The Simple Life

12 Super Simple Ways to Slow Down in Life (Even if You’re Busy)

April 26 // by Brooke

Have you ever felt like your days are too busy? Like you needed to slow down in life, but really, who has time for that?!

How to slow down in life with just a few extra minutes each day:

Don’t tackle the whole list.

Maybe pick just one suggestion you can implement into your day this week. Just one.
We’re all busy.

Give yourself the gift of at least ten slow minutes to pick your day right up. You deserve it. Your mind and body will thank you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

1 – Savor your morning caffeine

Start your mornings slow. Slowing down your mornings can be a beautiful act that allows you to start your day off without rushing and without feeling overwhelmed by everything that lies in front of you for the day.

Make the act of making your morning caffeine a slow act.

Get a French press for your coffee. My husband swears the coffee is better. It takes four minutes once you have hot water. That’s nothing.

Tea drinker? Skip the microwave and use a tea kettle so you have to wait on your hot water to slowly boil.

Once your caffeine is ready, don’t dump it into a travel mug and rush out the door or straight to the bathroom to steal quick sips while getting ready for the day.

Instead, sit outside, at the table looking out a window, or on the couch and enjoy your drink while you wake up for the day.

This doesn’t have to be a long task that makes you late for work, school, or wherever you are supposed to be soon. I’m talking give yourself ten blissful minutes. That’s all.

Woman sitting in a chair drinking coffee. Slow down in life.

2 – Sit at the dinner table after you finish eating

Too often nowadays dinner time becomes just another task we check off for our day.

Try something new this week. When you finish eating dinner, have everyone hang out at the table for ten minutes longer.

If this isn’t your norm, it will feel awkward and forced at first. That’s OK. Do it anyway.

Talk with your family. Catch up on the day. Laugh. The dishes can wait. Baths can wait.

Family sitting around their table enjoying each other.

3 – Read a book before bed

Are you guilty of staring at your phone or a TV screen before bed?

It’s been proven that staring at a screen before bed hinders sleep.

Instead of watching one more show on Netflix or scrolling Facebook for just “one more minute”, turn everything off and grab a book.

Got kids? Read to your kids a fun new adventure novel, no matter their age.

Give your brains time to get lost in a story and to prepare for bed. It just may become a new habit you want to keep instead of getting lost in the scroll of social media.

Related Post: 15 Places Where You Can Donate Used Books

4 – Make slow food

Nothing says reward like slow food. There’s something wonderful and magical about eating a meal you’ve simmered all day on the stove. I swear it tastes better.

Try a new homemade spaghetti sauce. Make a chili or soup. Slow roast a Sunday meal.

Working from home? Find a recipe you can put together before work, and let it simmer all day. Skip the crockpot, and go old school over the stove.

5 – Drive the long way

We call it “exploring” in our house, driving the long way to get somewhere.

I often complain about taking the long way to get anywhere. I mean, why not just go to where you are going?!

However, my husband has mastered the art of driving around and taking in new places and sites around us.

Leave a few minutes early and take a quick detour. Explore a new neighborhood, part of town, or even stop at an ice cream shop you’ve never visited before. It may become a new favorite!

6 – Sew something by hand

Got a shirt that needs a seam fixed or pants that need hemming? Instead of getting out the sewing machine, do some hand sewing.

I revisited this lost art when my youngest daughter wanted to learn how to sew. Her little feet aren’t long enough to reach the sewing machine pedal, and she needed to learn how to work a needle and thread.

If you’ve never done any sewing before, you may be surprised how calming the act can be. Grab a small piece of fabric and simply sew it in half. Make a small baby doll blanket for a little one in your life. Trust me, they don’t care about imperfections.

Not interested in hand sewing? Pick up another hand craft. Check out free YouTube videos on how to crochet, knit, or some other fun craft.

Related Post: How to Organize Your Craft Room

7 – Try out nature journaling

You don’t have to be a crunchy hippy to enjoy nature journaling. 😉

We recently discovered the practice of nature journaling in our homeschool day.

After a long two weeks inside with bad weather, I wanted a way to get us outside and to really pay attention to our incredible surroundings.

