As part of keeping with the "Well-Lived Home" concept, I really felt like I needed to talk about the season of "back to school."  While it can be exciting for some, for others like myself, it was also a stressful time. If I wasn't careful, my happy home could become crazy with all of the "to do" lists. I didn't want my kids to leave for school on a unhappy note or not having breakfast or forgetting something really important that they needed that day or a gazillion other things that can go awry and start a day off wrong.  

If you are like me, you have all of these grandeur ideas at the end of one school year about how you will get organized, ready and have your kids more prepared than ever when the new school year rolled around. I couldn't wait for a school year to end because between the chaos of figuring out lunches, clothes, and having homework almost every night, I was completely exhausted by the time the year was coming to an end.   Next thing you know, Summer just plain ole gets in the way and I had made no preparations for the coming year. I was caught up in that cycle when my kids were at home.  I was going to have their clothes ready for at least a week ahead, lunch containers and ingredients ready to pop out and put in the lunch box and not only were they going to be convenient, they were going to be healthy!  Oh ya, no junkie lunch for my kiddos.  After all, what I am hearing is that delicious school lunches have become a thing of the past and kids actually want to take their lunch these days!  Well, I want to share a few tips with you on how to cope with the new school year and keep the chaos from wreaking havoc on your family time.

Let's start with their wardrobe.  It is not necessary for kids to have a large wardrobe, but rather to have one that mixes and matches.  Remember the old "Garanimals" commercials.  I don't remember who sold those clothes, but tops and bottoms were made to be interchangeable so that a few clothes could mix to make several different looks.  My kids had some "Garanimals" and it was a genius idea!  While the brand may no longer be around and your kiddos are most likely too old for them anyway, you can purchase their clothes with the same ideas in mind.  Buy 3 tops that interchange with 3 bottoms and you have 9  outfits!  Be sure to remove any clothes from their drawers that no longer fit and discard them so as to make early mornings easier.  I came across an incredible idea for choosing and storing a weeks worth of outfits.  Purchase an inexpensive plastic bin that has drawers and label each drawer with a day of the school week.  On Saturday, choose clothes for the week and lay them neatly in each drawer along with any accessories.  Getting dressed and ready for school will be short and sweet!  Nothing worse than hearing your precious little Johnny yelling from his room, "Mom, where are my tan pants?" while the bus is sitting out front of your house.  Believe me when I say that I do know what stress is! 

Now, on to their lunches!  I had to break my habit of thinking that all lunches contained sandwiches!  Yes, when I was a kid, I always had a sandwich.  Well, there are so many more fun and interesting foods for kids to eat that sandwiches can be really boring!  The following is a list of some of my favorite lunch foods:

Pickles-  Sweet pickles or dill pickles.  Get the larger ones! My granddaughter        loves them!

Cheese chunks or sticks- There are a number of varieties.  Find out what your    kids like the best.  Try to be creative here and find variety.  Many of the                  deli counters will give kids a complimentary cheese slice.  This is a good                way to get them to try something different!

Fresh Fruit-raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, watermelon or cantaloupe.         Apples are great! Grapes make a great addition to a lunch, however,                      remember to slice them in half to prevent a choking hazard.   A little                        cinnamon sprinkled in a bag of apple slices keeps it from browning.                        Some kids will even be up for pomegranate arils or kiwi and they are                      oh so healthy!

Veggies-Veggies can go it alone or mixed in a salad.  Of course, there are the       basics like carrots, celery, cucumber, and lettuce.  But don't forget the                    less obvious like broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, cherry tomatoes or                      edamame.  

Sushi-Yes, one of my grandsons favorite lunches is sushi.  I catch Sprouts on        Wednesday sushi day and pick up and already prepared                                       California roll and how easy is that?  Please note that it is important to be               sure that lunches have adequate freezie packs so that the food will stay                 fresh and bacteria will not make your kiddos sick!

Tuna Fish- Tuna comes in smaller packets now and can be put in a roll up with a   healthy tortilla or on a bed of greens for a salad.

Tortilla Rollups, Buy healthy tortilla rollups and smear with cream cheese, olives and whatever toppings your kids desire!  

Home made "lunchables", be sure to include crackers, cheese, and meat if they     desire it.

