How we celebrate the seasons, our milestones, and this messy, delicious life.
Every year it catches me by surprise. The way time seems to accelerate.
The way I can see them growing up before my eyes.
Each year they slip into these coats and I marvel at how they fill a bit more space than they did last Autumn.
And I am thankful to be here to witness it all.
Oh, my heart.
(See more of our annual jacket pictures here.)
I was going to wait until December to share this post again but I realized that sooner might be better if the idea of a simplified season is a new (but appealing) one to you. Especially if you will be sharing this list with friends or family.
Because a season full of giving and connection, but lacking in the overwhelm of too much stuff feels just right over here. And I thought, perhaps, it would for some of you as well.
: :
Are you inspired to have a more simple holiday with a little less excess at the end of the season? Especially when it comes to your children?
You're not alone.
Since I shared these two posts to inspire more simple celebrations and to share our family's almost toy-free journey, I've gotten several emails asking for a bit more guidance.
Less toys? Yes! Less clutter? Please! Less consumption? Amen.
These ideas are easy to get on board with until it's time to wrap presents or stuff stockings.
But then what?
Right. That's when it gets sticky.
So Sage (12), Lupine (8) and I worked up a list of 101 toy-free (and many clutter-free, consumption-free, stuff-free!) gifts to give to your littles this season.
Going toy-free requires a little thinking outside the box, so be open to new traditions and a new way of doing things.
Remember: just because it's a new idea for your crew doesn't mean it won't be fan-freaking-tastic. You might find that you all love it more than you ever imagined.
A few thoughts before we embark:
1. We often go overboard in our culture. Way overboard. I'm as guilty of this as the next. But when I started to pull back on the gifts (and the toys) I expected my kids to be a bit disappointed. At least at first. But they weren't. The first low-stuff year was voted the "best Solstice ever" by them both (That was the year they each received an ornament and a love coupon.) Go slowly and see how it feels to everyone. This isn't a formula for a better way to do anything. It's just how we do things around here. It might be a fit, it might not. Be open to either option.
2. Consider making a gift of something you might do anyway. It sounds silly, but if you child wants to take a class or go to camp, why not give that as a holiday gift? It would surely be appreciated. And your budget will be so darn happy about it.
3. And finally, consider the child. What does your little one love? What makes them tick? I'm betting it's not only toys. Craft a gift that suits their passions. Because these are the gifts they will remember. A train-obsessed two year old would flip for a ride on a real train or a visit to a train museum. And a ballet-obsessed six year old would be wild with anticipation to see a ballet rehersal or performance. You get the idea.
Many of the gifts listed below are items I have actually given my kids through the years. Obviously you have to consider the age and interests of your child, but this is a solid jumping-off place.
But enough chatter. Let's get to it.
These are among our family's favorite gifts – to give, to receive, and to cash in!
My kids have been busy in the kitchen since they could stand on a step stool at the counter. For this reason special kitchen-related gifts are always met with enthusiasm. (And yes, treats are too.)
Get out there! To the county park, to your backyard, anywhere. Even if you live in the city many of these gifts can be used at your nearby park or even on your patio.
Crafting is our number one way to spend a day. That makes crafty gifts a natural win.
Simple things can be gifts too. When I was a child I think Santa brought me new socks and underwear every year!
For some kids a spa gift is heaven on earth. Read those labels though, won't you? Go with the good stuff. (Disclaimer: shameless self-promotion to follow.)
These didn't fit anywhere else. But all are fun, so there you go.
Tell me – are you inspired to go toy-free this year? What would you add to our list?
Originally published in 2014
Hello, lovelies!
Before we dig in on today's post I want to let you know that beginning this week I'll be sharing a LüSa Organics giveaway and/or coupon most Saturdays here on Clean. Check back tomorrow to see what I have for you. I promise to make it worth your while!
And big thanks to each of you who have chosen to support our small business as well as coming here to read my words. It means so much. (More thank you know.)
One more bit of housekeeping – it has become much harder to stay in touch through Facebook (my standard way to share with you in the past). It's time to subscribe to my blog!