It would have been easy to lead my kids through the act of nature journaling without participating with them, but I forced myself to do it with my kids. I say force because I’ve never actually DRAWN a tree. Why would I draw a tree?

I LOVE it! The practice really forces you to slow down, see nature in your own yard and soak it in. You learn a good deal too. Give it a go.

Related Post: “I’m BORED!” Check List for Kids

8 – Start a gratitude jar

Sometimes we can do something to slow down simply by taking note of the great things happening around us.

Once a day, take a moment to recognize and practice gratitude for something that happened in your day.

Not sure where to start? Check out this post on how to make a gratitude jar and download a free gratitude jar template printable.

Mason jar with text saying, "Create a gratitude jar."

9 – Try out a minimalist form of bullet journaling

I wanted to bullet journal. Really, really badly.

I saw all these cute ideas and pretty hand-lettered pieces of art on Pinterest and Instagram, and I really wanted to be part of that circle.

The thing is though, I’ll never maintain all that effort. I don’t even keep a regular pen and paper journal on a regular basis! Adding art was a whole new level of complexity I didn’t have the time or patience to endure.

Instead, try out a very simple and minimalist form of bullet journaling. Simply taking the time to slow down and reflect on your upcoming day can do the brain wonders.

If you aren’t sure where to start, check out the book, The Bullet Journal Method.

Related Post: Minimalism for Normal People

10 – Bake something from scratch

My girls recently discovered how much better homemade brownies tasted when we realized there were no more boxed ones in the house. They will never go back.

They have informed me homemade brownies are definitely worth the time and effort. I have to agree with them.

When you are looking to slow down, bake something from scratch. Like slow cooking, it gives you time to appreciate the ingredients, love, and effort that goes into a new recipe.

Try a new sourdough recipe. Bake a cake.

Go slow and savor every moment going into it and every bite when it’s done.

11 – Walk or bike somewhere

No time for exercise? I get that. If you can, turn your commute or errands into exercise. Two for one, and you’re given a chance to slow down, exercise, and give your brain a little boost of serotonin.

Check out bike routes from your house to the grocery store, work, or gym.

Look for green spaces or walking paths between your house and that of a friend you are visiting.

Get creative. If you can walk somewhere and accomplish something, it gives you a way to slow down without taking too much time out of your day.

Or simply take your kids on a walk or bike ride around the neighborhood. They’ll love it and you’ll all get some fresh air.

12 – Talk to a stranger

Maybe don’t give this advice to your kids, but take time out of your day to start a conversation with a stranger.
Especially during these crazy times, so many of us have forgotten how to interact with others.

We are social beings. We need interaction with each other.

At the grocery store? Say hi to the person behind you, asking them about their day.

Sharing an elevator with someone? Ask them about their plans for the weekend. Don’t just stand there awkwardly in silence.

Connect with someone today. They may need it as much as you.

It doesn’t cost a thing, other than getting over the fear of a little awkwardness, and it helps you slow down and appreciate others around you.

Slow down, enjoy life

You can slow down in life and still get tons done. You can be busy but still give yourself time to relax and savor the good things in life.

Try out just one of these ways to slow down in life this week. You may just want to make it a normal part of your days.

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12 Super Simple Ways to Slow Down in Life (Even if You’re Busy)Read More

21 Minimalist Quotes to Spark Your Minimalist Journey in 2021

April 11 // by Brooke

Minimalism is one of my favorite subjects to discuss because of the joy I feel from living with less.

I always want others to feel joy and happiness, thus I compiled this fantastic list of quotes about minimalism; I hope they bring you as much joy and encouragement on your minimalist journey as they do me.

Without further ado, I give you your 21 Minimalist Quotes for 2021!