In order to make lunch assembling a snap, there are a few items that you need to keep in your pantry and stay well stocked up on.  Baggies of all sizes are a must!  Even the tiny ones that you have to buy at Hobby Lobby or the health food store so that you can send dips and salad dressings.  You will need some containers that are divided.  Keep small bottles of water on hand and I have found a product that is healthy and gives kids variety.  There are some natural drink mixes that are made with pure fruit such a lemon, lime, raspberry, and black cherry and are sweetened with stevia.  You can find them in almost any grocery store now.  They come in little individual serving packets. Oh ya, don't forget to always include some fun in their lunch box or bag such as a crazy, funny napkin or a "You are a great kid" note.  

Breakfast time can be crazy if you are not prepared so keep some items on hand that can be "breakfast on the go" if necessary.  Healthy granola bars, bagels,  fruit, home made healthy muffins that have been frozen ahead, raisin toast, or I find healthy breakfast burritos at Sprouts that I like to keep on hand.  Mornings should be happy and if we prepare ahead, we can send our kids off to school with a happy heart!  Keep the important things the important things!  Talking, sharing, laughing and praying together are all things that will boost a child's spirits before going off on a long day away from home.  

Most importantly, whether it is organizing their bedroom and drawers or grocery shopping for lunch ingredients, it is important to include your children in the process.  It not only teaches the components of responsibility, but shows that you care about their desires when making choices.  Each and every instance can be a time to make memories with your kids.  Don't underestimate the simple things in life like the time sitting on the bedroom floor organizing their drawers while you talk and laugh or a safari expedition to the grocery store for some "wild" lunch ingredients!  

As always, we enjoy seeing your comments and ideas.  Please post them below.  

Julie Atkins, 

Milkweed Farms

I have been contemplating this week about my house and the renovations that are under way.  I remember a time when what I thought would be my "dream home" looked nothing like the home where I live now.  As I look back, I realize that my goals for my dream home have actually changed and this week, I really focused on "what really does having a dream home mean?"

Often times, we go on vacation and stay in a resort or someone else's home and think about how awesome it would be to live in these conditions.  We can become obsessed with thoughts of what our life might look like if we "just lived here."  We recently took a trip to Cancun and stayed in a tropical paradise.  I'm not gonna lie to you!  While I was there, there were a few times that I caught myself thinking "how can I get here for good!"  The problem with that way of thinking is that the moment we move into the "perfect house" or "the perfect place", we bring all of our baggage and our clutter with us and we no longer see the paradise.  The expectation of relaxation flies right out the door the minute our first few boxes are unloaded. Then, we have to go to work and those lovely people who deliver the cute little drink with the umbrella, who seem so friendly, become co-workers, employees or neighbors and our vision of paradise once again is crushed!   Why?  Well, if we can understand how we can so quickly sabotage paradise, then we can begin to build paradise right where we live!

Trust me, I grew up in my teenage years living on a lake.  It was beautiful and it was nice but when you live somewhere, if you are not careful, you can erase the feeling of paradise with the clutter of everyday life!

Yes, even if you live in a tiny house, a condo, an apartment, in the city, in the country or just an average house on an average block in Anywhere, USA, you can make your home become your "dream home."

Let me help you on this journey.  It doesn't matter where your starting point is, just jump on the band wagon and let's take this trip together.  Where you end up will depend on how honest you are with yourself and how much effort you are willing to put into your paradise!

First and foremost, you have to decide what is important to you.  We all have different dreams and while I will share mine with you, yours can be very different.  They just need to be yours!  One of the things that we check out when we are looking for a good vacation spot are the amenities.  Your home should have amenities.  These are the things that make you want to be there above any other place that you could imagine.  So, when you are deciding what you need to make your home your "dream home", don't forget the amenities!

My dream home needs to be a place that I am comfortable.  When I walk in the front door, I usually give out a sigh of relief as if I have just stepped from behind enemy lines and into ally territory!  My home is my safe-haven away from the world.  I need it to be organized so that I am not faced with clutter and chaos when I come in.  Everything, and I mean everything, needs to have a place!

My dream home needs to have an outdoor area for relaxing and entertaining.  I like gardening and plants!  I like to smell the flowers and I like to attract birds.  All kinds of birds!  I like a comfortable place to sit and drink tea outside and a place to cook on a grill.  

My dream home needs to have a warm place to curl up in the winter and a nice fluffy throw close by that I can grab while reading a book or watching a movie.  I want my guest to feel comfortable like that too, so I usually have several handy.  Candles and twinkly lights on my trees make me feel cozy.