Subscribing simply means that when I write a new post it will show up for you in your email. That's it. No spam, no silliness, just an email of new posts. Simple.
Sign up here.
Don't miss another post!
x Rachel
~ : : : ~
I'm betting a few of you are still getting ready for Halloween. (We sure are!)
I made these wings a few years back and I loved them so much I could hardly stand it. The tutorial is as simple as can be, and start to finish they take under two hours.
For. Real.
So grab your glitter and some hangers and let's get crafty! (If nothing else it's an excuse to use the word "panty hose" again.)
Here's how.
But what? My costume stash is pretty lean these days, consisting of a too-tight-for-me-now wedding dress, a pair of cowboy boots and an Amish straw hat. And that combination was scarier than the mustache, so I needed a plan-B. A fairy! Of course. But Lupine's wings were too small.
I searched Pinterest for ideas and came across two useful tutorials (this one and this one.) I read them each over once, got a little overwhelmed, and just went for it on my own.
And they were so easy. Ridiculous. And because of the amount of glitter I used, extremely satisfying as well. (I don't know what it is about glitter. I wish I could put it on my food I like it so much. Okay, not really. But unlike most adults I actually adore the stuff.)
These wings took me less than two hours from start to finish (including a trip to Walgreen's for nylons when I realized that I simplified all of my tights right out the door last spring).
So easy and so much cuter than a handlebar mustache.
Here is what you need:
Four metal coat hangers or equivalent amount of other very strong wire
Duct tape (packing tape also works in a pinch but isn't as strong)
2 pairs of nylons of preferred color, mine were size large-ish and full length, though in retrospect thigh-highs would work great.
Fine glitter
White glue or Mod Podge
Paint brush
1. Shape each of the four hangers into a wing shape. My top and bottom wings have a slightly different shape giving a distinct top and bottom, but go with whatever you like.
2. Cut off the hooked part of each hanger and tape together your left and right wing pairs, as above.
3. Slip a nylon leg on each wing segment and cut it off at the appropriate length. Knot on the back. (Feel free to call them "pantyhose" if you'd like to channel my grandmother during the process.)
4. Tape together the left and right wings to make a connected set. You're almost done!
5. Using diluted white glue (1:2 water to glue), paint the edges of your wings and sprinkle with glitter.
Paint designs on the wings and add more glitter. I did simple swirls and dots and allowed the excess glitter to add to the design. Remember: it won't be perfect, and it is a law of physics that glitter will not stay where you put it. Knock the surplus glitter off of the wing and onto a tray or newspaper and reuse.
Tip: Don't rub the glitter into place or you may smear the glue.
Allow to dry while you admire your work.
Your house. Will be full. Of glitter. But that's okay. Because now your house is magical instead of messy.
6. Hide your packing tape under ribbon or fabric and hold the ribbon in place with glue and a safety pin hidden on the back.
7. Attach a super long length of ribbon (the long cream-colored ribbons below) for straps at the center point. Cris-cross over your chest and tie in the back or at your side.
Tie them on and say to your reflection, "You are so magical I can hardly stand it. Mwah!"
As we busily prepare for Halloween – one of our favorite celebrations of the year – I wanted to share with you a beloved fall tradition in our home: the Pumpkin Fairy.
We were introduced to the Pumpkin Fairy by one of my most magical friends when our kids were small. And I am so glad we were! The Pumpkin Fairy is wonderful.
You see, I was always a little sketchy on keeping all that sugar from Halloween around the house. It's not what I wanted my kids to eat, yet I didn't want to be the heavy and swoop in and swipe their candy on November 1.
Also, last year Lupine exhibited a very clear/alarming reaction to food coloring that made Halloween that much more scary. Adding food sensitivities to the mix means that most of the candy that our kids bring home on Halloween fall onto our "no" list right out of the gate.
Hello, rock. Hello, hard place.
And then the Pumpkin Fairy swooped in on an autumn wind and saved the day.
