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Maggie Whitley Designs

Inspiration is all around you.

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Ten things I love // vol. 11

14/07/16 · 5 Comments

Welcome to the world, dear baby Whitley!

20/04/16 · 16 Comments

ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie has been writing online since 2008 to inspire women to pursue the adventure of life. Her blog writings are centered around faith, simple living, motherhood & cultivating joy. Maggie and her family live near Detroit where she home schools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood.
"Inspiration is all around you."
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TOPICS I WRITE ABOUT

POPULAR POSTS:

How we paid off over $65K in debt in 3 years
Having a TV detox & minimizing our toys
How we paid off $42K in debt in 2 years
How to style your wavy (or curly) hair
How to sew a zippered pouch
How to accurately price your handmade items
How we are getting out of debt
How to make a freedom change
What to focus on when you "stay at home"
Twenty "20-minute crafts" you must try
Having something to look forward to

maggiewhitley

I help moms find the JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨ see my Stories for even more hope.

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Who else needs a door over their lips? 🌿 I need one in the mornings, for sure. Pausing and smiling instead, letting the emotion move past me, is what I need. In fact, this verse is taped to the trim of my kitchen window. Wise words. Who else can relate?

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THERE’S STILL TIME! 👛🧵my handmade shop, Gussy Sews, is stocked with a limited edition of ruffles zip pouches. This time around I have two sizes, a medium zip for $30 or an XL zip for $42. Visit my shop for the full collection, and tag your friends so they don’t miss out. 🎉🎉hello, Christmas gift! Which fabric design is your favorite? I just can’t get enough of the orange 🍊🌿!!!

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She’s discovered how fun it is to rinse dishes, and I’ve discovered (again) how fun it is to show our children how their gifts & interests are an important piece to a family’s puzzle. Chores don’t have to be horrible, terrible, no good work. They can be fun. They’re often the most fun once we’ve first had a good deal of play. Sometimes it just requires thinking outside the box? That’s the greatness of motherhood.

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JOY in motherhood: noticing beauty and bringing beauty along as we care for others, serve others, go about our precious lives. My daily bag is used for many different purposes, but my Gussy Sews pouch is a constant companion inside. 👛 She works hard to keep my bag organized. See my Stories for a 15% off discount code, valid now through 12/6.

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Lately, I’ve been letting my children play make believe in the morning hours. They have been so creative with their stories that I’ve let them free play until lunch time. Once lunch is over and Landon (my 17mo) is asleep, we learn. Today I had two nappers, so our lessons felt very quiet with just two around the table. Marigold even painted while Max drew rattlesnakes. It’s amazing what our children create when they truly want to learn. Teaching my children myself has opened my eyes to the wonder of childhood, the depth of learning, the seriously ridiculous thoughts I have (solely based on what’s expected, not what’s best) regarding education. This time around the table is very important for me as a mother. It’s causing me to really THINK about what I want, what I feel important and valuable, not just what is expected or routine. These days are everything to me.

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This afternoon, after a few solitary hours at the library working & writing, I came home to my four young kids and committed to just be present with them. 🍃It’s hard for me to “switch “on & off writing mode and home mode and kids mode and creative mode, it takes a lot of brain power for me. But this is where the sweet spot of experiencing JOY as a mother comes in :: choosing to exercise control. Living this way (with joy) requires self-control and is hard, but it’s the better path to be on. I don’t really believe in multi-tasking (🤯), rather focusing on something for a set period of time, then reevaluating. Twenty-minute increments are my sweet spot for joy. 💓🧸🧺✨🍃What is your sweet spot?

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👛The GUSSY SEWS shop is now open! So many pretty ruffles, yay! Use code GRATEFUL for 10% off + free domestic shipping. Visit #shopgussydotcom

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It’s finally happening: my brain released some creativity and so I ordered fabric, more wooden buttons, and got to work sewing! I’ll be releasing a GUSSY SEWS holiday pop-up shop soon! See my stories for how to receive a 15% off discount code 😘👏🏻👛! Like I’ve been known to say, yeoooow!

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Mamas! This! ✨🎨🎄My friend Emily at @jonesdesigncompany has put together a watercolor class for kids (plus one for slightly older children/adults), and I can’t believe how many ideas are coming to mind with this FUN online class. You could apply the art techniques and projects to a variety of gift ideas or home decor. Use code MAGGIE25 at checkout to save 25%: http://simplifiedclasses.com/watercolorkids1 — see my Stories for even more class photos 👏🏻🥰

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Sharing a little in my Stories about why I’m committed to homeschool *even though* it is hard work. 📚And let me share... This isn’t the path I thought we’d take for our children’s education, but once I learned more about the many many benefits it made such sense. This year we are working through 1st grade, Kinder and preschool with My Father’s World.

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We had a four fun days away. Now that it’s Monday and we’re back home it’s time to start the wash, water the plants, pour over new ideas and lessons with our school work. Three of my kids are outside in snow pants 👏🏻 tell me what rhythms you have on Monday?

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Super missing my man while he’s away at deer camp. Hello, opening day! Also, last Saturday we went on a fantastic date that included hot cups of coffee, driving around gorgeous, old Detroit neighborhoods, and visiting a four story used bookstore! —jaw drop— I found two awesome books for my “teacher” library and also two books for the kids. 📚✌🏻I’ll share next week once we’re back home.

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Many ask what book they can read to learn more about homeschooling, I always recommend this. I’m new to this community but I surely love it. My children are thriving too, which is entirely the point. 💫”The Call of the Wild + Free” is also a great parenting book. Super recommend. Can you tell by my many post-it notes?!

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What? He was feeling a little hot. What a little cherub ☺️💙~ it does my heart good to see moments like this, with my baby’s face so full of joy. My mind is so tired come end of day and it’s too easy to forget precious moments much like this.

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Finishing my notes for book club tonight. This book has opened my eyes even more to the beauty of eternity. I was so not expecting that (I thought it would highlight more about marriage, lol) but isn’t that fun when we find ourselves pleasantly surprised? In awe? Grateful? I loved reading this book & the challenges gently offered at the end of each chapter. 🌿 Ladies, strengthen yourself walk with God through prayer, reading scripture, and living in community.

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It’s the one-room schoolhouse concept! 🤣📝💓seriously the neatest part of homeschooling for me — everyone can learn alongside one another. Right now we’re working on penmanship and math cubes. And my children experience teaching their siblings new things, which is like💥so cool! Next year Landon will have his bottom at the table ;)! Four kids learning, that’ll be a sweet sight to see.

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I did a thing a couple months ago... started a book club! Last time I did this we were living in Los Angeles. Here’s our November BOOK CLUB selection 📖 “You and Me Forever” by Francis & Lisa Chan. Have you read this? I’m eager to dive in as I have heard wonderful things about pastor Chan. ❤️ Our desire is to read encouraging & life-giving books. Tell me, if you’re in a book club what are YOU reading?? // want more BOOK CLUB ideas? Join my newsletter, link in bio.

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I know they’re really four different ages, but here they look like the same size 👏🏻🤪 #fourkidsinfiveyears

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Halloween 2019 ⚔️👸🏻🧁🎃a ninja, a princess, a cupcake, a pumpkin ••• my kids ate way too much candy tonight ;)

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devotionals written by Maggie:

the (in)courage Devotional Bible:
Proverbs 14:1 and Lamentations 5

31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer and Doer:
on Simplicity

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