and it’s been a big hit with my kids.  I’ve made it many times since.  Thank you, Martha R, whoever/wherever you are!  Here’s the recipe: Cream butter, brown sugar and egg.  Add molasses.  Mix together dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.  Roll into balls and dip in sugar.  Sprinkle with water.  Cook at 350° for 14 minutes. Did you see this going around the Internet toward the beginning of lockdown?  My kids always seem to rip the cardboard flaps and this has been so helpful to keep food inside their packages.   3 // SELF RELIANCE MAGAZINE With all of my gardening and homesteading searches, I think the Internet is starting to predict my interests.  This magazine was an ad, but I’m so glad I clicked through!  Self-Reliance Magazine is chock full of helpful advice, with everything from how to start raising chickens to how to preserve your bean crops to chainsaw care.  It definitely won’t win any awards for beauty (the photos inside are just so-so) but a wonderful resource of information.  I purchased these three back issues and have already referred back to them many times.

4 // THIS QUOTE


While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this entire book (see my thoughts in this post), this quote made me pause:

In his book Requiem for a Species, Clive Hamilton discusses how attitudes have shifted over the past century.  Hamilton writes about how we used to be a production society, focused on producing goods to meet needs in the marketplace, igniting the investor’s confidence.  But over time we have become a consumer society, focused on the process of acquiring things, igniting the consumer’s confidence.  This causes us all to focus less on what we produce and more on what we own, drawing more of our identity from the latter. – The Year Without a Purchase, p.58

I found it really thought-provoking and it’s made me realize how much I actually crave being a “producer” but often end up consuming, just because it’s easier.  I still need to ponder this in terms of concrete goals, but I’d really like to retrain my brain in this area.

5 // NEW SOAP FROM BORDEN ACRES


New soap!  I think it would be fun to actually buy soap from each artisan on my list, so I randomly chose to start with Borden Acres (affiliate links) in California.  I bought three scents that seemed summery to me: Sweet Tea, Honeysuckle + Citrus, and Grapefruit + Orange.  They smell wonderful and lather beautifully.  I’d recommend them all!