In Honor of Earth Day
One of our core values here at Making Room for Peace is adopting a slower way of life. This movement, also known as “slow living” stands for "sustainable, local, organic, and whole and is about having little impact, shopping local and avoiding mass produced and processed things." It's about slowing down while the rest of the world continues to speed up. It’s about pausing before making decisions big or small, as we consider how these choices will affect not only us but our community, the Earth, and future generations to come. This slower way of life doesn't promise a Utopia but it does encourage health, community and wholeness. In honor of Earth Day, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite articles (below) on the topic of slow living. We encourage you on this special day to put down your phone, give these articles a read and get out into the world to see what kind of difference you can make.
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Photography: Luke & Ashley Photography | Styling: Making Room for Peace
One of our core values here at Making Room for Peace is adopting a slower way of life. This movement, also known as “slow living” stands for "sustainable, local, organic, and whole and is about having little impact, shopping local and avoiding mass produced and processed things."
There are days when I wake up, roll over and immediately start scrolling through my phone. Sleepy-eyed and with my hair still in a messy bun I begin to check my email, take a look at the weather, and head over to Instagram to see what’s going on.
I am excited and honored to share that Making Room for Peace is featured in the newest issue of ORIGIN Magazine!! A small team of artists working in LA, NY, Dallas, and Paris, it is Origin’s belief that beauty and art can uplift the world.
Not only do Phillip Adam products perform but they are of substance. Along with being paraben free, they are also: biodegradable, vegan, cruelty free, gluten free, SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) free, and GMO free.
We know that the process of styling and decluttering can be overwhelming, which is why we encourage you to invite us to come alongside of you to guide and to cheer you on.
To help out with any shopping angst, we’ve put together a guide of thoughtful, creative, and sustainable gifts for this holiday season. The key behind a lot of them is that they are consumable - aka you appreciate it, enjoy it and then are able to recycle or reuse the item.
When I would think of thrift stores and consignment shops I would envision dirty, poorly lit spaces with clothing that couldn’t possibly be stylish or in good condition. Years later, through some humbling and personal experience, I’ve found that this image that I had had in my mind couldn’t be farther from the truth. While shopping second-hand can be hit or miss, for the most part it is really an enjoyable experience.
Our homes are supposed to be our refuge but did you know that they could also be making us sick? Asthma, headaches, coughing, and allergies are just a few of the signs that you may need to make some changes to your home. Lucky for you, we've outlined some of the problem areas and what you can do to create a healthier environment for you and your family!
The healing benefits of tea are amazing and something that I recently met up to discuss with Mai-Anh of Discover Teas. Along with getting into the nourishing properties of tea, we also talked about the story of Discover Teas, about women supporting women, and the importance of community.
Every year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. Whether you yourself suffer with mental illness or you have a friend or family member who suffers, we have all been affected in some way by mental illness.
The older we get, the more we tend to value community. However for the longest time it was not a high priority in my life. It wasn’t until I had graduated college, gotten married and moved to a new city that I realized how much I longed for a core group of men and women that I could share life with.
The name "making room for peace" actually came to me during that time of anxiety and questioning. I had had another blog at the time that had experienced some relative success but had started to feel superficial to me. I knew that just as with my spiritual life, I wanted something with more depth, that discussed topics such as decluttering and faith.
Wife, mother of four, and owner of Abundant Life Partner’s, Meghan is one busy woman! I wanted to sit down with her to learn her secrets to having such a positive attitude, energy and how she makes room for peace in her life.
Often times when we talk about decluttering we discuss "removing things", "shedding items", or "letting go" but there is so much more to it that than that! When we shed what is no longer serving us we are letting go in one sense but we are also making room for more - more time, energy, space, money…
When most of us hear the term "slow living", we envision a simple life filled with meditation, a peaceful home and time spent in nature. It wasn't until recently when I read this article, that I fully grasped what the slow living movement represents.
What we create then is often a true reflection of how we are feeling, a reflection of what's going on in our heart. In our "Design Your Own Table Linens" workshop, we were able to leave not only with a set of new skills but also with a sense of feeling valued and refreshed.
While I have my favorite organic brands such as KORA Organics and Dr Bronners Castile Soap, I also have my list of go-to D.I.Y. organic beauty products. All of which are made of 1 - 2 ingredients that can be found at your local grocery and/or health foods store.
There are so many single use items that we (myself included!) use on a regular basis without even thinking about it... plastic bags, Styrofoam cups, plastic utensils... the list could go on and on! Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all of the waste that we're causing and that is going on around us I would like to encourage you to take a deep breath and start where you are, doing what you can.
Summer is our favorite time of year for many reasons, one being the large selection of produce that is in season. The list goes on and on of brightly colored, flavorful fruits and vegetables that are wonderful alone or combined into a seasonal dish.
You see that moment in time I began to carry those words close to my heart. I didn't see myself beautiful. I looked at all the girls in my school and thought: God why did you create me this way?
A block is anything that is in your life that is rooted in fear and that is holding you up from experiencing true freedom and peace. While we may be aware that there is an issue that needs to be addressed, we often have a hard time identifying what that issue, or block really is.
A girlfriend and I were preparing lunch at my house a few months ago when she opened my fridge and gasped, "look at your fridge?! It's so beautiful and organized?!" Her reaction caught me off guard but at the same time I could see why she was impressed. Having our fridge arranged as we do not only looks beautiful but clearly saves: time, money, energy, and space.
When it comes to holistic cleaning products all you really need is three ingredients: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and Castile soap. Distilled with water, these ingredients are more than capable to tackling everything from a dirty counter to a grimy bathtub. All are budget-friendly and can be found at your local grocery and hardware store.
Raise your hand if you too feel like your in the constant battle of, "do I buy organic or non-organic? Should I spend this much on this natural make-up product or use it towards x,y and z?" You've read all of the books and articles about the benefits of buying organic and/or natural products and yet you find yourself in this tug-of-war.
A quick glance at her home address and list of professions, most would be quick to see that Sheena Jeffers is seizing life. It was about a year ago that Sheena and her boyfriend Ryan sold their home and belongings, and moved onto their 43-foot catamaran boat which they appropriately named "Seas Life". Instead of being tied down, they are making room for peace in their lives... traveling and discovering more about themselves, the world, and their life purpose.
Whether it's a 3 hour road trip up to Northern Virginia or an international flight, these are the 5 items that I can't travel without...
Spring has officially arrived and with it, a colorful, bountiful spread of fresh produce... Asparagus, chives, fennel, and watercress are just a handful of the produce and herbs available at your local farmers market and grocery store.
Most of y'all know by now that I love shopping second hand. Consignment stores, thrift shops, antique stores... You'd be amazed at what you can find. Whether your looking for furniture, home decor, clothing, books, or appliances - these places have it all and more; gently used and at great prices. Not only that, but as these pieces are "gently used" your automatically taking your style and sustainability game up a level.
Even though God graciously healed me from the anxiety and depression that I used to suffer from, I still go through occasional bouts of each (lasting anywhere from 3 - 10 days). These bouts can be triggered by a variety of things but more often than not stem from: a hormonal imbalance and negative thoughts. I talk a lot about "peace" around here and I want you to know that you can still have it even while occasionally struggling with these issues.
When shopping for storage containers you want to make sure that they check off three boxes: beauty, functionality, and sustainability.