I've been on a quest to know enough for years. It's still not always easy or second nature. I'm not sure why it seems to be human nature that we are always looking outward for more. Maybe it's a sort of survival instinct...to keep looking for more food so that we don't starve...to stay vigilant about the state of our shelter so that we don't freeze or bake in the sun. I don't know why, but I sometimes have a hard time staying in a state of awareness about enough. I tend toward looking around my surroundings + wondering how I can make things better.

There are a few things (that we can surely live without...we have been for years) that could make our lives just a little bit lovelier. My partner + I have been spending time in our bedroom in the mornings + in the evenings. I have avoided bedside tables that tend to collect clutter, but it would be nice for him to have a place to set a drink on his side of the bed. It would also be nice to have a light that we could turn on at the switch when we enter the room + that illuminated our room enough for reading in the evenings.

I have collected some images of bedside tables + lights...and it's these images that attract my desirous gaze. I don't like feeling wanty or lacking, so those feelings remind me to look at the elements we already have with appreciation + admiration for how they serve us well. We have lovely laundry baskets. I love their golden color, their beautiful texture + their large size that keeps their contents out of sight from my perch on the bed.

We have a lovely bed with a comfy mattress atop a sturdy frame. The bedding is made up of so many textures + shades of white. I love how sunlight + shadows play off of them. The soft layers have been collected over decades + each repaired rip + stain just makes it more ours.

I love the green plants that were each started from the first plant we brought home to this house. The stones + rocks + shells that sit on the window sills remind us of adventures we've had...of deserts + mountains + beaches we've walked together over the years. 

We have so much that is so good. And we have each other. We have love...ragged, tested, chosen love. Ahh...that's better.  :)

Love,
​Jane

My partner's pillow was getting a bit flat again. It was so nice to have a way to revive it...rather than dumping this one + buying a whole new pillow! Our pillows are from Avocado Mattress. The organic cotton outer is filled with organic latex + organic kapok (both of which are natural materials). What a great way to use up the latex scrap that surely must come from Avocado's latex mattresses...zero-waste! 

When we need to, we are able to refill this natural stuffing to our liking. I love that these pillows are adjustable...no need to guess which fill level you want when confronted with all that choice in the pillow aisle. Rather than adding fluff to the pillow, one could also remove some if it was too fluffy upon arrival. We've had our pillows for years + mine truly is the best one I've ever slept on. 

Love,
Jane

We eat out of these lovely bowls every day. They hold anything from pastas to soups to grain bowls to big salads. To me, they make every meal taste better.  :) We treat them with extra care, because handmade ceramics can be a little bit more delicate. Everyone washes their own bowl, dries it + puts it away after they've finished eating. (yay!)

The other night one of the bowls got chipped. I went online to see if Ariele had any more in her shop. They were sold out online, but I decided to reach out anyway. It wasn't long before one was in the mail. And this chipped bowl makes a great spot to float a few of these flowers that are still beautiful three weeks later.

I love my little collection of functional, beautiful ceramics...just enough...used + enjoyed every day. Holding them, I feel connected to an artist + her work...and also to the earth that they are made of. Thank you so much, Ariele! The new bowl is a little different from my original three + I love it that way. 

Love,
Jane

I've been looking for a bed frame for years. When we moved back to the states from overseas, we bought the cheapest mattress we could find. It came with boxsprings which we put on the floor. We slept that way for almost a decade.

Our backs were begging for an upgrade, so we finally bought an Avocado mattress which we love. We bought the most basic model + would not change a thing. Avocado mattresses are organic, non-toxic + made in Los Angeles. Ours is the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. We put our new mattress on our old boxsprings. (It's important not to just put a mattress on the ground where no air can circulate, because mold will grow.)

Another few years passed as I tried to choose a bed frame. I try to make these big choices well...so not only was I prioritizing style, but also fairness to those who made it + to the planet. We needed a sturdy frame that would hold us + our heavy mattress. I wanted a minimal looking frame with a low profile. I was looking for a bed frame that would be the last we ever buy + that can be a daunting thing.  :)

A few of the choices I kept coming back to include:

• KD Frames Nomad platform bed :: This is the most economical choice. It is made to be very sturdy from wood grown in "responsibly managed Virginia forests". The frames are built in Athens, Georgia.

• Thuma :: These bed frames seem well-designed + well-built. They use Japanese joinery so that they can be easily assembled + disassembled for simpler moving. As someone who has moved numerous times, this is an extremely attractive quality. The reviews report that these bed frames are sturdy + do not make noise. They are made from spent rubberwood trees, shipped with minimal packaging (no styrofoam), and Thuma visits the factories often.

• Helix Natural Wood Frame :: This frame is made from Apallachian wood in the USA. It requires no tools or hardware for assembly. We actually tried this one, but sadly used their sleep trial to return it. I wanted to add this option to the list, because it has some great qualities, but unfortunately ours made some noise. It is made from three different kinds of wood + that was evident in its appearance. Our pillows fell down the space it left between the wall + the platform was too large for our mattress.


