By: Sandy Churchill “I say this with all the love in the world,” a dear friend recently told me, while inspecting my school supply closet, “do not buy another pencil!” She was critiquing my supply stash where a hoarding mentality sometimes took over—not because I intentionally hoard, but because I often stock up, then temporarily … More Kind Correction
By: Sandy Churchill Is there such a thing as a “nature hoarder”? Truly, I prefer the term “appreciator”, “collector” or “crafter”. As a six year-old, I scrambled to collect rocks and pebbles of myriad colors and unusual shapes, some sparkly, some striped, and tried to hoard them in my bureau drawer nicknamed by my mom … More Small Treasures
By: Sandy Churchill When you hear the term “elf shop,” do you conjure images of jingle-bell-adorned, pointy-shoe-clad wee folk who work alongside Santa? True enough—but we have another meaning at our house, a worthy companion to spring cleaning. We certainly cannot be the only family out there with a list of “to-do”s, “fix-its,” and myriad … More “Elf Workshop” Helps Year-Round
By: Sandy Churchill There is nothing like a hearth fire in winter, especially in New England. The smoky scents welcome us homeward when arriving from outdoors, and the crackling blazes instantly usher in warmth, family, and the cozy embrace of home. Our family members are campers at heart, eager to hike, kayak, tent- or cabin-escape … More Glorious Hearthfires!
By: Sandy Churchill When my children were small, dinner prep seemed to rob time at, “the bewitching hour”—where babies fussed, toddlers required more attention, and school-age children needed help with homework or rides to karate, soccer, and rehearsals. The idea of sparing 30 minutes or more each night to make dinner seemed unreachable many days … More Crockpots: The Mommy Time-Saver That’s Still a Winner
By: Sandy Churchill Traditions can be a messy business around family and friends, because we all have different ‘sentimentality meters’ as well as perspectives on time, togetherness, and scheduling vs. spontaneity. At our house, we often say if it doesn’t make it on the calendar, it won’t happen. That is not to say we don’t sometimes … More Embracing New Traditions
By: Sandy Churchill My mom wears red, yellow, orange, or hot pink on rainy days. She told my youngest child when he was about three that she chooses “happy colors” when it’s grey outside. Since that time, he mimics the choice, consciously or subconsciously, though he is now 13. I adopted the same practice. The … More Choose Color to Lift Your Mood
