After a whirlwind start to the school year, this week marks THE END of all the busyness for our family (at least until the holidays)!
Simon’s last football game is today, his last cross-country meet is later this week, Nora’s band and choir concerts were earlier this week, driver’s training is complete, all the church programs are running smoothly, and Homecoming is this week (a big deal for Dave as he helps lead Student Council at his school).
To top it all off, we get 3 days off next week for Fall break!
I will say, my first experience of Homecoming as a parent is NOT one of my favorite things. 🤪
The elaborate HOCO “proposals” (yes, they are called proposals, and yes, Nora got one), the dresses, the accessories, the pictures, the dinner, the “after party” — all the while, none of them can drive. So I’m just the photographer and chauffeur whose practical advice is not well received because I clearly know nothing about current-day Homecoming shenanigans.
At least it’s only once a year, and her friends are all really good kids.
Keep reading for some fantastic favorites… and wish me luck in my silent chauffeur + photography duties on Saturday!
Favorite Moment = The Perfect Hutch!!!
After years (YEARS!) of searching for the perfect primitive hutch to store, organize, and display my grains and milling supplies, I found it… on Marketplace, of course!
It’s been just over a week since Dave and I lugged this beauty home, and I still smile every time I see it. 😍
Nora said, “I can’t believe an old hutch could make you this happy.” LOL!
To say this hutch is “exactly” what I hoped for is an understatement.
My family is tired of hearing me wax on and on about how much I love this cabinet, and my grandma always says, “We shouldn’t love things, only people”, but I adore this cabinet, and I’m sharing my excitement with you because…
- this hutch is a perfect fit in the corner of our kitchen where I wanted it to go.
- the dark-stained pine is just what I was hoping for (no restoration required!)
- it’s an actual antique — clearly hand-made, and all one piece.
- it’s very clean, solidly built, and has simple lines.
- the narrow upper shelves are the perfect width to display my great-grandma’s half-gallon Mason jars of grains, beans, corn, etc.
- the large “counter” area easily accommodates my pretty mill and whatever bowls I’m working with at the time.
- the huge base cabinet (with no shelves) is exactly what I needed to store my buckets of extra grains and my less attractive, but very useful grain mill.
- the lip on the front “hides” my modern electronic scale.
- both of my grain mills can stay plugged in, as the cabinet has pre-drilled holes inside, so I can simply dump my grain in and mill away.
Can I get a slow clap for this one, ladies? 👏🏻
The only thing I wasn’t sure of was if the hutch would actually hold all my grain and milling supplies (which have multiplied significantly over the past 8 years).
It’s no coincidence that when I finally pulled out every last jar, bucket, bin, and bag of grain, the jars fit absolutely perfectly on the shelves, and I fit all but one 5-gallon bucket of grain in the bottom cabinet!
I even had exactly the right number of chalkboard labels left in my stash for every last jar.
This beauty was clearly meant to be in my kitchen! 🥰
Yes, Nora; an old hutch really can make me this happy!
Now… I need to figure out what to do with all the empty cabinets that previously housed my grains and milling supplies.
Favorite Routine = Mini Maintenance Projects
I’m pretty good about staying on top of little home organizing projects, but the change of seasons always gives me extra motivation to “get stuff done”.
Last week, I washed all the swimsuits and towels, kept one “hot tub suit” out for each person, and loaded up the winter gear into the cubbies in our mudroom.
I also went through all our books, reorganized the Den bookshelves, and brought a couple of boxes away to the donation center.
And, of course, I reorganized all my grains (but you’ve heard enough about that already). 🤪
Each of these projects took me roughly 30-45 minutes to FULLY complete — not all afternoon or all weekend. And now I don’t need to think about our books, swimsuits, or winter gear for another 6 months.
Next on my list of “mini maintenance projects” are:
- games/cards
- costumes/dress-up clothing
- wrapping supplies (in preparation for the holidays)
Don’t underestimate the power of mini maintenance projects to keep your home clean and organized enough.
RELATED READING: It’s Not Magic, It’s Maintenance
Past Favorite = In-Drawer Knife Block
I’ve probably shared my favorite knife block 10 times in as many years, but since I just purchased another one for our outbuilding kitchen, I thought it was a great time to re-share, as it truly is a favorite that I benefit from multiple times per day.
This knife block would make a great housewarming, wedding, or holiday gift!
The picture above is old (we don’t have baby spoons!), but we do still use the knife block daily, and I love that it doesn’t sit on the coutner.