My dream home needs to have a kitchen that welcomes me or anyone else who feels like cooking something.  I want utensils, spices, pans, ect. easily accessible and organized so that cleanup is a breeze.   There is nothing worse than needing to cook only to have your counters filled with clutter and dirty dishes.

My dream home needs to have a place for my grandchildren.  A closet or drawers or some space where they can keep some games, personal belongings, clothes or whatever they want.  Something that makes them feel like they are welcome and always have a place in my home and in my heart.  

While these are just a few of my needs to make any home my dream home, don't think this exhausts my list!  I like pretty light fixtures, fireplaces, large tables and gathering spots.  I like pretty towels in the bathroom and quilts in the bedrooms.  I like tropical "stuff" and since I won't be moving to the tropics, I decided to bring it to me.  I have a tropical quilt on my bed, a ceiling fan with tropical banana leaf fan blades and some palm tree paintings on my wall.  I just brought a little bit of my vacation home with me.  Why not?  Instead of trying to escape to "somewhere else" just bring "somewhere else" to you!  If you are ready to start, just follow these guidelines and you might find that your dream home is right where you are standing!

1.  Make a plan.  Write down your plan of attack for each room.  What you don't like about it now and what would make it the perfect room for you.  Think about what you want in each room, what color you want the walls to be, what kind of lighting would work best to give you the feeling that you want the room to have.  What accessories should be in that room and make sure everything has a place!  If something does not have a place, it doesn't belong in that room!  Period!  Remember that resort that you stayed in?  When you walked in the room for the first time, it was relaxing because it was orderly and uncluttered.  Well, that was before you unpacked your suitcase.

2.  Start in that room by clearing out the clutter.  I mean all the way to the corners of each closet!  If you haven't used it in a year, ditch it!  If it is some sentimental family heirloom, but you know that you aren't going to use it in your home, put it in a tub to be stored.  Warning!  You have to limit yourself to a small amount of keepsakes ahead of time that are worth keeping.  If you don't, you will find yourself stressed out with clutter. The whole reason that you have decided to take this journey is to make life happier and easier!  Don't be afraid to get rid of papers, books, clothes, small appliances that just sit there taking up space, and organize all drawers.

3. Start with the walls.  Redecorate, repaint, clean, change the furniture around.  Try out some different pieces of furniture in the room.  None of the things that I am suggesting take a lot of money, just some time.  Repaint the furniture if it is outdated.  I repainted a night stand yesterday and I only spent about 2 hours tops on it.  It really made things flow better in the room. 

4.  Think about your light fixtures.  This is a way to bring newness and a real appeal to a room for very little money.  Home Depot, Lowe's and Menards have some extravagant lighting that is inexpensive and easy to install.  And don't forget to check out your switch plate covers.  They should be clean and neat!

Now, go through each and every room repeating steps 1-4.  Be careful not to move clutter from one room to the other.  You will make more work for yourself and you really need to enjoy the rooms that are done as you march into the next room or "war zone."  Being able to take refuge in your newly done "dream rooms" will give you the motivation that you need to keep on marching!  Now, to continue on!

5.  Look at the front of your house.  Is it inviting?  How would you feel if you were a guest walking up to the front of your house? Well, when you walk up to your front door, it affects you the same way that it does others, so be critical.  You need to feel good when you walk up to your own front door.  What does the front of your house portray  about the people who live there? Does it look like friendly, happy people live there?  If you are like most people, this area could use a facelift as well.  Depending on what is important to you, add some wreathes, flowers, lights, etcetera.  

6. Now, look at the back of your house.  This is the place that you will most likely be hanging out in nice weather.  Do you have a nice place to sit out of the sun or in the sun if that is your thing?  Do you like to cook and entertain outdoors?  If so, incorporate furniture and some features that make that easier and more enjoyable.  Again, this is not expensive.  Most of my patio furniture has come from garage sales and a can of spray paint makes it like new again.  I usually find a colorful umbrella or two to brighten things up a bit.  I actually built a waterfall fountain over a 1/2 whiskey barrel.  I stacked up some pretty rocks that fit on top and drilled holes with a hammer drill, run a tube through the rocks that connects to a very small pump and voila!  A fountain that gives my guest the sound of running water!  Do you need a swimming pool or a hot tube?  These are bigger ticket items that might require some budgeting, but will be well worth it if that is an important amenity for you to feel "on vacation" while you are at home. Oh, and while you are at it, check out your outdoor lighting.  Rope lights, patio string lights, nice backyard fixtures and candles can all transform the mood of your outside oasis!

