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Stocking stuffers can be fun or simply another thing to add to the list of items to complete before Christmas day. I prefer to include items that we will use and not things that will be broken and in the trashcan by the end of Christmas day. For the last few years, a component of our stockings includes personal care items from Metz Sugar Scrubs & Natural Care Products (@metzsugarscrubs on Facebook).    Metz Sugar Scrubs is a small family business that make wonderful, natural personal care items. Here are just a few of our favorites:   My recently-turned teenager uses...

  Several years ago, we were listening to an audiobook and I was concerned that it may be too slow for my very active little boy. Not only did he listen, but it turned out to be one of my son's favorite books, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.     This book talks about a boy surviving in the wilderness and it truly spoke to my son. Every year since listening to this book, he has requested "Wilderness Skills" as his chosen school elective. This is a broad topic and has included many things such as foraging for food...

We were happy to complete this rough edge sign! The live edge wood is red oak. The tree was toppled during a bad storm. We offered to help a neighbor with the clean-up process and he generously gave us the wood.  The slab was cut, planed and sanded. A wood conditioner was applied to bring out the beauty of the wood.      We worked closely with the customer on the design. The information and fonts were chosen by the customer and approved.     The design was hand-painted.      Even the last details, such as the design of...

A few years ago, we decided to tailor the Christmas gift list for the kids. This process was initially designed to decrease costs of buying gifts for four children. We have used this method for a few years and really like it. It hasn't really decreased the price that much because they tend to get larger or more expensive items during this one time of the year. However, it simplifies the shopping process and allows them more time to enjoy each gift. Today, I'm going to discuss what we do for the "1 gift they read" portion. We read a lot...

Moving is a busy and slightly stressful process even after all of the stuff is physically in the new place. Cleaning and organizing the home is a lot by itself, especially if it takes over a week to find your silverware! I was informed daily that eating cereal with a spork was not ideal.  Planning and preparing the homestead with a winter deadline looming really puts the pressure on. We are doing many new projects right now and I'll share them with you as they progress (although maybe a bit later than intended).   One thing that we wanted to do as...