The Pumpkin Fairy arrives by invitation to transform your Halloween treats into a wonderful, simple gift. (If she's never come before it's only because you didn't invite her!) What does she do with the candy? It depends on who you ask. Some kids think she makes the gifts she gives out of the candy she gathers; others think she might build her candy house from them. Personally, I suspect she grinds it up to make fairy dust for all the autumn fairy folk.
Here is how it works: Any willing children select the candy for the Pumpkin Fairy. Some make a selection, others dump in the lot of it. The chosen treats are put it out in a basket, covered with a cloth or silk and left on the table for the Pumpkin Fairy to find in the night. By morning the Pumpkin Fairy has come and transformed the candy into something lovely. (Around here she leaves small treasures akin to what we might find in our spring baskets.)
We find that the size of the gift is determined by how much candy they give, which for one of my kids means most of the bag is handed off and the food allergy candy struggles are over. (*wipes brow*)
In years past the Pumpkin Fairy has brought crystals, craft supplies, small handmade toys, and a special fall book. She always gives things that are a perfect match for the family she's sharing with!
We never force it, and if one child wants to keep a bucket of candy, that is their choice. (Around here that often means swapping out for legal treats from the coop.) But if you let the candy go and share the magic with the Pumpkin Fairy, oh the magic that will come!
So there you go. That's how we do it around here. It's not perfect, but for our family any way it's pretty darn close.
And at the end of the day, Halloween is still my children's favorite celebration. And the Pumpkin Fairy is just one more thing to look forward to. Because Halloween, after all, is so much more than candy. It's costumes and magic mischief and adventure!
And it turns out that the candy was just a sweet little extra all along.
Love,
Rachel
I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow this guy is thirteen today.
Thirteen! I can hardly remember what our life looked like before he arrived.
And while every birthday is a reason to celebrate, this one feels significant. A teenager. The world opening before him.
Sage, you have been one of my greatest teachers since the day you were born. I am constantly inspired by your authenticity, your mind, and sensitive spirit and your wide open heart. Thank you for choosing us to be your family and for all that you have taught me.
We love you so, so much.
Happy birthday!
Love,
Mama
It is quite possible that what it takes to make me happy has become more simple with each passing year.
That what I need is easier to know and easier to find.
When I turned 40 (two years ago) I remember holding onto the "shoulds" that came along with it.
I should have a party. I should gather with the most important people in my life. I should craft meaning around this day.
I should make a kind of big deal out of this. Because I thought if I didn't I might regret it.
Folly.
When all was said and done I would have preferred to gather one-on-one with each of those wonderful people instead of as a group, as small as it was. I would have carved out more quiet space. I would have honored my nature more fully.
And now? At 42? Forget about it.
Forget the "shoulds". The rules. The expectations.
All I need is my family and friends and an abundance of simple, easy-to-find joys.
With that in mind, I spent my birthday weekend digging a new garden bed, foraging nettles, snuggling lambs, and connecting with the people that I love.
There was good (simple) food, good (simple) work, lovely (simple) gifts, and meaningful conversation.
There was fresh air and sunshine and a quiet place to enjoy it.
One of my dearest friends came for the weekend and I didn't clean for her (a struggle even for me) because it was my birthday and I didn't want to get caught in the loop of "shoulds".
Instead I welcomed her into the chaos and we found the space there in which to simply be. (And knit. And talk.)
Because it turns out for me that 42 sounds older than it feels.
Yet the self-knowing that growing older brings? That is something I deeply treasure.
I'm learning how to ask for what I need. And how to give much of that to myself.
I'm learning that it doesn't take much more for me to be happy then honoring and living my own truths.
If this is what it means to grow up I'm all for it.
So hello, 42. I'm ready for you.
Bring it on!
Contrary to popular opinion, you don't need a bucket-full of ducklings to have a magical spring celebration.
Okay, I know. There is no popular opinion of the sort. Well then, you don't need a bucket- (or basket-) full of chocolate, new toys and stuffed animals, or jelly beans either.
Yup. It's radical.
Over here we have made a habit of simple, meaningful celebrations that we enjoy more than any over-the-top, sugar-fueled gift-bonanza we could imagine.
