So how do we actually go about simplifying our homes? I can tell you one way that definitely DOESN’T work: come up with a complicated plan that involves a lot of time and energy that you may or may not have (speaking from experience here 😉). It stands to reason that if we want the results to feel simple, then the approach also needs to be simple. Here are the best strategies I have found to simplify my home: Give yourself permission to do a little at a time . There are some

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” -Laura Ingalls Wilder Five or so years ago, I began picking a word of the year. I love having a gentle direction for our year without feeling the pressure of hard and fast goals that may or may not end up being realistic for what God has in store for the coming year. I’ve picked many words ranging from more concrete ones like “healthy” and “family” to more abstract ones l

After raising kids who love Jesus and have a heart for sharing Him with others, my most important goal as a mom is to raise kids who love reading. Why does this matter so much? Because reading helps us grow in empathy, develop Godly character, and learn anything we set our minds to. As a mom and a homeschooler, I know there’s only so much pouring in of Biblical truth and academic knowledge that I can do before my kids leave home someday; but for the kid who reads? They are se

If you’re on a journey of growing as a reader, there is one surefire way to kill the reading spark before it fans into a flame: choose a book that just doesn’t work for you. I wish I could give you a nice, neat list of “ten characteristics for books you’ll love,” but I think reading is much more individualistic than that. So instead I’m going to give you some tips that will hopefully help you get to know yourself better so you can, in turn, make book selections that really wo

Anytime people find out how many books I read in a year, they always want to know how I find the time to do it while raising and homeschooling four children and tending to all of the other, normal parts of life. First off I want to clarify that you don’t have to read lots of books in order to be a reader. Note that the definition of reader is literally just “someone who reads”; if you read one book this year, you are a reader. Also, some of you are in crazy busy seasons and t

I can’t believe we are finished with our FIFTH year of homeschooling. This has been a wild, crazy ride, but I am so thankful that we made...

“It was through the structure of home and family that God first gave men and women a chart for all of life, when it was perfect and...

Years ago when e-readers made their debut, there were endless predictions about how physical books would become obsolete, yet I think we...

“I’ve been told that you value delicacy and yearn for beauty,” the old man went on. “So seek beauty, Miss Prim. Seek it in silence, in...

October officially signals the start of “holiday season” in the Darr household. We love every single part of the last three months of the...

Week 3: Living Room If you have multiple spaces in this category (like a formal living room and a family room), pick the one you spend...

If you would have told me five years ago that I would someday consider myself a minimalist in any form, I would have laughed in your...

Week 2: Bathroom Here’s another room that can make a big impact! I recommend picking whichever bathroom you personally use the most for...

Who’s ready to tackle some clutter together?! Decluttering is one of my favorite things to do for my home; I’m always amazed by how much...

I’ve always been a meal planner. In fact, the thought of not writing down what we are eating this week would send me into absolute panic...

In my early years of motherhood, my kitchen was always a mess. I would inwardly cringe if someone showed up at my house unexpectedly and...

We are going to be spending the month of July talking all about food and our kitchens here on the blog! To get us excited in this area,...

I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but it’s okay to simplify your kitchen. If you’re a member of an older generation, you...

It’s every homeschool mom’s favorite time of the year: curriculum-buying season! Okay, in reality some of us have begun the process of...

It’s June, which means if you’re a mom you may already be feeling all the feels about Summer with kids. Between the somewhat annoying...