Welcome to Spring!!
Although Fall is still my “favorite” season, there is just something so exciting about Spring finally arriving, even if our Michigan weather forecasts haven’t been notified of the new, supposedly warmer, season. 😊
Spring is a great time to clean out the old (maybe skip bringing in the new!) and enjoy a lighter, brighter home and life!
I hope you can make a little time and muster up some extra motivation to tackle a few spots that bother you. You don’t need to overhaul your home or life, just start small with 1 or 2 areas you see/use regularly.
Improving a few small areas WILL make a difference in how you feel about your space, which almost always motivates you to keep going!
If you need a little extra hand-holding, start with your bathroom vanity — it’s something you use every day, and it’s usually not filled with emotional treasures you won’t be able to part with (unless you’re very sentimental about your face cream and lip gloss. 😉)
Favorite Moment = Doing it Myself
My mom is probably rolling her eyes because this phrase has been the story of my stubborn life — likely since I was old enough to say, “me do it myself!”
For the last several springs, Dave and I have waffled back and forth about doing our own lawn fertilization or paying a company to do it for us.
The prior owners of our home always paid a company, and the grass looked FANTASTIC when we bought the house in 2011.
We tried to do it ourselves to save money… but the grass went bad, fast. Then we had to kill off half our front yard and re-seed it.
So we hired the company again, and were sort-of satisfied, but always wondered if it was really worth the massive bill every spring.
For the last 3 springs, I have been pushing harder and harder to “do it myself”, but for various reasons (and a really good discount from the company) we decided to stick with the pros each year.
But not this year, my friends! 🥳
I canceled our contract last fall, I did some research over the winter, I consulted with the empowering folks at our local hardware store, and I’m doing it myself this year!
Of course, I haven’t actually done anything yet… I’m waiting for the soil temperature to be warmer than 55º for at least 3 days, and then I’m ready to go with the first round.
Check back with us in two years and I’ll let you know if I ruined our lawn again or not!
Truthfully though, we didn’t know what we were doing back in 2011, and I feel like I mostly understand what needs to happen now.
Wish me luck.
Also, if there’s something you’ve been wanting to learn how to do (like play an instrument, or learn a new skill, or try a new recipe) this might just be a great spring to give it a try!
Favorite Routine = Loud & Lazy Afternoons
We have a few really busy months in the fall when school, football, volleyball, and all the church activities start up again, and we’re currently gearing up for 6 weeks of busyness starting after spring break through the end of the school year.
BUT… from mid-October through mid-April, we have mostly “lazy and loud” afternoons together after school.
The neighbors flock to our basement, outbuilding, and yard every day after they get off the bus, and our kids enjoy all sorts of non-electronic fun before we eventually call them in for dinner.
Dave grades papers while I make dinner, and we often get to chit-chat without too many interruptions because the kids are all busy playing.
I know we’re inching closer to the end of this season of life — Nora will be in high school in just over a year, and as they get older, they will have busier schedules and lives.
But for now, I’m soaking it all in and (mostly) loving the loudness, the mudroom full of boots and shoes, the giggling, the games, and the fact that we still get lazy afternoons together for most of the year!
Past Favorite = Retractable Screen Door
Many years ago, we installed a retractable screen door on our mudroom door because I didn’t want a screen door slamming every time someone came in and out of the door.
I also didn’t want to see or use the screen door during colder months, but I didn’t want the hassle of removing and storing it either.
The seemingly perfect solution was a retractable screen door — and honestly, we’ve been so happy with it.
Here’s what it looks like when the screen door is “rolled up” (you can kind of see where it’s stored off to the right of the door.)
And here’s what it looks like when the screen door is pulled out.
This screen allows us to get a great breeze flowing through our house, without the bulkiness (or loud slamming) of a traditional screen door.
It’s also a great option if you don’t have a lot of extra space for 2 doors to open.
The only down side to this screen is that you almost can’t see it — we’ve had more than one person walk right into it! 😆
Favorite Travel Item = First Aid Kit
Several years ago, I found a travel first aid kit at the thrift store (where I find pretty much everything). I thought it would be useful for traveling, but didn’t expect we’d use it all that often.
