Slow and Simple ||

"I wish I was home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing."

Bilbo Baggins

I am not sure how believed I am when I tell people that I am a homebody. When my girlfriends and I from nursing school get together (this happens a few times a year), there is always an early evening deliberation on what to do that night. My secret hope is usually always to stay in, watch a movie and eat yummy food because I am lame and a true grandma at heart. Don't worry though! They force me to go out and have fun and I never regret it because my friends are amazing. Some of the best and most special memories of my life are with those ladies.

From the day to day, however, I am solidly at home with my trusty side kick, Alaska. I also refer to her as my biological dog but we can tackle that one in therapy.

The sweetest times in the most calming environment, to me, are in this house. It came at the tail end of a brutal year and it has been one of the most special blessings of my life, to which I am eternally greatful for. I wanted to share with you, from a homebodies perspective, what makes staying home so special to me. Nothing fancy, just photos :)

First things first... Wake up.

Alaska usually has to be dragged off the bed by her under arms on the days that I work, all the while looking at me like she can only take the abuse for so much longer. On days off, this little princess can stay in bed to her hearts desire. If you were wondering, the 15% of matress you'll find to the left of the photo is my alotted portion.

The most important time of the day...

There are days when I roll out of bed, get ready in under five minutes and rush out the door to take on the day. Usually when that happens, I find myself at odds with my spirit, feeling like I'm looking at the world sideways and skewed. Without fail, the reason is because I did not take the time to spend my morning with Jesus. Today, I was able to sit at my table, look at the beautiful tulips my sweet friend Abby gave me, and renew my soul and my mind with the presence of the Lord. I journal out what is in my heart and I lean in to the Psalms, paired with a segment from My Uttmost for His Highest. Drinking in my zip fizz and Jesus' presence, I will be able to walk humbly with eyes that see through Christ' lense for the day. For I will seek him in the morning, and I will learn to walk in his ways.

A tidy corner...

A tidy room has always made my heart so happy. Interestingly enough, any time I am beginning to feel anxiety, I find that when I clean and refresh my home, my anxiety is usually taken out with the trash. Something about your space bringing you peace, bringing you joy makes me feel safe. My books, my plants, my pink wall and lavender all bring calm into my world. Waking up and going to sleep in this room is such a blessing.

Breakfast...

Breakfast is hands down my favorite meal of the day, my favoirte time of the day. I love going out to breakfast, making people breakfast at home and even a brunch now and then. I feel special when I take the time to sit down and process my food and really be thankful for the portion I have been given. God is so faithful and if something as simple as breakfast reminds me of that, then I'll sit here all day, thank you very much.

Always watching...

I'm not really sure if I am always watching her or if she is always watching me! The happiest sound in the world to me is moving from room to room, going about my business, and about 15 seconds behind me are little doggie paws tracking my steps, guarding. Guarding that usually turns to snuggling.

Making...

I am nothing fancy in the kitchen, but every now and then, I get a hankering to bake. I have about 3 things in my arsenal that I can make on a dime and today, the line up is my savory soda bread. No yeast, no prove, no rising. Just mix, bake, eat. I'm a simple girl. The big empty and seemingly purposeless amber bowl will soon be holding the contents of all the smaller bowls :).

The kitchen sink and the coffee maker...

Always in my home growing up, it seemed my mother was at the kitchen sink and my father was at the coffee maker. A place of art for each of them and now I have a love for both in my own home. It was always a progression of my mom going to the kitchen to clean the sink, or do whatever moms do in the kitchen, followed by my dad entering the kitchen, likely for a cup of coffee, followed by all the kids, the dog and the cat. At this point my mom's initial purpose of entering the kitchen was impossible to accomplish and ended up with the family all together, chatting about the day or lauging at my brothers antics. The kitchen is the heart of the home and the sink is the heart of the kitchen.

The original Instagram...

Someone once told me that the home was the original instagram. Instead of people scrolling through your page to learn about your life and experience your creativity, they would come to your home. I like to think of my home as my Instagram and I find no greater joy than when visitors come and look at my walls and ask me about what I have placed on them. The history, the memories and the meaning. Sometimes I catch myself standing in my living room, looking around, taking it all in.

A home away from home...

Please come! Please stay! But just for a time because I am a momumental introvert :):). I love when people come to my home and stay in my guest room and wake up refreshed, rested, like they've been on vacation. They will be greeted by Alaska at their door in the morning, ensuring a pleasant experience from start to finish. She's amazing at hospitality :).

A little hobby, a little snack...

If you happened to be wondering where I am right now, I am sitting just behind this photo, writing this blog and listening to an episode of Great British Bake Off that I am sure I have seen one hundred times! I am currently snacking on that bread (made earlier today) and sipping that incredibly strong coffee, to which I will need to go pluck the moustache it caused me to spring right after this! Two drinks, yummy snack, a little creative writing. Perfect.

The wind down...

I would love to say that I am the person who always ends my day doing yoga or reading a book, but I am usually on Pinterest or Youtube! My ideal night when I am my ideal self usually has a cup of tea, a wind down stretch and a little read. I am currently going through Gentle and Lowly because I saw my buddy Suzi reading it and this book is really one to digest! It will fill your soul, make you think, and.... put you right to sleep. Pro tip; if you display dried lavender and want a little extra bang for your buck, drop a few drops of lavender essential oil through the stems and your room will be bursting with lavender scent!

The End.