Season 19 (2022)
chamomile blossoms
HOME + TRAVEL
"She keeps an office in her sternum, the flat bone in the center of her chest with all its urgent papers, vast appointments, lists of minor things. In her vertebrae she holds more carnal tasks: milk jugs, rotten plants, heavy-bottomed toddlers in all their mortal rage."
-Kate Baer, author of What Kind of Woman
Lately our life has been filled with appointments, end-of-school-year activities, information sessions for the next school year, and the seemingly endless task of checking off home maintenance chores after buying our home.
We had plans for a kitchen remodel that we’ve decided to hit the brakes on after finding out the cost and upheaval it would ultimately cause after an emotionally (and financially!) draining year.
After listening to the episode Why We Bust our Budgets in Hidden Brain’s Money 2.0 series, I feel like I am in good company with the overwhelm many are feeling in regard to spending. Inflation is weighing heavily on everyone.
I related to so many of the topics in this episode, but especially about how we tell ourselves the stories about how one-time expenses will only happen out of the blue and won’t happen again. We rationalize that if we spend a little more to buy something that is higher quality we won’t need to be purchase it again. I’ve found myself making similar statements such as “I’m only remodeling this kitchen once, shouldn’t I choose the high-quality (tile, kitchen faucet, wood cabinets) that will last?” Each of these little upgrades come at costs that compound as the project progresses. Before you know it, the project feels like a runaway train.
We’ve chosen instead to focus on one room at a time to keep from feeling overwhelmed. There are plenty of hot months ahead in July and August (and let’s be honest, September and October in Texas) where we can knock out a few items on our list when there is nothing to do outside other than melt like a popsicle.
One of the reasons I love using our budget software and app called YNAB* is that their method of budgeting helps to account for those one-time expenses that you may not be able to name just yet. The Four Rules in YNAB help you stay honest about what you’re spending and budget for the future.
While I’m disappointed that I won’t have those gorgeous white oak cabinets and colorful cement tile in my kitchen for now while I wait for prices to settle, I’m staying inspired with doing some pre-summer vacation decluttering and looking for ways to make small changes and DIY projects along the way.
My husband and son are working on a gorgeous bookcase for my office made of red oak and maple that will cost at least a third of the price of purchasing one. Thanks to their kindness, time, energy, and creativity, I’ll have a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. I’ll share the photos soon!
I picked up my pre-order for The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi this past week. In her first few chapters she talks about daily obstacles that could be affecting the flow of your kitchen or your day. I’m paying closer attention now to the flow of my day and what keeps tripping me up.
Simple things like our annoying hand soap dispensers that shoot soap everywhere and never seem to foam the way they are supposed to annoy me multiple times a day. I feel guilty replacing the nice glass soap dispensers after just buying them, but the fact it, the model I purchased just doesn’t work that well.
I’ve replaced the dispensers with simple ones for the moment because I don’t need those little irritations tripping me up! I’d rather use my brain space on the many issues in our community and our country right now (see community section at the end of this post!). Saving my time and energy is essential for having my personal resources available for my family, my community, and my own wellness.
One of the questions from Adachi’s first book, The Lazy Genius Way, is The Magic Question:
“What can I do now to make (breakfast/lunch/dinner/my day) easier later?
I find myself asking The Magic Question daily to save my sanity.
Temperatures in the 90s has us looking for no-cook or simple meals that we can enjoy. I was ready for a clean slate in the kitchen, and reading The Lazy Genius Kitchen gave me just the nudge I needed to get our kitchen ready for summer!
I was in the habit of a weekly fridge clean out that makes room for our weekly Farmhouse order (*mention my name in your order for $20 off) and helps to prevent food waste (and calms my brain!). When life got too hectic and I skipped this weekly step, the fridge became a disaster. I needed a way to keep it in check even if I can’t clear it out at the end of the week. Our fridge has been a mess after so many busy weeks, so I spent time doing a reset by cleaning it, clearing it out, and organizing the fridge with simple labels.
Each shelf has a labeled zone now. Why? We have three people that use our fridge with different ideas of where things go and don’t know what is safe to eat and what is for a meal later in the week. We now have a shelf for breakfast items and one for leftovers that are free game when my husband or I need a quick lunch or for our hungry teenager who looks for a snack or second dinner (in reality) in the late evening. We have shelves for ingredients that will be used for lunches and dinners that I don’t want eaten as snacks, containers for cheese, lunch meat, thawing meat, and veggies or fruit.
The pantry was my next big project to tackle. I’ve been using bins and realized that I’d rather see all the items instead to know what I have. Bins tend to hide things that go unused. I gathered up one-off items used for gluten-free baking and spices we never use. I put an ad on Craigslist for free gluten-free baking supplies, and a very happy man who happened to be celiac contacted me that he’d love to pick them up!
The Lazy Genius Way or The Lazy Genius Kitchen would make an excellent gift for a college graduate, young professional or new parent. Either book is also a great choice for any of us who have been at this whole adult thing for a while and could use a little refresh!
The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi audiobook is available on Libro.fm
GARDEN
“Every day isn’t happy, but happy things are always here.”
- Hamimommy YouTube video (*link has sound)
I’ve had a successful chamomile harvest this year after several years of not so stellar attempts. I’m drying the chamomile blossoms and steeping them in water to enjoy as a tisane.
You can read more about growing herbs in your garden for tisanes in last year’s blog post.
Wildlife has been quite active in our yard recently. Spring can be a time when wildlife rescues are overflowing with little ones. You can help by donating to Austin Wildlife Rescue’s baby shower!
WELLNESS
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” - Nelson Mandela
There is value in looking back to see how far you’ve come as a person or as a parent. This video reminds us to be gentle with ourselves and see the beauty in the process. (*link has sound)
I’m taking a break from social media right now, but I like the idea behind Be Real.
Can rage be useful or only destructive? Sometimes rage in a community can bring to light social justice and human rights violations that have been overlooked, silenced, or forgotten.
The Logic of Rage on the Hidden Brain podcast asks what is behind our acts of rage (*link may have sound - content triggers for assault and graphic descriptions of violence in this episode - sensitive listeners may want to skip this one)
CREATIVITY
Have you been watching what is happening in the Senate and Supreme Court on the very real possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned? If you’d like to show solidarity in protecting the rights of women and marginalized communities, Etsy has your back (quite literally) with these t-shirts* to help get your point across.
BOOKSHELF
Reproductive Rights After Roe - A booklist by Booksweet on Bookshop.org
COMMUNITY
Women’s Protection Act Fails in Senate. Are we prepared for 13-year old mothers? What about incest and rape victims whose trust and bodies were violated and are now being asked to bear the child they share with a perpetrator? What story do they tell that child about their birth? Shouldn’t they have a choice in what happens with their body?
If we investigate both the human and economic impact of overturning Roe v. Wade, we will uncover the ripple effects of what happens when we take away the rights of women. Why must women’s bodies and hearts bear the consequences yet again?
Embedded in Roe v. Wade are privacy and access issues. The rights that are protected by Roe v. Wade include not just abortion, but also contraception, interracial marriage, and LQBTQ+A rights. Overturning Roe v. Wade will affect marginalized communities disproportionately.
Support the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Sign the Petition: Bans Off Bodies or Join the Bans Off Bodies Rally on May 14
Contact your Senator and watch live broadcasts from the Senate Floor
Get involved in your community. VOTE. Speak out. Volunteer. Act.
“Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” -Desmond Tutu