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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / Let’s talk about saving money, Facebook, soup, toys, and creating a nest…

Let’s talk about saving money, Facebook, soup, toys, and creating a nest…

September 26, 2016 · 3 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, our home

goldie smiles maggie whitley

Hey friends! The weather has took a turn towards cooler air, and I absolutely love it! When we were living in Los Angeles we rarely saw shades of red and yellow on the top half of trees, and so this is partly why I’m realllllly loving that fall is upon us. Our 2-mile round trip walks to the park are a lot more enjoyable, too ;)

A fun list of things I’m currently thinking about…

* I’m not on Facebook too much during the day, but I have made it a habit of “saving” posts in my feed I want to revisit later, especially if there is a video or long post attached. I find I enjoy the content so much more when I can read it during quiet hours.

* Still on the search for a “smokey eye”! I think I may try something fool proof, ha ha. Have you used any liquid/creamy eye shadows? Thinking I’ll mix a couple with a chubby eyeliner stick. The results will probably show up on my Instagram feed, unless I look absolutely terrifying (snort).

* Saturday night, Zack and I spent a little over an hour re-working our budget, AND I AM SO VERY EXCITED! We have tightened up our spending once again, and the amount we’re now able to save each month is so encouraging. A few days ago I wrote a little about how we’re paying off our debt, and it starts with using actual cash (very little debit card use, and NO credit card use), and only purchasing the essentials (no “wants” right now (those are bought once we’re debt-free)). We have been making great progress since the beginning of the year, but not as much as we’d like, considering we have tens of thousands of debt left to pay. So on Saturday night, we found an additional $300/month to throw at our debt, and I’m really encouraged — this additional money will speed up our progress by an entire year, yes!!! Also, this totally reminds me of Dave Ramsey when he says, “sell so much stuff the kids think they’re next”. Yep, that’s our mindset, cut off as much excess as possible so we can be debt-free as quickly as possible!

* Sunday morning, I baked a dozen pumpkin muffins! So delicious, and an easy way to warm up the house. Thanks Ashley for posting the recipe (edited to add, bake your muffins at 350*). With the leftover pumpkin, I’m sure I’ll make myself a few pumpkin spice latte’s at naptime — another recipe from Ashley.

* I mentioned this briefly on Friday :: we are entering another intense season with the kids. Natalie is ready to potty train (she’ll turn 2 the end of October), and Marigold has cut two teeth. I also think Natalie is getting her molars? Oh man, so we’ve reversed back to the sleepless night phase of parenting. And never has my bed felt so comfortable! When we moved back to Michigan, we bought a down comforter and duvet set for our bedroom. And flannel sheets ;) And I tell ya, when I get into bed at night, all cozy in our nest, I feel my stress relax off of my bones. It takes me very little time to fall asleep. I found the down comforter at Marshalls (SUCH a great store!), and it was one of the best “we’re moving back to Michigan where there are four seasons (!!!)” purchases. What I’m getting at is this: a tribe of little kids + a very comfortable, cozy nest = the best type of rest possible! Even if I’m not actually able to sleep, resting my body for at least 8 hours is exactly what I need during this season of life.

* I’m on a soup craze! So far I’ve made pasta e fagioli, broccoli cheddar, chicken pot pie, and lentil soup. Pair this with dinner rolls, fresh from the oven, and we are a happy crew come dinner time! :) Soup is perfect for our family, it often gives us plenty of leftovers, which I freeze for another meal. I make it a priority to make hearty soup recipes so I can strain most of the broth out, that way Max and Natalie can easily feed themselves. Edie is a soup whisperer, and I usually search her blog first :)

* TOYS! THINGS! ALL THE EXTRA STUFF! I suddenly want to clean it all up, pack up all the forgotten toys, replenish our art supplies, focus on building and creative play. How much time do I really spend cleaning up? I can’t even think about it ;) I loved the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and recently a friend shared this book title with me, The House That Cleans Itself. And now that Marigold is able to turn onto her tummy (she’s as fast as lightening), it is making me really consider what toys are on the floor that she can reach.

YOUR TURN! There’s so much to talk about — what are you cooking? What’s on your mind? What helps you fall asleep fast at night, and how much sleep do you typically get/need? What are you looking forward to this week? xx

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3 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, our home

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Comments

  1. Laura says

    September 26, 2016 at 11:17 am

    I need to try some of those soup recipes! Yum! Perfect for the chillier temps!

    Reply
  2. Kayla says

    September 26, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    Have you read 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker? It’s another great read about tidying up and getting rid of stuff. I’m reading it right now and it’s excellent!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      September 26, 2016 at 2:57 pm

      I haven’t, totally forgot about that one — thanks for the reminder!

      Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in northern Michigan. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