Related Post: The Benefits of Being a Minimalist Family

You don’t need fancy things to feel good. You can hug a puppy. You can buy a can of paint and surround yourself with color. You can plant a flower and watch it grow. You can decide to start over and let other people start over too. – Joan Bauer

You don’t need fancy things to feel good. You can hug a puppy. You can buy a can of paint and surround yourself with color. You can plant a flower and watch it grow. You can decide to start over and let other people start over too. Joan Bauer

2. Minimalism is asking why before you buy. – Francine Jay

3. Living with less doesn’t happen overnight, just like the accumulation of stuff doesn’t happen overnight. – Brooke Harris, Happy Simple Mom

4. Every minute you spend looking through clutter, wondering where you put this or that, being unable to focus because you’re not organized costs you: time you could have spent with family or friends, time you could have been productive around the house, time you could have been making money. – Jean Chatzky

Every minute you spend looking through clutter, wondering where you put this or that, being unable to focus because you’re not organized costs you: time you could have spent with family or friends, time you could have been productive around the house, time you could have been making money. Jean Chatzky

5. Purposefully owning less begins to take us out of the unwinnable game of comparison. – Joshua Becker

6. Having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside. – Tenzin Palmo

Having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside. Tenzin Palmo

7. A minimalist by intent, I live a beautiful life with fewer things—simple, yet full. – Laurie Buchanan, PhD

8. If someone doesn’t live with you, neither should their stuff. – Monika Kristofferson

9. Every increased possession loads us with new weariness. – John Ruskin

10. Minimalism is an abundance of enough. – Torley

11. It is perhaps due to the absence of peace that they are trying to fill the void with material possessions, no amount of which will ever bring peace of mind. – Mango Wodzak

It is perhaps due to the absence of peace that they are trying to fill the void with material possessions, no amount of which will ever bring peace of mind. Mango Wodzak

12. This is the beautiful secret of minimalism: it may seem like it’s about stuff, but once you’ve cut through the clutter and adopted a new frame of mind, you learn that it’s barely about ‘the stuff’ at all. – Erica Layne

This is the beautiful secret of minimalism: it may seem like it's about stuff, but once you've cut through the clutter and adopted a new frame of mind, you learn that it's barely about 'the stuff' at all. Erica Layne

13. Nature teaches us simplicity and contentment because in its presence we realize we need very little to be happy. – Mark Coleman

14. Minimalism is not a lack of something. It’s simply the perfect amount of something. – Nicholas Burroughs

15. Simplicity is about deciding what’s important to you and focusing on that before anything else. – Chelsea Walters

16. Minimalism does not have rules. – Brooke Harris, Happy Simple Mom

17. When you acquire less stuff you will actually get more of what you really want—more money, greater security, peace of mind, more time, more energy, and deeper relationships. – Peter Walsh

When you acquire less stuff you will actually get more of what you really want—more money, greater security, peace of mind, more time, more energy, and deeper relationships. Peter Walsh

18. Less stuff equals more freedom. – Maxime Lagace

19. Simplicity is the key to brilliance. – Bruce Lee

20. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

21. Minimalism is a tool to eliminate life’s excess, focus on the essentials, and find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom. – Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Minimalism is a tool to eliminate life’s excess, focus on the essentials, and find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

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21 Minimalist Quotes to Spark Your Minimalist Journey in 2021Read More

32 Simple Living Quotes to Inspire Happiness

April 8 // by Brooke

It’s been a crazy few weeks at my house. I’ve been needing a little extra inspiration lately so I decided to put together this post to help anyone who is needing that extra little lift to their spirits or needs a little happiness in their life. Enjoy!

To be richer, happier, and freer, all you need to do is want less. -Francine Jay

To be richer, happier, and freer, all you need to do is want less. Francine Jay

2. Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour. -Walt Whitman

3. Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have. – Rabbi Hyman Schachtel

4. I hope these simple things are what I forever love about life, for then I will be happy no matter where I find myself. -R.Y.S. Perez

5. The richest of all people is a little child who is so happy with few simple toys! – Mehmet Murat Ildan

6. Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy. – Leo Babauta

Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy. Leo Babauta

7. It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

8. Nature teaches us simplicity and contentment because in its presence we realize we need very little to be happy. – Mark Coleman

9. A very disappointing outcome is always destined to happen to anyone who chases material things in search of happiness. – Edmond Mbiaka

10. Minimalism is a tool to eliminate life’s excess, focus on the essentials, and find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom. – Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

