The Meaning of "Slow Living"
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. It 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 in our fast paced lives and pausing before making decisions big or small, as we consider how these decisions will affect not only us but our community, society as a whole, and the Earth. This lifestyle doesn't promise a quiet home but it does encourage health, community and wholeness.
Interested in how to live a little slower? Check these articles out:
- The Less You Own, The More You Have
- Noise
- Setting Up Boundaries: Social Media
- 22 Single Use Items That You Can Ditch
- Let's Talk Trash: Zero Waste
- My Top 10 Favorite Second-hand Buys
- DIY Organic Cleaning Products
- DIY Organic Beauty Products
- Essential Oils 101
- Sustainable Alternatives to Fast Fashion
- 4 Reasons to Eat Seasonally
- Meal Planning
- The Tug-of-War Between Eating Organic vs. Non-Organic
- My Simplifying Resources
- 5 Ways to Give an Experience This Year
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.
We can't always control what we are thinking but we can take our thoughts captive, and learn to identify when certain thoughts may lead us towards a downward spiral of negative thinking. Thinking that if gone unchecked for long periods of time can lead to depression and...
While we may not associate winter with fresh produce, it is in fact a season that offers an array of fruits and vegetables with tart, tangy flavor; along with some more calm flavors.
How we begin our morning sets the tone for how the rest of our day will go. When we begin our day with intention, the rest of our day will follow suit. That's not to say that frustrating things aren't going to happen (coffee spills occur and no one can predict traffic) but that we can at least do our part in trying to set the tone.
With the rise in popularity of health and wellness over the past few years, there is now a plethora of hair and skin products out there that boast the titles "natural" and "organic". But how do we really know whether that's true? What's are the ingredients that inside of these products? How are they going to affect us? Will they break the bank? And (let's be honest...most importantly) will they really work
Instead of reaching for that bagel or doughnut consider choosing a dish that is filled with whole protein and Omega 3-Fatty Acids, such as the ones below. Save yourself some time in the morning by doing as much meal prep as possible. This is the meal of the day that you don't want to miss!
We all go through seasons in life when things feel particularly chaotic at home and at work. A change in career, the addition of a new family member, or a big move for example, can leave us feeling as if our whole world has been turned upside down and our routine thrown out the window.
We've all heard that plants can help us breath better by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing clean oxygen but do you know which plants?
Y'all have been asking, so today I'm finally sharing with you the resources that I initially used to learn about minimalism and simplifying my life. The concept of "minimalism" had been buzzing around for a year or so before I finally decided to look into it to see what it was all about.
The fight against seasonal affective disorder is real y'all. When the days begin to grow shorter and the weather turns cool, the majority of us find ourselves spending an increased amount of time indoors. While its natural to want to hibernate in the winter months, the lack of sunlight and amount of time indoors can quickly lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
With the current FDA regulations that we have in our country its hard to know what exactly is in our products and who to trust. I recently met up with Karrianne Drury and Rachel Rhodes of Young Living Essential Oils to find out more about essential oils and to talk all things family and holistic living.
One of the great things about eating seasonally is that it provides us the chance to experience new flavors and to benefit from vitamins and minerals that we might not have received earlier in the year. The flavors of the produce in season are also much more satisfying as they have just been harvested during their natural season.
While I must confess that I have been known to shop out of season, when I do I find myself sorely disappointed. Not only is the out of season product more expensive but the flavor is watery and tart. I mean really, nothing beats summer blueberries. Not only are they sold in abundance but they are also jam-packed with flavor and nutrients. This is no coincidence.
Living a debt-free lifestyle is a lot more tangible than people may think. When we spend without thinking and live beyond our means we often times find ourselves stressed out and living paycheck to paycheck. Its only after we get rid of the clutter and stop buying just for buying's sake that we will begin to attain a sense of financial peace and freedom.
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.