And every year we take it down another notch – doing less, giving less, yet seeking meaning more – and every year we're surprised at how much more wonderful this celebration was than last.
Yes. Less really is more.
Less buying. Less consuming. Less perfection.
Less "keeping up".
By reaching for quality over quantity, creating new traditions, and simplifying a bit more each season you, too, can reclaim a little sanity in your celebration.
Below is a round-up of a few favorite posts to get you there.
These posts and tutorials can help you create a simple, meaningful spring celebration starting right now.
With fresh ideas for gifts to tuck into baskets (yes – even if you're not feeling crafty!), projects for dying and making eggs, and ways to embrace magic and cultivate meaning you can transform your holiday.
Dig in. You won't regret it.
And happy Spring, friends. I'm so glad you're here.
Love,
Rachel
Are you the Easter Bunny, mama?
Probably the most popular post I have ever shared.
Answering your child's questions about magic.
We love playing with natural egg dyes. It's easier than you think!
A peek inside our seasonal traditions, including our first simplified spring baskets.
We love these so much. I'm making a few more this season.
Making easy wool-felt Easter eggs
These were fun, too. Messy, but fun.
A simple project to tuck in a basket in place of a purchased toy.
Lots of junk-free ideas for small gifts from our Christmas gift list.
Peek in our baskets for more simplification ideas.
It's okay if you're not feeling crafty. Your celebration can still be simple and sweet.
An uncrafty spring celebration
This is a repost from last spring. It applies just as beautifully to Chirstmas and Solstice as it did to Easter. I share it again in hopes that is will be a loving guide for you as you move through another season of holiday magic.
Wishing you and your children a magical holiday!
Love,
Rachel
"Are you the one who fills our Easter baskets?"
The question surprised me, though I had been waiting for it for years.
Wondering when they would ask.
The Easter Bunny? And all of the rest?
The truth is, I was dreading that question.
The Question.
You see, I did not come easily to the idea of a magical childhood.
Precisely because I knew I would someday have to answer The Question.
When Sage was a baby magic felt like a lie. And I wouldn't lie to my kids.
No Santa. No Bunny. No magic.
I wanted to be honest with my children. Always. Completely. No exceptions.
But then a friend convinced me that magic served a very important role in childhood.
That the very nature of childhood is magical, and that magic is where young children should dwell.
Magic sets the young imagination ablaze with possibility.
Magic creates comfort in an overwhelming world.
Magic makes adult concepts digestible to a young developing mind.
Magic makes the unseen possible.
And the more I sat with this idea during Sage's early days, the more I began to agree.
Magic stopped feeling like a lie, and more like, well, magic.
The decision was cautiously made.
We'd give it a try.
We would invite magic.
For better or for worse.
My reservations quickly faded as I saw awe in my child's eyes when something magical happened.
Even fireflies became magical to him.
"Look mama! There are stars and fairies all over in the forest!"
Within a moment I knew that we had found a good fit for our family.
And in our home anyway, childhood became a magical experience.
There was magic everywhere!
Standard issue magic folk and playful new creations.
Santa. The Tooth Fairy. Saint Nick. The Easter Bunny.
Also the Rhyme Elves, leaving a poem during the night beside a child's bed.
The Pumpkin Fairy, transforming Halloween candy into a lovely new toy.
The Solstice Elves, delivering a gift for the children to share each Solstice Eve.
And okay, I'll even admit to the obscure Van (as in: mini van) Fairies, who would hide a thrift store book in your car seat on a long and trying road trip.
And so many others.
We were rich with fairy folk.
Magic unfolded around us.
And years passed.
And I waited.
For The Question.
Finally it came.
Are you the one who fills our Easter baskets?
It was said with curiousity but not anxiety. Simply. Plainly.
I took my child by the hand and we found a quiet place to sit and talk.
And with my arms wrapped around this growing spirit, this is what I said.
Since you were very small your life has been full of magic.
On holidays and everyday.
Elves, gnomes, and fairies.
Everywhere.
Inviting that magic into your life was a decision your papa and I made when you were very small.
Because we believed that a childhood full of magic could help you believe in things you could not see.