Little did I realize that this first aid kit would be a regularly used item in our home — for traveling and just around the house.
It’s a little smaller than a Bible bag, and it’s super lightweight but sturdy.
I love the material of the case — it’s firm enough to keep things inside from getting squished but not so rigid that it won’t conform to wherever you need it to be.
We take ours on every road trip and vacation, and we keep it in our outbuilding during summer pool season, where it has come in handy many times!
Here’s a very similar First Aid Kit (fully stocked) on Amazon.
RELATED READING: Practical Tips for Neat and Clean Vehicles with Kids
Favorite Book = Living Your Strengths
I shoved my WWII novels aside and decided to pick away at my non-fiction pile for a bit.
I’m in the middle of a few non-fiction books, but just finished Living Your Strengths and really enjoyed it.
This book was published when I was in college (literally 20 years ago!) and I remember many of the people in my business classes reading and discussing it.
When I got my first job post-college, my colleagues regularly talked about their “Gallup Strengths Results” (it’s now called the CliftonStrengths Assessment).
I was always curious, but didn’t want to pay to take the test.
Fast-forward 20+ years, and I found an updated copy of Living Your Strengths with an unused coupon code to take the CliftonStrenghts Assessment in the back (the book was only $0.50!!)
I eagerly took the test, read the book, and found so much value and wisdom. I recommend the book (and the assessment) even if you don’t have a corporate job.
My Top 5 Strengths
1. Discipline (organized, efficient, structured)
2. Consistency (fair, consistent, practical)
3. Achiever (driven, diligent, ambitious)
4. Focus (driven, purposeful, concentrated)
5. Responsibility (dependable, hard-working, loyal)
I’d say those describe my strengths well (of course, they say nothing of my weaknesses… but we can save those for another day!)
The beauty of the CliftonStrengths Assessment is that it only focuses on your strengths and how you can use them to help you achieve more success in whatever you do each day (even if it’s “just” caring for your home and family. 😉)
If you’d like to take the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment, you can do that for just $25 (or maybe look for the book at your local thrift store!)
READ THE BOOK: Living Your Strengths
Favorite Media = Google
I suppose this is a silly one… but our family recently read “From An Idea to Google” and it got me thinking about how much Google simplifies my life.
I’m probably one of the last generations to remember life before you could simply “Google it” to find out whatever the heck you wanted to know.
Yes, there are downsides to the internet and instant information, but for the most part, as a responsible adult, Google is a huge asset to my life, my home, and my business.
In fact, without Google, there might not be the complex algorithms necessary for people to stumble upon my blog by searching for “easy bundt cake”, “Costco pool”, “roasted vegetables”, “freezable foods”, or “cozy clean home” (these are actually a handful of the top searches for my site.)
Although I’m an Apple device user, I can’t imagine living and working without my beloved Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Chrome. They are the best!
RELATED READING: How I keep my inbox decluttered with Gmail Filters
Favorite Tool = Tweezers
It’s amazing how often we use our tweezers on a weekly basis — to pull out slivers, pluck stray hairs, create something with Pearler beads, other craft projects, etc.
I recently purchased this set of tweezers so mine can stay in my bathroom drawer and not “wander” around the house.
So far, it seems like a great purchase (especially considering the price)!
Favorite Recipe = Fruit Compote
One of our family’s favorite snacks are yogurt parfaits with homemade fruit compote and granola.
Here are the recipes if you want to make everything totally from scratch…
- Homemade yogurt (in a slow cooker)
- Homemade fruit compote
- Homemade granola
And yes, you could totally create the same thing with store-bought yogurt, jam and, granola. 😉
That said, if you’re looking for an extra-yummy, fairly quick and easy treat, I highly recommend my easy and delicious fruit compote as a topping for yogurt (or ice cream!)
Feel free to use whatever frozen fruit you have in the house — my personal favorite is frozen cherries + blueberries — and make sure to double the recipe because it will keep for several weeks in the fridge!