• Modernica Case Study Bed :: This frame is designed + built in-house in California. George Nelson originally designed the Case Study collection in the 1940s. This design has stood the test of time. We finally purchased this bed frame (without the headboard) + are very happy with it. It is very sturdy, doesn't squeak, wasn't too hard to put together + we love the way it looks. ​

Some things are worth the wait. 

Love,
​Jane

There are less of us in this house most days lately, and it suddenly feels waaay too big. (I'm not sure why smaller houses are so hard to find.) I've never wanted to have a spare room to fill...to heat or cool...to live into. We don't need a sewing room, a guest room or an office. But an empty room is just too sad, so a few collected bits + pieces (gathered from other rooms) are bringing a little life to this space that has embraced so much of one particular, precious life. I'm going to try to keep this space quiet + contemplative...a space for stretching into ourselves...moving deliberately...breathing deeply. 

And of course she's more than welcome here too!

Love,
​Jane

Every so often I check in with the systems I use in order to reassess how they are working for me + my values. We're half way through the year + a few of our circumstances have changed in recent months...so this is a good time for one of those check-ins.

It's always important for me to revisit my values as they relate to each system. It can be helpful to revisit the space in my journal where I've recorded these values...but first I like to write them again from my thoughts. I may think of something that I haven't written or thought of before...but mainly thinking through them again is a great way to cement them in my mind...to recall what is important to me + to reiterate that importance to myself. When it comes to food, I value local, organic, zero-waste, nourishing, delicious, whole foods. 

When I find that I've fallen short of these values, I feel guilt + frustration with myself. I try to think of ways to avoid whatever has led me to fall short in the future. The systems I set up for myself create frameworks for "success" + eliminate the need to rethink how I do things with each grocery trip or meal prep time.

A few of the ways that I've shifted my food system in recent months include:

• ​Keeping my reusable bags in the car. I'm often stopping at the store on the way home from somewhere else now (instead of taking a grocery specific trip).
• Planning + shopping for three meals at a time (rather than a week at a time).
• Making enough for two dinners each time I cook. (I bought lidded glass dishes for the extra meals.)
• Having the same thing for breakfasts + lunches pretty much every day. Just to save the time + stress of thinking about it daily (+ when grocery shopping). These meals can change or alternate at any time.

It's helpful for me to see all of these shifts in one place. It lets me realize that I have made progress in setting myself up for success. It also allows me to recognize that each one of these shifts is a kindness to myself. I'll often smile + say "thank you" to myself (yup, for real) for having put my bags in the car...or for having a whole meal prepared in the fridge. Saying "thank you" to ourselves is kindness too.  :)

Love,
Jane

A while back we did some experiments with less in the kitchen. This post was meant to go along with those, but I love this collection of kitchen photos...so I'll just put it here, k?  :)

There is a reason I didn't put these images up at the beginning of our experiments with less in the kitchen. I really wanted us to focus on what we have...on our own thoughts + feelings. It's easy to get hung up on that wall I've always wanted to demolish or the flooring I dislike, when I look at pictures of other kitchens. But the walls + the flooring I have are "enough".

When we look at particularly inspiring pictures of anything...clothing, haircuts or homes...it's helpful to focus in on what we are drawn to in particular. My hair may not have the texture to pull off what I see in a photo. My budget may not accommodate that wall removal, but I can be drawn to the uncluttered countertops in one photo or the open shelving in another. By noting specific elements, I can take inspiration + make it work with what I have in my space + my budget + in my own way.

When I show my inspiration photos to my partner, I sometimes forget to point out exactly what I'm drawn to. He might ask if I want that sort of table or chair...when I've completely cut those out of my consciousness. I'm solely focused on the size of the window.

The photos above may do nothing for others, but most of us will come across photos that do inspire us. There are times when I'm scrolling along + one photo stops me in my tracks. It might take me a moment to figure out exactly what I'm feeling drawn to, but then it dawns on me...it's the colors...or the clean lines...or the way the shapes play off of one another. I like to take notice + take note. This practice can help us to create spaces that feel just right for us.

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

I can't remember how I first came across minimalism, in part because I've always been drawn to simplicity. I was often drawn to the simplest manifestations of a style. I was incredibly drawn to shabby chic style...and it was these images from Rachel Ashwell's first book that I connected with the most. My favorite was the image of that couch with the simplest of lines (no loose cushions) + the simple white denim slipcover. I tried this look out for myself, when I made similar slipcovers for two secondhand chairs we had at the time.

I was drawn to the lists minimalists made of things that they had + didn't have. I imagined not duplicating their lists, but what would be on my own list. And then, I had the ultimate chance to try it out, when we moved overseas. I let so many of the things I'd treasured go, and had the opportunity to observe how that made me feel. 

After another overseas move, I decided to explore what having fewer clothes would feel like and dressed with less...one month at a time. Here again, I had the chance to observe the changes happening in my thinking. It was exciting.

I've been reminded lately that it is possible to just read about philosophies and ideas...to discuss them...and even to teach them...without ever experiencing them for ourselves. The most learned scholar has not yet opened all doors to knowledge, if he has not yet put his studied philosophy into action. Just a little nudge to experiment...to experience.