maggiewhitley
My children have set up a fort in the kitchen & su My children have set up a fort in the kitchen & sunroom and included are two of my plants, a toy basket converted to a  playpen, and a “big sister” leading the pack. This is so precious to me. I love finding their candid photos on my phone. Their childhood is enriched when they engage in creative play and conversation, and I’m here as a witness to share that LESS TOYS is always better. I worked a major toy reduction yesterday and we’re all benefitting from this. ✨✨
Friends, do not underestimate the beautiful, trans Friends, do not underestimate the beautiful, transforming power of friendship during challenging seasons. I met Joanna almost TEN years ago, shortly after we moved to Los Angeles. She is also a Midwest girl, so we had that in common (snort). I have so many transformative stories of how this woman influenced me with her love for Jesus. I was quite a mess emotionally when I met Joanna. But she held on to me. She pulled me in and we laughed and brought our babies to the beach and we made meals and cried and of course laughed some more. I started the outline for a memoir in early 2020 and many of my stories point back to Joanna’s friendship. My family drove to see her family for a long weekend together. I always cherish our time together. So friends, do not underestimate the beautiful, transforming power of friendship during challenging seasons. Maybe you’re the one in need, maybe you’re the transformer. But either way, you need each other. 💓🫶🏻👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻🌤
July 5, 2022 👏🏻🎈🧁🥳💓 July 5, 2022 👏🏻🎈🧁🥳💓
H A P P Y 37th B I R T H D A Y to myself (yester H A P P Y  37th  B I R T H D A Y to myself (yesterday)! Here’s a fun progression of personality as I show Zack some of the art and bday cards received in the mail 😅 gosh I just love when he doesn’t quit on the photographs 😉 tbh I’m used to it
Another night of studying. Plant lady fuel, or gra Another night of studying. Plant lady fuel, or grad school fuel 😏🌿☕️—you decide!
• • •
says Spurgeon, “The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. *You* need to read. . . .”
• • •
So, sisters: what are you reading tonight? 📖🤍🕯
Be present with those you actually live with and l Be present with those you actually live with and live near, those you share a table with. Be present and stay busy (in a healthy way) that makes you unable to pick fussy  fights with other people. Be unavailable to the nonsense; be fully available to things that make sense. — @jenwilkin (paraphrased) via @thegospelcoalition women’s conference
I’m thinking of all the things I enjoy about Zac I’m thinking of all the things I enjoy about Zack, and how much fun we had on our anniversary trip earlier this week. I’m thinking about how much I miss him as he’s on the other side of the country right now. Though I’m also thinking about the statistic I heard today, that only 5% of marriages survive to celebrate 50+ years. That is so sad. Marriage is an earthy treasure. Marriage strengthens, teaches, grows us—and it certainly brings joy—if we’ll let it. I don’t want you to roll your eyes at me and say “yeah well, you don’t know my story…” What I do want is for you to know the joy set before you as you commit to endure the race. ✨Marriage is an earthly treasure.✨ Does that ignite anything inside of you?
We had a FANTASTIC trip away celebrating our weddi We had a FANTASTIC trip away celebrating our wedding anniversary — # 1️⃣4️⃣! So much good food, laughing, movies, walking around Traverse City, sleeping, reading (and studying 👩🏼‍🎓). We had a little competition who could sleep in the latest one morning… and I won 😅🥳. But for real, we can’t wait to get home to our babies. They are an important part of our story.
Whew. We’ve made it through four months of Zack Whew. We’ve made it through four months of Zack working on a totally different time zone, with Zack working long hours, and often late into the night. We made it though lonely seasons and loud seasons and physically tiring seasons and communicating via text seasons. But, we made it. There will be more hard seasons for us, I know there will be. Today I’m really enjoying the relief brought on through a change in his work schedule. Living in the northern lower peninsula (PETOSKEY) has felt like a real-time vacation, with all the trees and fields and cool mornings and unexpected snowfalls and rainfalls  and helicopter falls as the seasons change from winter to spring to summer. Today we climbed a sand dune as a family. As I reached the top my heart galloped in my chest and my legs felt like fire, and it felt wonderful. It felt like living. I’m enjoying my life. We’ve had many roller coasters in our marriage, which makes the coasting even more beautiful. ☀️🌼💛🌟🍋🌕🍯
I like to read. It’s a good thing I like to read I like to read. It’s a good thing I like to read, because there’s a lot of reading on the syllabus. I also like coffee, 3/4 sleeve sweatshirts, slippers, birds, roaring with laughter, and spying on my children playing together. And winking at my husband. And reading. 😉
“I began to realize God has not given me more th “I began to realize God has not given me more than I could do, so I need to rest within the limitations of my season of life at that time. I began to say no to the expectations of other people that stole my energy and attention but did not build my core priorities. I had to ignore the false expectations and voices in my head that were telling me what I should do, and focus on my true desire to pursue what was best for me and my children,” Sally Clarkson /// one of my favorite spiritual mentors.

@sally.clarkson
Crazy to think last week we were at the beach 3️ Crazy to think last week we were at the beach 3️⃣ times! This week has been much cooler, though just as lovely. Gardening, studying outside, and early bedtimes grace the day. 🪴🌷🌼📖📓🛏🍃
Summer, we are here for you! Warm weather, windows Summer, we are here for you! Warm weather, windows open, books, dirt, and building forts. Memories — we’re gonna make some! 🧸💚🚚📚📖🪑🧺🌳☀️
(IG thinks I’m nude so I edited my bathing suit (IG thinks I’m nude so I edited my bathing suit with my best skillz) /// We went back today 💦🐠🧴at first, when the kids asked over breakfast, I didn’t want to go. All the gathering of items and sand, and this time I knew we needed to bring snacks. And the sand! But I said yes. If they finished their school nicely and quickly, we’d have lots of time to go. And they did, so we went. IT WAS SO FUN, just like they anticipated. So glad I said yes 🥳
We loaded up the van with beach towels and 💦wat We loaded up the van with beach towels and 💦water and 🧴SPF 50 and headed to Walloon Lake! The first swim of the season, fitting as it was 84° today. All morning we were antsy, right up until our skin hit the water. We were the first ones at the 🏖beach today, though not the only ones when we left. My hair smells like ☀️sunshine and my skin is thanking me for the SPF. We had an easy 🍽dinner on the back deck; everyone was thankful it was beginning to cool off. The washing machine is humming and the school table is ready for another day, as their 📚✏️books are laid out. What does tomorrow hold? Only One knows… 🥰🙏🏼
a favorite from Saturday night date #latergram! St a favorite from Saturday night date #latergram! Steaks and sunsets and a table for two 💫
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