11. Having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside. – Tenzin Palmo

12. In the never-ending battle between order and chaos, clutter sides with chaos every time. Anything that you possess that does not add to your life or your happiness eventually becomes a burden. – John Robbins

In the never-ending battle between order and chaos, clutter sides with chaos every time. Anything that you possess that does not add to your life or your happiness eventually becomes a burden. John Robbins

13. Keeping baggage from the past will leave no room for happiness in the future. – Wayne L. Misner

14. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others. – William Lyon Phelps

Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others. William Lyon Phelps

15. From time to time, to remind ourselves to relax and be peaceful, we may wish to set aside some time for a retreat, a day of mindfulness, when we can walk slowly, smile, drink tea with a friend, enjoy being together as if we are the happiest people on Earth. – Thich Nhat Hanh

From time to time, to remind ourselves to relax and be peaceful, we may wish to set aside some time for a retreat, a day of mindfulness, when we can walk slowly, smile, drink tea with a friend, enjoy being together as if we are the happiest people on Earth. Thich Nhat Hanh

16. Living with less doesn’t happen overnight, just like the accumulation of stuff doesn’t happen overnight. – Brooke Harris

17. If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. – The Dalai Lama

If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. The Dalai Lama

18. Once you really accept that spending money doesn’t equal happiness, you have half the battle won. – Ernest Callenbach

19. People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost. – The Dalai Lama

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost. The Dalai Lama

20. The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. – William Morris

21. Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy. – Unknown

22. Yesterday is gone…. tomorrow isn’t here yet. I have just one day- today…. I can choose how I shall be! And I choose to be happy!!! – Groucho Marx

23. Society says you need lots of stuff to be happy. They are wrong. – Joshua Becker

24. Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands. – Roy T. Bennett

25. It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy. – Lucille Ball

26. Never envy others. Be happy and love your work. – Lailah Gifty Akita

27. Once you learn to detach happiness from acquiring and owning things you can focus on what truly makes you happy—and actually achieve that. – Peter Walsh

Once you learn to detach happiness from acquiring and owning things you can focus on what truly makes you happy—and actually achieve that. Peter Walsh

28. Slow down in your pursuit of happiness, and it’s more likely to catch up with you. – Ernie J. Zelinski

Slow down in your persuit of happiness, and it's more likely to catch up with you. Ernie J. Zelinski

29. Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it. – William Feather

30. I want to live a simple life without stress or worry. I don’t need a lot of stuff. I just want to be happy. – Unknown

I want to live a simple life without stress or worry. I don't need a lot of stuff. I just want to be happy. Author unknown.

31. If you want happiness for an hour.. take a nap. If you want happiness for a day.. go fishing. If you want happiness for a year.. inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime.. help someone else. – Uknown

If you want happiness for an hour.. take a nap. If you want happiness for a day.. go fishing. If you want happiness for a year.. inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime.. help someone else. Author unknown.

32. Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer. – Anita Krizzan

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21 Date Night Ideas (You Can Do at Home, Even After the Kids Go to Bed)

May 15 // by Brooke

Date night ideas at home don’t sound as fun a date night on the town, but sometimes, that’s all we get.

Whether you want fun date nights at home because of budgetary reasons or because the entire outside world is shut down, read for some of my favorite tried and true ideas.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Calendar showing a scheduled date night at home.

Dating your spouse is important, even if it is at home

As we all are spending more time at home right now, it doesn’t mean you can’t still “date” your spouse. Sure, going on a date is a bigger challenge right now, but you can still celebrate your love without leaving the house.

My husband and I have had our fair share of date nights at home over the years.

There was the period of time when we had no money and were saving it up like crazy.

Then, there were the times when we had two babies, and we couldn’t find a babysitter quite ready to take on two infants, one of which liked to cry….a lot.

There was also the first year in a new town when we didn’t know anyone, and so finding a babysitter was tough.

Now, we are in a time when even if we did have a babysitter, there’s not anywhere to go.

So, we’ve had some practice, and I want to share with you my favorite date night ideas at home!

What about the kids?

Let’s be honest. We love our kids, but we don’t want them on our dates.

Since going out isn’t always an option, these date night ideas at home are meant to be done after the kids have gone to bed, when they stay with grandma, or at a friend’s house.