Also, this is the silverware organizer I use — putting one of the side extensions on the bottom instead.
RELATED READING: How We Organize Everything In Our Kitchen
Favorite Clothing = Bathrobe
I think I’ve always been an “old soul” — way back to middle school when “a new bathrobe” made the top of my Christmas wish list!
Since my middle school days, I’ve always loved having a nice cozy bathrobe, and I recently updated my robe after my previous one essentially fell apart.
I found this Marks and Spencer robe at our local thrift store (in grey for $2.50) and absolutely love it. It’s thin, but still cozy, and really washable. I wear it in the morning, after my shower, and sometimes out to the hot tub as it gets chillier.
Here’s a similar option on Amazon (for less than half the price).
Favorite Book = The Calamity Club
I’ve read a lot of great books lately, but I recently listened to The Calamity Club on Audible (thanks to a friend’s recommendation), and I literally couldn’t “put it down”, so to speak.
I listened every spare moment, and absolutely loved it.
The storyline is definitely PG-13 (it’s basically set in a Brothel), and the ending was too abrupt for me, but the storyline drew me in, and the narration was fantastic.
READ (or listen to) THE BOOK: The Calamity Club
Favorite Fast Food = Panera Bagel Stack
We rarely get fast food (we rarely go out to eat), but I recently got a Panera Bread gift card, and Dave and I have enjoyed going twice since school started.
Both times, we got a Bagel Stack Sandwich and were very impressed.
Side Note: now through Oct 11, 2026, Panera is offering 20% off gift cards — meaning you could buy $100 worth of gift cards for only $80 (another holiday gift idea).
RELATED READING: Creative Ways to Give Money and Gift Cards
Favorite Luxury = Two Washers/Dryers
When we flip-flopped our full bathroom and tiny laundry room back in 2018, we created a much larger laundry room and a cute half bath.
We also decided to hook up our “old” washer and dryer in the basement for a second laundry area — BEST decision ever!
My original rationale for putting a second laundry hookup in the basement was so we’d never be without a washer and dryer during the (very extended) renovation process. But also, I knew it would be convenient with 4 growing kids and lots of laundry.
Since our basement is unfinished, it was extremely easy for the plumber to tie into the existing plumbing to create new hook-ups in the basement.
For roughly $500 in parts and labor, I’ve been using, loving, and benefiting from a second laundry area in our basement for the last 8 years!
It’s not pretty or fully “finished off”, but it does the job and allows me to plow through my laundry in half the time (literally!)
I realize every home might not be able to accommodate 2 washers and dryers, but I’m sharing this in case you’re in the process of renovating and never considered adding a second laundry area.
If you have plumbers and electricians coming into your home already, and you have a space to plop an extra washer and dryer, it likely won’t be that expensive to add another hookup somewhere in your home.
RELATED READING: Why You Need a Laundry Routine
Favorite Recipe = Cheese Tortellini Soup
This recipe is one of the first comfort food recipes I break out every fall. It’s super easy, makes a big batch, and is so filling.
This is a great slow cooker recipe too — everyone loves it!
Find all my soups and stew recipes here.
TRY THE RECIPE: Sausage and Chees Tortellini Soup.
Favorite Archived Post
Last week, I shared 6 Simple Ways to Improve Your Health (without spending a fortune or buying into all the hype on social media).
I got dozens and dozens of emails and comments, so I wanted to re-share it, in case you missed it, but also to clear something up (based on many of the emails I received).
The point of the post was to encourage you NOT to buy into the various fad diets, health scams, expensive supplements, and all-or-nothing mindsets that are everywhere online these days.
My goal was simply to share how you might incorporate a few simple, frugal habits into your current daily routine and watch the benefits unfold OVER TIME (this will not happen in a week).
We need to ditch the “all or nothing” mentality, too! I got so many emails saying things like “but what do I do with my sweet tooth” or “what about the days I can’t get outside” or “but sometimes I just need a salty snack”.
That’s fine. Eat a cookie, enjoy some chips, and move your body for 10 minutes inside. Life will go on, you will not “ruin” the progress you’ve made, and you won’t need to “start over” because you’re not starting or stopping anything — you’re just living life with a few healthier habits.
I truly feel that if we stopped thinking about our health as a set of things we “have to do” or “can’t do”, we’d be in a much better place.
Read the full post here: 6 Simple Ways to Improve Your Health.
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
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