Balance and Blueberries

Main menu

Home
About
Travel
DIY
Links!
Contact me

Category Archives: Fewer Better

Fewer, Better: Clothes

Posted on 16 November, 2019 by rachel

I won’t tell you that I’m a hard core minimalist, because I’m far from it. But it’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about. I don’t need dozens of a certain category of things, I just need a few. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Fewer Better Tagged Clothes, Minimalism

Welcome!

Looking for something?

Find me on Instagram!

Guys! I opened an etsy shop! Link in profile. I have peg dolls+buckets+rings, and these fun stacking bowls and plates. Check @theintentionaltoybox out on etsy!

It's Advent! I love this time of year, but the pressure to do all of the (complicated, time consuming) things is so real. So I have a couple of resource ideas for you to make these next few weeks meaningful without sacrificing all of your free time. ⁣ ⁣ For you: super brief daily devo in my stories. I'm using the weekly advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. I don't pretend to be very profound, but I hope they'll be bite sized reminders to quiet your soul and remember that our heavenly Father loves you so much this season and always. ⁣ ⁣ For your kids: head to @gatherandgrowco to download their advent reading guide. We did Day 1 at lunch and used our children's Bible and it took about 2 minutes - perfect for tiny people (s/o @emilyamccord for the rec!)⁣ ⁣ Anything you're especially looking for to this month? Honorable mention to @shereadstruth if you want to go a bit deeper. Their studies are always fantastic!

Went for a snowy walk with these 4, and gracious, it's a lot of work to get us all out the door. But for the river views and the snowy eyelashes and the little grins? Worth it every time.

Blue skies, 40 degrees, no snow, and we are living our best lives in the backyard. Happy Saturday to us!

My favorite ethical clothing brand @everlane is offering free 2 day shipping today! In honor, I tossed some words up on the blog about the 2 staples I bought from them and how I'm replacing my clothes without breaking the bank (after being pregnant or nursing for the better part of 4 years 😆). Link in profile or at www.balanceandblueberries.com.

I'm having some creative fun over here! I bought some unfinished wood parts and dyed them with a nontoxic dye, and they're so fun. ⁣ ⁣ These open ended toys are so fantastic for toddlers and preschoolers. They can sort, stack, count, and pretend. The sky is the limit! ⁣ ⁣ There's more info in my stories, but I'd love to make a few more sets for you to give as a gift this Christmas. They're $30 (+$5 shipping if you aren't local) and will come with 6 rainbow colored 2" dolls, 6 buckets, and 18 rings-3 per color. All of the pieces are sized to fit together. The dolls fit inside the buckets and the rings fit over the dolls. ⁣ ⁣ DM me by Thanksgiving to reserve your set. You'll receive it no later than December 21!

Yesterday was an epic disaster in the Take Children to Play in the Snow Department. Boots weren't fitting. Babies weren't used to all of the snowsuit fluff. Julia didn't know how her new snow pants worked. There were tears. So many tears. ⁣ ⁣ But today is a new day. I bought a gigantic sled, the babies tolerated their snow gear better, and Julia got dressed ALL BY HERSELF. ⁣ ⁣ We still have some tweaking to do, but it's worth it. I refuse to be trapped inside for the next 5 months! ⁣ ⁣ If you've been a piano student of mine, you know I frequently say, "Try it again. Things are easier the second time!" Turns out, that applies to life, too. ⁣ ⁣ Try it. Evaluate. Adjust. Retry. Evaluate. Tweak. Retry. Evaluate. Adjust. Repeat repeat repeat. Anything worth your efforts is worth your persistence and determination. Stick with it. You've got this. ⁣ ⁣ What's something you're in the process of conquering or something you have recently conquered? Humble brag in the comments!

Yesterday was the day... ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We called it quits for our little garden. There's a cold front coming through this weekend, and the weather is going to be rainy and cold for the near future. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ So the kids and I spent one last barefoot afternoon soaking up the sunshine in the garden. We harvested almost a bushel of green tomatoes-those will get to ripen in the warmth of the basement. The carrots are still in the ground, but if Google is to be believed, they'll be fine for a bit, even if it freezes. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed our garden this year. I have so many notes for next year (more sweet peas! fewer tomatoes! skip the summer squash and the radishes!), and can't wait to get started when the ground thaws in the spring. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But until then, I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the jars full of tomatoes in the basement and the bags full of beans in the freezer. I'm grateful for the memories of Julia running to the garden to grab peas or cherry tomatoes or a carrot when she wanted a snack and for her daily post-dinner request: can we go to the garden and throw rocks in the pond? I'm grateful for the feeling of the sun on my shoulders and the dirt between my toes (and wish I could bottle it up and save it for a random, gloomy day in February). ⁣ ⁣ Mostly this: I'm grateful for this little spot we call home and the many, many gifts it gives our family.

Seven years ago, @bobs_the_word and I were on our honeymoon in the UP. We stayed in a little cabin on a private island and it was so fun! Click the link in my profile to see photos of us from that trip (we were so young and well rested 😂), and find out how to save up to $35 on your next @vrbo booking!

I recommend

Blog at WordPress.com.