Get the kids to bed…early

When we do a date night at home, we like to get the kids to bed early. Think of their favorite, kid-friendly, mom-can-make-in-ten-minutes dinner.

Then, if they are young, tell them they get to have a sleep over! We like to sell it as this big event, and then put them in the sleepover room an hour or more before bedtime.

Even if they don’t go to sleep right away, they are having a great time together, and you can start your relaxing night.

Just prior to their normal bedtime, start telling the kiddos to calm down and make their way to dream land. (Easier said than done, I have a night owl.)

If you must, bribe them with donuts for breakfast if you don’t hear another peep and they stay in their room all night.

Date night ideas at home:

1 – Play a board game

I’m not talking about playing a board game with your kids. I’m talking about an adult board game, one you can enjoy together without helping your kids with strategy, dealing with fits when someone loses, or making concessions to hurry up and get through it.

Some of my favorite boardgames to play with my husband are:

Quirkle
Monopoly
Ticket to Ride (it took me years, but yes, it is worth the price)
Rummikub
Sequence
Scrabble

2 – Movie night at home

OK, cliché, but there is something about going to the RedBox and renting a movie. Don’t just stop here though. Give yourself the full cinema experience.

Pop popcorn (on the stove is best), get your favorite drinks, and buy movie theater-sized candy (and don’t share with your kids!).

You can always stream a movie from a service you already have such as Netflix, Hulu, or Apple TV.

Date night in, a couple watching a movie with popcorn on their sofa. — Date night in, a couple watching a movie on their sofa with popcorn.

3 – Wine Wednesday

I knew a man once who had Wine Wednesdays with his wife. Every Wednesday, they went to the wine store together, picked out a bottle of wine, and then enjoyed it while hanging out.

They had only one rule. No cell phones or TV. It was a time to talk.

My friend said Wine Wednesdays was their favorite night of every week, as they really connected and learned more about each other during these evenings.

You don’t have to be a wine drinker to enjoy this concept. You can simply declare a night to hang out with your spouse, sans electronics.

4 – Fire pit night

With warmer nights approaching, the starry night sky is calling. Put the kids to bed, and gather around the fire pit for an evening outside.

My favorite part is getting out the S’Mores fixings, and making our own special desserts with dark chocolate, fancy cookies instead of graham crackers, and even marshmallows.

5 – Read poetry

OK, this may sound corny, but my girls and I recently started doing Poetry Teatimes on Tuesdays. I can’t believe how much we’ve all enjoyed reading poetry out loud! It’s not something we’ve ever done before now.

While I love me some Where the Sidewalk Ends, it’s nice to read adult poetry out loud too. Get yourself a poetry book from the library, and take turns reading poetry over a special pot of tea or around the fire pit!

6 – Theme night

Pick a theme (say a country, like Italy or Chile) and build an entire night around that theme.

You can pick out a recipe from that country of origin, make up a cocktail or mocktail that corresponds with the culture, and even watch a move together that fits in with your theme.

My husband and I recently found this online dance class. We haven’t taken it yet, but it is in our bank of date nights we have planned for the year.

While everyone is spending more time at home, there are so many online classes (many of which are free) for couples to enjoy together.

Pick a topic you are both interested in, and make a night (or nights) out of it! You can find a bunch of free classes on YouTube right now.

8- Cook together (and enjoy after the kids go to sleep)

Every once in a while, we will go to the grocery store and pick out a special meal we both love and know our kids don’t fully appreciate.

Give the kids an early dinner of their favorites (easy chicken nuggets and mac n cheese) and put them to bed on time (or even early).

Then, cook your favorite meal together. You can even get fancy and eat by candlelight.

9- Play “Would You Rather?”

Want a good laugh and time to get to know your spouse better?

Try out the “Would You Rather?” games. You can find a few of these games online and have them sent right to your door, just in time for your next date night at home. (Want a sexy version? They got that too.)

10- Play video games

Years before our kids showed up, my husband and I bought a Wii. We were so excited and spent way too many nights playing Mario Kart and Guitar Hero. Then, kids happened.