I really enjoyed writing this article and made my own lists of to-dos as I was contemplating how to achieve your "dream home" without moving.  I hope that this will inspire you to make some changes right where you are that are affordable and will make your home the place that you want to be above any where else!  I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts on this subject so be sure to comment!  Happy renovating!  

Julie Atkins

Milkweed Farms

Many years ago I came across one of those morning news shows that was doing an interview with an author by the name of Claire Cloninger.  The author immediately had my attention as she was discussing her journey to simplifying her life and to removing the "clutter" of sorts from her day to day life.  She had me hooked since I had always sought after a life of simplicity. 

So many times I have longed to have freedom from "stuff".  I owned more things than I had a spot to store and would still find myself shopping for more even when my finances didn't permit.  My mind didn't have the freedom to stop worrying about work and finances even on my days off.  

I have always been a minimalist at heart, however, by looking at my surroundings and watching how I would scamper willy nilly throughout my day, you would never know that my heart was always seeking after a much simpler life.  I am and have always been a planner!  Almost every night before I would fall asleep, I would plan the next day and it was written down.  Although this seemed to help, I  never allowed for the "add-ins".  You know, the things that just happen.  The kids call and someone needs a ride somewhere or my husband needs me to run an errand or I forgot to pay a bill or the dog had to go to the vet or a million other things!  Each day, I was left feeling like I had failed!

After watching the program, I quickly set out to order her book, "A Place Called Simplicity."  This became my favorite book of all time and I read it once a year for the next 15 years.  Really!  It takes repetition to refocus and it was, after all anenjoyable book to read.  Claire and her husband Spike had reached the empty nest time of life and they set out on a journey to move to a small place by a river and completely simplify their life.  I would highly recommend the book as it has had a great impact on my life and although I am still on my journey, every year I try to incorporate a few more of her tips into my life.  

One thing that stuck in my mind was that instead of having a stack of serving dishes, when Claire began simplifying, she picked out her favorite.  The best that she had and that is what she took to her home on the river.  All of the other bowls got donated, given away or left behind in some fashion.

Do you have your grandma's old china just sitting in the hutch collecting dust and never finding its way onto your dinner table?  One day as I was walking through a garage sale looking for that perfect treasure, I glanced at some beautiful china dinnerware.  I began to think about the person who might have purchased it and how wonderful it must have seemed when they used it to serve their special people.  I thought about my grandma's pretty china and how I seldom used it for fear a piece might get broken.  As I looked at that china that had once been someone's treasure, I realized that in a couple of generations, it no longer had that special meaning and literally had become garage sale material.  

Since that time, I have decided that my china was for simple tea parties with my granddaughters and dinners whenever I decided to use it.  Things really have no meaning when they sit as dusty relics, untouchable by those that you love.  The real meaning is the value that you put on the person for whom we are willing to share "our stuff" with!

Resolving the issue of too many dishes was only a small part of the journey that Claire set out on.  She tackled the area of her finances, her work space, and her appointment calendar as well.  While I have been on this journey for some time now, I am always at odds with the American way of life that "more is better".  Less is actually better.  Less stuff that actually has a proper place in your home.  It is freeing to open a closet or cabinet door and have an empty spot for what actually belongs there.  

God never meant for us to live in this chaotic state that many of us have gotten ourselves into.  He meant for us to live a quieter, simpler life.  One much more like the one that He created for us in the garden of Eden.  

If you are like me and have ever yearned for a simpler way of living, a place where you can slow down and escape the rat race of life and enjoy your own thoughts and actually have the time for the people and things that you love, I invite you to get your hands on a copy of this book.  While I am pretty sure that it is out of print at this time, copies can be purchased via Amazon or Ebay and it will change your life!

I am still on this journey and suspect that I will be for some time to come.  However, every year when I look back I can see that I have also come so far from where I started.  Each year, I have whittled out a little more time for the important things in life and have achieved a bit of "de-cluttering" in my life.

I am sure that some of you have your own ideas on simplifying life and I invite you to share them.  Life is a journey.  Give yourself time and take this process slowly.  Above all, live each day as if it were a gift and enjoy the journey!