TRY THE RECIPE: Yogurt Parfaits with Fruit Compote
Favorite Cleaner = Scentiva Wipes
Although I use many all-natural and DIY cleaning products in and around my home, I do reserve the right to break out some good old Clorox bleach when necessary (especially in the bathrooms).
A couple of months ago, I came across a new scent of Clorox disinfectant wipes and knew I had to try it — Grapefruit and Orange Blossom!
They smell absolutely amazing, and they clean well too 🙂
If you’re not too bothered by chemical cleaners, I give the Scentiva wipes 2 thumbs up.
Favorite Archived Post:
Exactly 7 years ago this month, I shared a post entitled, “You Can’t Want it For Someone Else“, and I enjoyed re-reading it last week.
The premise behind the post is frustrating situations in our lives when we can see a better way for others (adult children, parents, friends, neighbors, coworkers) but have very little power to “force” them to change.
We need to wait until they are ready… and meanwhile, we often have to sit back and watch them dig deeper and deeper into their hole.
If you have a similarly frustrating situation/relationship in your life right now, you might resonate with this archived post.
Read the full posts here: You Can’t Want it For Someone Else.
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
JJ says
I just bought the book on Audible–thank you! Currently listening to The Let Them Theory. There’s some language. But her theory filtered through a Biblical world view is amazingly helpful at dealing with others. How is Clara looking so grown?!?
Your strengths have definitely enabled you to live an enjoyable life that you can share and help others. Thankful for you!
Edna says
Have a similar tweezer set, and use one of them to unlatch the dryer lint container, impossible to open with other things because very tiny space. So it has saved me time and frustration.
Roxanne says
My husband and I went through the strengths finders assessment many years ago, and the facilitator told me that the pairing of two of my strengths was considered a “super strength” and thus granting me one more space for another strength, and so I usually list my top six instead of top five
The funny part is that the facilitator was actually my mother-in-law (!) and going through the strengths finders assessment was how we spent Christmas with my husband’s brother and sister-in-law and his parents (yep, we know how to have a good time) and we learned that four out of six of us are basically robots because we didn’t score too high on what my father-in-law called the “emotional or touchy-feely” items, and so the fact that my sixth strength was Harmony was a nice way to help balance things out!
Jana Stob says
I work at a local church, and the church has their leadership teams (Board, Council, and Staff) take the Strength Based Leadership assessment when new members join the teams. It is very helpful to see who has what strengths and help them find ways to use those strengths to benefit the church family, community, administration, care groups, finance, etc.
Highly recommend Clifton Strengths Top 5 to anyone looking for clarity and confirmation regarding their strengths. It is a useful assessment!
Andrea says
I actually told Dave that I think our church consistently should do this. Maybe I’ll have to mention it to someone at church 🙂
Kim Cundiff says
My new favorite use for an old cleaning product is to use Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner on my very light colored solid-surface kitchen countertop. I replaced my large Keurig with a small, single-cup one, and it splatters coffee on my countertop, leaving it stained. The Scrubbing Bubbles removes the stains instantly!
Andrea says
good old Scrubbing Bubbles!
Crystal Young says
Thank you for alerting me to the retractable screen door! This is the solution that I have been searching for!
Andrea says
great — so glad to help you find JUST what you were looking for. We have really liked our retractable door and hope you do too!
Jen says
Thanks for taking that “strengths” assessment! Now I don’t need to bother since I’m pretty certain our results would be identical! 🙂
Andrea says
haha — so true! We probably are exactly the same 🙂
Martha says
Andrea, Do you have a floor plan or at least the size of your outbuilding? Also, what is the brand name of the pool you now have? Is there a post about it and the decking?
Andrea says
Hi Martha,
I don’t have any posts about any of the things you’re wondering about 🙂 Sorry!
The outbuilding is just a giant rectangle — no smaller rooms right now (but we’re actually renovating it this summer to add a bathroom and kitchen). It’s about 800-900 square feet, I believe.
The pool is a doughboy, and the deck is a work of art — thanks to my dad. I doubt there’s another deck anywhere like ours 🙂 It’s Trex material (not real wood).
Hope this helps a little!