Love,
Jane

I added a pocket in the back for empty seed packets. These have lots of information on them (like when the seeds should emerge) and remind me exactly what I bought.

Again, flexibility is key in the garden. One week of rain turned into two right when I should have been planting my spring seeds. The ground was soggy + waterlogged for days after that, so we were a little late in planting. Oh, well. We'll see what happens + appreciate the hard work we did to try. I'll keep watering our little tomato and pepper plants. We'll see what thrives and what doesn't. It's ok. We all tried our best.

It feels good to have committed to planting some possibility...to tend it...to have hope in the future. We planted bok choy, radishes, spinach and beets. We weeded the beds and cleaned leaves + debris from the strawberry plants. Pollinator + butterfly seed mixes were planted for the birds, bees and butterflies we hope to see again soon. Possibility looms + we wait with humble expectation. It feels good to hope.

Love,
Jane

Indecision is not my usual mode. I (usually) know what I like + I (usually) trust my instincts. This year, however, I've noticed that indecision has become a sort of recurring theme. I can't decide which trainers or bed frame or job or city to commit to...these don't fit quite right, I don't like the legs on that one, I don't know if we can afford it. As I put off decision after decision...they pile up + it all starts to feel overwhelming. So I'm starting with a plan to decrease my decision making when it comes to meal planning.  :)

As usual, I don't know if my personal thoughts will be helpful to anyone else, but...here are a few of my recent thoughts on forming (or reforming) a system for meal planning:

• Up until now, my system has looked pretty much like this. 
• I'd been wanting to update this system in order to establish a little more structure + make it a little easier + quicker to plan our meals + grocery lists. Even with my system, I am often just a little too stumped when it comes time to make my list. I feel guilty about repeating meals too often, but then end up doing it anyway.
• I watched a video by Minimal Mom the other day + it just felt good to hear that Dawn makes a lot of the same meals over + over. She said that our moms used to do that + didn't apologize for it before recipe blogs + food shows, etc. Sometimes it's just nice to know that other people are doing something. (I don't really know why.)  :)
• When I sat down to work on my system, my mind was still resisting making it more specific. I realize that I often balk at creating a system, because I'm not sure I want to fully commit to it. I think I'll probably fail anyway...or that I'll want more variety...or that I just won't like it. Well, I just had to tell my brain that I want to try this + I can make changes anytime I want to. (duh.)

So...I decided to keep the plan I've been using...but to give myself two actual meal choices in each supper category...for each season. Right now the categories I'm using include:

• pizza
• rice
• soup/salad
• pasta
• root vegetable
• fish
• for 3 (one less for dinner)

Other categories I have used or considered include breakfast for dinner, frittata/pizza, grain bowl + sandwich/burger/taco. I've also considered using origin flavor categories like Mexican, Greek, Italian, Japanese + Indian.

Right now, we eat mostly vegetarian + gluten-free + considering some other food sensitivities, so coming up with meals can feel like a long checklist of can-we/can-we-not. I decided that two meals in each category would allow for many weekly combinations. I also left a few options in the meals. For example, one of our favorite meals lately is lemon rice. The base of it is jasmine rice, a little butter, lemon, parmesan cheese + scallions (because they are in season now!) + salt + pepper flakes. We would all enjoy eating it just like this, but adding peas, asparagus, broccoli +/or radishes along with some protein offers an opportunity for both variety + for using fresh spring produce.

Making seasonal iterations of this plan will offer even more chance for variety + for using the season's offerings. For spring, I chose lemon rice + broccoli/cashew rice as our rice meals. In the summer, I may choose a deconstructed sushi bowl + rice with peanut sauce as our rice meal choices. I've put some suggestions on the other season's lists, but I'll leave those decisions for those seasons.

This process reminded me of what Courtney Carver is doing with her 333 wardrobe challenge. The three month blocks in 333 have always seemed a little arbitrary for me weather-wise, but I recognize that it's more about dealing with the system (+ the vast majority of the decision making) all at once + then living + resting within its boundaries for the following three months.

I hope it's obvious that we can eat whatever we want to...whenever. This system is not meant to be restrictive in any way. It just exists as a helper for coming up with meals week after week.

A few questions I asked myself along the way:

• What would I like to eat every day? What feels nourishing + delicious + healthy? 
• What do my people like to eat?

Answering these two questions released me from feeling like I would not be offering meals that I am supposed to offer. I know this sounds ridiculous...but I had to process that. If I am offering the nourishing things they most like to eat = great! When I think about what I would most like to eat, the answer is short...not varied + long. (A grain bowl.) Great...sweet release.

• Are we getting enough protein?

This allowed me to look at my plan + to see the holes in that one area. I decided to address this by looking at the whole week in order to add a few things to incorporate throughout the week.

I have to say that I feel pretty good about crossing this task off my list. My list looks nourishing + delicious + budget-possible. I don't have to make my shopping list until Friday + it's only Wednesday. I feel like I've done my future self a favor. 

Love,
Jane