And as you get older believing in things you can not see can help you go anywhere you dream to go.
And yes, filling your Easter basket was a part of that.
Along with many other things.
We tried to make magic into something you could see and touch and believe in from the very start.
Because I believe that magic is real.
But it changes as you get older.
And instead of being the winged fairy folk or Easter bunny sort of magic it is a magic that is harder to see and touch than that.
"Yeah," my child said. "Like the magic of the universe."
Yes. Like that.
I continued…
Your papa and I decided that we wanted you to have a magical childhood.
We thought it would help you believe in yourself when things seemed impossible.
We believed it would help you reach for things that others thought were unreachable.
And so just like Nanny and Bumpy did for me and their parents did for them, your papa and I have helped bring magic to life for you.
My child paused only for a moment, then smiled and said,
"It's still magic. It's mama magic."
There was no sadness. No deceit. No disappointment.
Only joy, awe, and a new twist on what it meant to hold magic in our hands.
It all made perfect sense.
To both of us.
And it was time.
And then I passed the torch.
Because once you know this truth, you also become a magic keeper.
Your work is to help keep magic alive for other children who still believe.
And this – this! – was the best part of all.
To pick up the torch and become a part of the magic?
My child could hardly wait to get started.
Yes. It is still magic after all.
It's mama magic.
It's papa magic.
And now it is kid magic, too.
And kid magic I suspect is the most powerful magic of all.
They grew up believing.
Who better to keep it alive?
My heart is full.
Are you inspired to have a more simple holiday with a little less excess at the end of the season? Especially when it comes to your children?
You're not alone.
Since I shared these two posts to inspire more simple celebrations and to share our family's almost toy-free journey, I've gotten several emails asking for a bit more guidance.
Less toys? Yes! Less clutter? Please! Less consumption? Amen.
These ideas are easy to get on board with until it's time to wrap presents or stuff stockings.
But then what?
Right. That's when it gets sticky.
So Sage (12), Lupine (8) and I worked up a list of 101 toy-free (and many clutter-free, consumption-free, stuff-free!) gifts to give to your littles this season.
Going toy-free requires a little thinking outside the box, so be open to new traditions and a new way of doing things.
Remember: just because it's a new idea for your crew doesn't mean it won't be fan-freaking-tastic. You might find that you all love it more than you ever imagined.
A few thoughts before we embark:
1. We often go overboard in our culture. Way overboard. I'm as guilty of this as the next. But when I started to pull back on the gifts (and the toys) I expected my kids to be a bit disappointed. At least at first. But they weren't. The first low-stuff year was voted the "best Solstice ever" by them both (That was the year they each received an ornament and a love coupon.) Go slowly and see how it feels to everyone. This isn't a formula for a better way to do anything. It's just how we do things around here. It might be a fit, it might not. Be open to either option.
2. Consider making a gift of something you might do anyway. It sounds silly, but if you child wants to take a class or go to camp, why not give that as a holiday gift? It would surely be appreciated. And your budget will be so darn happy about it.
3. And finally, consider the child. What does your little one love? What makes them tick? I'm betting it's not only toys. Craft a gift that suits their passions. Because these are the gifts they will remember. A train-obsessed two year old would flip for a ride on a real train or a visit to a train museum. And a ballet-obsessed six year old would be wild with anticipation to see a ballet rehersal or performance. You get the idea.
Many of the gifts listed below are items I have actually given my kids through the years. Obviously you have to consider the age and interests of your child, but this is a solid jumping-off place.
But enough chatter. Let's get to it.
These are among our family's favorite gifts – to give, to receive, and to cash in!
My kids have been busy in the kitchen since they could stand on a step stool at the counter. For this reason special kitchen-related gifts are always met with enthusiasm. (And yes, treats are too.)
Get out there! To the county park, to your backyard, anywhere. Even if you live in the city many of these gifts can be used at your nearby park or even on your patio.
Crafting is our number one way to spend a day. That makes crafty gifts a natural win.
Simple things can be gifts too. When I was a child I think Santa brought me new socks and underwear every year!
