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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / family / Life around here.

Life around here.

April 1, 2016 · 14 Comments
Filed Under: family, for fun, lifestyle, our home

kids room maggie whitley

baby cradle max maggie whitley

natalie max maggie whitley

bauer maggie whitley

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s so fun to think we’ve been living in our new house for a full two months now :) We are all loving it, and I still can’t believe how perfect its been for our growing family. The tree buds in the backyard are sprouting, such sweet shades of light green and yellow. The other night before dinner, Zack and Maxwell went outside to do a little yard work. Before we could all sit down to eat, a little blondie I know had to take a quick bath! He was so dirty, playing outside in the yard without shoes on does that you know ;) Natalie is getting so close to walking — sweet girl has taken 2 or 3 steps on her own but won’t do more than that. She has quite the team cheering for her! Each week we make a little more progress with setting up our new home. Last weekend I found a few thrifted pieces to add to our home, and the kids got a new rug for their bedroom (not thrifted). I’m still on the hunt for a dresser for the nursery (and possibly dreaming of a rocking chair in there), but I feel really happy with how our home is unfolding.

pregnancy maggie whitley

We’re officially on baby watch, counting down the days until my due date (which is officially this month, yeow!) and feeling anxious and excited and a tiny bit scared, let’s be honest, as I begin to experience all the discomforts of pre-labor. There’s truly nothing I’ve ever experienced like the feeling of holding a sweet brand new baby, so I write all of this with sweet anticipation. Zack is absolutely loving his new job in Detroit (he’s a Senior Producer at an Editorial company), and knowing just how much he loves being reuniting with a few past colleagues makes me just as happy. We’re enjoying having him home for dinner, and feeling overall less stressed about work. Life around here is good!

What’s going on in your neck of the woods that is bringing you all sorts of happy? Any exciting new changes? By the way, I read a comment on Instagram sharing a tip for keeping your tulips fresh: place a penny or two in the water vase to perk up droopy tulips. Has anyone tried that? :)

mrs. meyers the grove cleaning maggie whitley

PS. as you find yourself greeting the weekend, consider sending yourself a FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Spring Cleaning Kit, compliments of Grove Collaborative. You can read my full blog post with all of the details of this amazing offer (receive 4 full-size products with free shipping on your order), or you can skip ahead and grab your limited edition cleaning kit HERE (while supplies last; offer ends Sunday, April 3).

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14 Comments
Filed Under: family, for fun, lifestyle, our home

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Comments

  1. Kara says

    April 1, 2016 at 7:56 am

    We’re in Cincinnati and have also been loving the warmer temps! It feels so good to get out and see the blooms and get some fresh air, without freezing our tooshies off. I was a week behind you in pregnancy and hadn’t entered official baby watch…until I went to the Dr yesterday and my body has already started preparing for baby’s arrival. Now I’m trying to wrap my head around having a baby in 1.5-2 weeks and accelerating nesting a bit So excited to hold this sweet babe, just like you said. There’s nothing like it.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 1, 2016 at 1:31 pm

      Going outside with just a spring jacket on is so fun!!!!! :):)

      Reply
  2. April says

    April 1, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Your posts always make me smile. I love how happy this season of life is for you. It’s clear that you love your life and everyone who’s a part of it. :)

    So glad everyone is settling nicely into your new home. And I know it’s a relief that your husband is so happy with his new employment. Everything is falling into place beautifully for you guys.

    I truly enjoy watching the journey you and your family are on. :) Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 1, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      Hi April! Thank you for the sweet comment :) falling into place — that’s a perfect descriptor, yes! Enjoy your weekend!!! xx

      Reply
  3. Hannah King says

    April 1, 2016 at 8:10 am

    Hi Maggie, I discovered your blog sometime in the last year, but think this is the first time I have commented! I agree with April that your posts always make me smile : )
    I also love the way you often ask your readers a question – I blogged for many years and always wondered who on earth my readers were as they were always very quiet on the comments front, and I would have loved to have known the stories of my readers! I live in England and am also expecting my baby to arrive fairly imminently – I’m due at the end of the month and cannot wait to meet this precious babe.
    I saw the comment on Instagram re: putting a penny in a vase of tulips – this does indeed work! Another way to prevent them from drooping is to make a tiny hole with a pin in the stem just below the base of the flower when you first put them in a vase, and then they stay beautifully upright!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 1, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      Hi dear! I love that you’ve left a comment :) it reminds me I need to post a new reader survey soon and grab some more details from this community. How is England? Were you born there? xx

      Reply
      • Hannah King says

        April 1, 2016 at 2:42 pm

        England is lovely, thank you! I live in the South West in a city called Bristol. All of the magnolia trees are in bloom, which I just love at this time of year! I was indeed born here, on the other side of the country by the sea, and moved to Bristol 11 years ago for university. I fell in love with the city and ended up staying!

        Reply
  4. Laura says

    April 1, 2016 at 8:39 am

    Glad you guys are settling in to your new life and home! Just in time for the baby to arrive! :) So exciting that you will have a new baby THIS MONTH!! Your home looks adorable, as always! Can you come decorate mine!?

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 1, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      Sure!!!!! Let’s go to the thrift store and hang fun with color & plants! :):)

      Reply
  5. Catherine says

    April 1, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    I’m a pretty new follower of yours -mostly on IG- and came to hear about your feed from my sister-in-law who has followed you for a while. She knows that I and my family are preparing for a big life transition and a move to L.A. with it, plus she’s creative like you, so she thought I would enjoy following you. I do! I have two small boys and the days are always interesting and full of adventure! I haven’t done a thorough search of your past posts, but are there a few particular ones about how you transitioned to a tiny L.A. living space when you moved out there? Or how to stay sane with all the kid stuff (and, let’s face it, grown up stuff) to store in a tiny apt? Wishing you all the best as you prepare for #3’s arrival!

    Reply
  6. Laura Loewen says

    April 5, 2016 at 11:03 pm

    Sweet Maggie, I’m seriously overjoyed for y’all. The fact that Zack gets to be home for dinner AND is digging his new job? MAGIC.

    Can’t wait to see what you’re having! Hang in there, Mama. I know it’s SO hard at the end. You’ve got this!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 8, 2016 at 12:03 am

      Magic, indeed :) how did we ever make it through before?!

      Reply
  7. Katie says

    April 7, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    Oh, that sweet baby bump! #allthehearteyes :-D Can’t wait to see pictures of this sweet one, and I will be praying for your labor/delivery to be smooth & easy. We’re coming up on 2 months in our house too! It’s amazing to be HOME. I know you’re enjoying your new space, and being close to family must be SO nice, too! :-)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      April 8, 2016 at 12:04 am

      Everything is falling into place so well, it’s wonderful. I love that you’re feeling the same way, too :) XO

      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 metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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