All of a sudden, we didn’t have time for video games.

Recently, we found the Wii and plugged it in. We spent an entire evening reliving our favorite video games, and it was a blast!

Go find a video game you both enjoy playing, and make an entire evening out of it.

A couple playing video games, another idea for date night at home.

11- Create bucket lists

Want to have some fun conversation? Have a bucket list night.

Get out the pen and paper, create a fun appetizer dinner (called snack supper in our house), and start making a bucket list!

Come up with at least 20 things you want to do before you kick the bucket.

Then, each of you pick one you want to make happen with each other in the next year.

It is so super fulfilling to have your spouse on board with your biggest dreams, and who knows, you may have a bucket list item that crosses over between your lists and never knew it!

12 – Stargaze together

Spend a week learning as many constellations as possible, especially the ones visible from your home. Then, spend an evening stargazing together.

Want to make stargazing extra special? Check out this telescope and book on constellations for an even better viewing experience.

13 – Do a puzzle together

Sometimes the best nights are the ones spent talking and connecting while working on a shared project together. This is easily done with a puzzle.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to finish the puzzle. Get one of these puzzle working mats, and store it easily under the couch when done for the evening.

14 – Learn how to play poker

If you don’t know how to play poker, learn the rules, get some chips, and play at home (without fear of losing all your money).

Next time you are in Las Vegas, you will have a little less fear over joining the card tables. You can also point out to your spouse all their tell-tale signs for when they are bluffing!

15 – Watch your wedding video (or go through your wedding album)

For most of us, our wedding day was special, and cost a great deal of money! Go find your wedding video and watch it!

If there is no wedding video or it’s not possible (VCR anyone?), pull out your wedding album and spend time flipping through the pictures.

16 – Comedy night

Find a comedy special on TV, and tune in purposefully for a fun comedy night.

Make a plate of appetizers, grab your favorite drinks, and put the kids to bed early for one of my favorite date night ideas at home.

17 – Recreate your first date

I really like to do this date night at home idea for our anniversary.

If your first date included dinner, recreate the meals. If a movie, try to find it on a streaming outlet. You can even do conversation starters as if you are on your first date!

18 – Nerf gun wars

OK, time to be a kid again. Grab the nerf guns, and have a nerf gun war! You can do this outside, in the basement, or even in the living room.

Come up with a winner’s prize to make for the perfect date night idea at home.

19 – Play indoor golf

You don’t have to go to a mini-golf place to have a fun putt-putt game.

Grab a few plastic cups, golf clubs, and a few tennis balls. Make up the rules before you get started, so there’s no cheating!

20 – Bake together

If baking is your thing (or even if it isn’t but you like eating sweets), bake something together. You can whip up your favorite desserts or one that reminds you or a special memory.

Date night at home with baking with your spouse.

21 – Spouse book club

I don’t know that my husband and I have ever read more than a handful of the same books. Start a new tradition, and read a book together. Then, you can have a date night to discuss it.

Take spouse book club a step further by planning your dinner around the theme of the book.

Just a handful of the best date night ideas at home

This isn’t an exclusive list of date night ideas at home. Think of your shared interests, skills you would like to share with your spouse, and something that is relaxing and enjoyable for both of you.

Most of these date night ideas at home can be done after the kiddos go to sleep, and most are free. Enjoy yourselves!

21 Date Night Ideas (You Can Do at Home, Even After the Kids Go to Bed)Read More

Surviving Virtual Schooling: When you just can’t…

April 9 // by Brooke

How’s your school’s online learning going? Yeah, it sucks for me too.

If you’ve had days where you want to pull your hair out and throw the computer off the deck, I’m right there with you.

I love our teachers. Like seriously adore them. However, they were not prepared for this online learning thing (not their fault).

Top it off with teachers trying to teach their own kids at home and work with online learning systems they were not familiar with before this whole mess, and their lives are as crazy as ours.

little girl doing online learning on a touchscreen computer

This isn’t what I imagined “homeschooling” to be like

I love having my kids home. Summers are my favorite because of all the quality time we get. The days are unstructured, we read, we play outside, and we learn through life.