For some kids a spa gift is heaven on earth. Read those labels though, won't you? Go with the good stuff. (Disclaimer: shameless self-promotion to follow.)
These didn't fit anywhere else. But all are fun, so there you go.
Tell me – are you inspired to go toy-free this year? What would you add to our list?
As we talk more about deeper meaning and less consumption, I kept circling back to this custom in my mind. The Gratitude Tree.
So I pulled this post from last year's archives for you in hopes that it inspires connection and meaning in your family celebration. The materials can be put together the night before and need not be fancy. Becasue simple, I'm finding, often feels better.
When I was a child I don't think I really "got" Thanksgiving.
Sure, we gathered around my grandparents table and used the fancy dishes. We said grace and ate a glorious meal.
But I didn't get it.
Not really.
I knew the story of the first Thanksgiving (the version we were told at school anyway), but the meaning was lost on me.
Because grace was just a prayer we said before meals.
It was a memorized and recited, not felt or understood.
I was glad to gather and eat my grandma's cooking, but that was as deep as my gratitude ran.
And then one year – as an adult – I got it.
I really got it.
I'm not sure when Thanksgiving clicked for me, but now I count it among my favorite of the year.
Because it's all about gratitude.
("Well, duh," you say. But truly. It didn't sink in until adulthood.)
It's counting blessings. Being thankful for the abundance that we possess.
It's about deeply feeling and noticing all that we have.
And as you might guess, I'm all about that.
And now I look forward to Thanksgiving like I once looked forward to Christmas.
Several years ago we started a Gratitude Tree tradition.
It quickly became our favorite Thanksgiving tradition, and one that really brought home the meaning of Thanksgiving for our kids. And come to think of it, for the adults as well.
The Gratitude Tree is a place to note all that you are thankful for.
A way to count your blessings and be mindful of all the richness in your life.
Quite simply it's a tree branch decorated with leaves upon which you've written what you're thankful for.
But it always seems like more than that.
So much more that my mom sometimes keeps the tree from the previous year on her dresser until the following autumn.
Because these blessings are worth remembering throughout the year.
Want to start your own Gratitude Tree tradition?
I thought so.
But keep it simple, won't you? We get so carried away trying to make our traditions picture-perfect to the end of losing our way and forgetting why we're doing it to begin with.
Don't let perfection stand in your way.
Cut your branches.
My kids go out each year with clippers and select our branch. It isn't always the most perfect specimen, but I love the role they play in selecting it. If you want a stunning branch, select one on a hike well before the hustle of Thanksgiving.
Feeling fancy? Coat that baby with silver or white sparkly spray paint. Yowza.
Trim the branch so that it isn't obnoxiously tall or wide on your table. You're making a centerpiece – not a brush pile, my friend.
Place the branch in a jar or base. Add pebbles or marbles (optional) to give it a more stable base.
If you have young children and visions of broken vase and bits of tree branch wedged into your turkey, consider a smaller centerpiece. Or as an alternative you can suspend a single branch horizontally above the table. Gorgeous.
From your old watercolor paintings (or colored paper, or old telephone bills or whatever you've got) cut out leaf shapes. I free form cut simple almond shapes with a little stem, but you can use these templates if you want something more refined.
Punch a hole near the leaf end of your leaves and thread some scrap yarn or string through. Knot.
Place your tree on your Thanksgiving table.
Surround the tree with scattered leaves and pencils. (Glitter pens would be lovely, but we eat Thanksgiving on Great-Grandma's handmade lace tablecloth. So pencil it is.)
We put our gratitude tree on the table before the guests arrive. Then throughout the evening we all write down anything that we're inspired to share.
Even my dad – not famous for pouring his heart out through the pen – gets into the act.
After dinner we remove the leaves from the Gratitude Tree and place them in a basket. Then as we gather for dessert or a glass of wine, we pass the basket around the room, taking turns reading the anonymous blessings that were shared.
It's a magical time – sometimes resulting in tears – as we find the words to express all that we are thankful for.
So. Good.
Want more? Five Family Projects to Cultivate Gratitude might be just the ticket. (A post I wrote for Simple Homeschool last year.)