Julie Atkins

Hey!  It's Summertime and I want to share with you one of my passions!  It is cooking with fresh herbs.  For years, I thought that I could never grow my own herbs and would by those packages from the store of scrawny, shriveled up little plastic containers that I practically spent my entire grocery budget on.  I dreamed of having an herb garden much like the ones that are featured on the magazine covers at the check out stand.  I can't be the only one who bought the shrunken basil to add to my pasta.  When I would get a compliment, I would toss my hair and say, "Oh, it must be the fresh basil!"  Or maybe you have thought about growing lavender, but noticed the carefully planted fields on the cover of....well, just about any food or gardening magazine.  You could never have your own stock of fresh lavender, right?  Wrong!  Container gardening is so simple and you can enjoy fresh herbs for your dishes all summer long!  And while you are at it, don't plant pots of herbs alone.  Mix them with your flowers!  I have rosemary intermingled with rose moss and sweet potato vines.  Lavender works well with perennials.  Plant some tarragon in a pot and move it to a protected area in the winter and next spring, voila!  A beautiful pot of tarragon with no effort at all!  Thyme is a perennial so stick a plant in a pot and enjoy it for years to come!  Don't forget to add these wonderful sprigs of herbs to your flower arrangements.  Not only do they add some beautiful foliage, but they bring a wonderful fragrance to any room!  I hope this inspires you to try an herb in a pot the next time that you want to plant something striking for your patio!

What is summertime without a cold glass of homemade lemonade?  A couple years ago through a kind of funny event, I decided that my favorite lemonade was made with blueberries.  I was on my way to a celebration of life event and I had my 10 year old granddaughter with me.  We stopped at Houlihan's Restaurant to grab a bite before heading out of town.  It was one of those hot days!  I mean the kind of hot where you got all dressed up and felt like a wilted, sweaty flower the minute that you walked out the door!  As we walked in to the restaurant, I was anticipating the cold air that was about to slap me in the face when my eyes fell on a large sign outside their door that was advertising a cold, frosty blueberry lemonade.  I glanced at the picture and although I don't usually order lemonade at restaurants, I decided that today was my day and one of those cold luscious looking drinks had my name on it.  My granddaughter and I placed our orders and it wasn't but a minute that that beautiful glass of blueberry lemonade was sitting right in front of me!  Now, I have to say that often things don't look as good when you get them as they do in the pictures, but this frosty glass looked even better than advertised!  I slurped down a few sips and no, I was not disappointed at all!  I offered my sweet little granddaughter some and told her that it was the best ever!  The sweet taste of lemons and blueberries filled my mouth!  Now this was a summertime drink that I would need to incorporate into my recipe file at home, I thought.  Our waitress quickly brought our food and after a few bites, I didn't feel so well.  I told my granddaughter that something was really wrong with my head.  Now, I guess I forgot to tell you that I don't drink alcoholic drinks.  I haven't for about 27 years now.   As I sat there and my head got cloudier and cloudier, I wondered whether or not I would be able to go to the celebration of life service at all.  The waitress brought the bill and when I saw the price of the blueberry lemonade, the mystery became clear.  The drink was made with blueberry vodka and I hadn't even read the menu.  I was so naive and thought that it was just blueberry lemonade.  The spike part had never occurred to me!  Well, I sat there until I felt better and felt a bit embarrassed.  My 10 year old granddaughter chuckled and asked if she should drive us home.  Although I still don't use the alcohol, I have incorporated blueberry lemonade into my list of favorite summertime drinks.  You can add what you want but I have included a recipe and list of my favorite add-ins. 

5 Lemons

1 1/4 Cups White Sugar

1 1/4 Quarts Water

Desired Fruit 

Summertime Lemonade

1. Peel the rinds from the 5 lemons and cut them into 1/2 inch slices. Set the lemons aside.
2. Place the rinds in a bowl and sprinkle the sugar over them. Let this stand for about one hour, so that the sugar begins to soak up the oils from the lemons.
3. Bring water to a boil in a covered saucepan and then pour the hot water over the sugared lemon rinds. Allow this mixture to cool for 20 minutes and then remove the rinds.  This is a good time to add any additional fruit for flavoring that you desire.  I even throw the fruit and water mixture into the blender at this point.
4. Squeeze the lemons into another bowl. Pour the juice through a strainer into the sugar mixture. Stir well, pour into pitcher and refrigerate!  Serve over ice and enjoy!

Some of my favorite add-ins are:

       Blueberries, oranges, cucumbers, mint, raspberries, and it is always          wonderful to add lemon wedges and whole berries for garnish!