Last year, we did a three-week tour of three National Parks, and they still, a year later, talk about what they learned.

I always imagined if I did homeschool, it would look like our summers.

We would have formal learning moments, but much of what we learned would be hands-on, direct observation, and flexible to allow for changing moods and interests.

However, when trying to work with a school without everyone being together, I often feel like I am trying to push a large square peg through a small round hole. It’s not working for us.

So, what did I decide on the last two days that finally got us into a groove?

Ways we’ve made “virtual schooling” a little easier:

1 – We stopped stressing about doing ALL the assignments.

It’s weird. We are the type of people that do the homework because it was assigned. But that’s dumb. I would never do that in real life.

In my jobs, if I was given something that added no value, I would question it. I’m asking my kids to do the same.

If they are given a “worksheet”, and they fully understand the concepts or are bored by the subject matter because it is too easy, then we are skipping it.

Leaving an assignment undone feels weird for all of us. However, I would rather spend my time learning something of value than doing “busy work”.

I would also rather spend the time I was using to figure out tech problems just teaching them something. (We’ve had lots of tech problems.)

2 – We are modifying the assignments.

My kids had a worksheet yesterday that covered a specific concept. Rather than sit and work through a worksheet, we took a walk in our neighborhood.

On the walk, we thought of as many words as we could that fit into that learning concept. Then, we added the challenge of spelling those words.

Assignment done. We recorded that we worked on the concepts verbally and moved on. It would be the same in a real live classroom.

3 – We play outside.

By learning at home, we have the ability to enjoy this beautiful weather we were given, 2-3 hours at a time.

If they can’t sit still long enough to do an assignment, we go play.

There is so much to be learned outside. Spring is the air. We saw a pregnant doe yesterday and talked about how babies are born at this time of year.

We talked about the Pink Moon and what it meant.

We did all this while jumping on the trampoline, running, and playing.

4 – We make our own schedule.

If we want to sleep until 8 am, we do it.

We still make our required calls, but that’s about it.

Sometimes, on the days we play outside for 3 hours, we are doing school work from 5-6 PM, before dinner. That’s the luxury of learning at home.

5 – We work around our work schedules.

If I’m working, they can do independent work, read, or play. I try to be strategic about helping them with any assignments they need me on in the morning. Then, while they work through them, I do my thing.

There have been times where I tell them to do their best, while I knock out some work. If they can’t, then I tell them to read. Reading will teach them so much, even if they do nothing else the rest of this semester.

6 – We have a quick pick-up and reset every night

Every night, for ten minutes, we all do a super fast pick-up and reset.

Computers and devices get plugged in.

Assignments done on paper get hole punched and placed in a binder to save as proof of our work.

Clothes that somehow got removed throughout the day make their way to hampers, and snack wrappers find their way to the trash.

By resetting every day, it makes the following morning a little less stressful and ready to start. Last night, we all crashed early, so we did our quick ten-minute pick-up this morning.

7 – Start the day with a quick ten-minute exercise

No one really likes to wake up and immediately get started on work. (Well, I don’t like it.) I want to have my caffeine and get my body moving in some way. I DO NOT want to work out first thing. (If you are one of those people, I secretly hate you.)

Every morning, for ten minutes, we do quick stretches or maybe a kids focused ten minute workout. It’s simple, nothing too crazy, and gets our bodies and minds in line and ready for some work.

I fought it at first, seeing this practice as a waste of our precious time in the morning, but it has really helped us focus. Try it out!

A girl doing homeschooling on her computer.

Give yourself some grace

I don’t have all the answers. In fact, I’ve shed my share of tears the past few weeks as we navigate this new normal.

However, don’t be so hard on yourself mama if you feel like your kids aren’t getting the education you always hoped they would get.

This time we are in isn’t really homeschooling. It’s not really school. It’s kind of “crisis schooling”.

It’s 2-3 months out of a school year. Find your new normal with work or your usual daily activities and having them home. Then, incorporate a little more learning each day and each week as you find what works best for you and your family.

It won’t be perfect. Every assignment doesn’t have to get done. Do your best. We are all in this together, imperfect and all. (This message is just as much for me as it is for you!)

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