Midlife Sarah

Happy October, friends! September kept me busy with quite a bit of outside work during the day, to which I added my fall cleaning list--a list has that grown into a true project of its own.  Living in a four-season climate shifted a lot of habits for me. For instance, a s much as I love the fresh start of a spring clean, it’s fall cleaning that really makes the difference now.  With so much time spent indoors once the cold sets in, having a tidy, cozy space for winter feels essential.   A dusty house with little jobs nagging at me in every corner doesn’t feel like a good place to curl up in a blanket to read. My mind won't allow me to ignore all of that and rest. Consequently, as I settled in to living a more seasonal life, my fall cleaning list expanded.  This year—our fifth in Idaho—I went further than ever with fall cleaning. I bought a few new tools, did some deep organizing, and decluttered nearly every space. I also continued a wardrobe habit I started last ...

When my kids were little, I wanted to create a tradition that felt uniquely ours. That may sound like a strange thing to simply decide one day, but since childhood I’ve delighted in making little pockets of magic out of the ordinary. Whether it’s sitting close to a window with a book, a blanket, and a coffee on a rainy day or apple cider donuts in the crisp autumn air at sunrise, few things bring me as much giddy joy as planning a special moment. I mentioned my tradition idea to the family and, after throwing around a few options, we eventually landed on having a big weekend dinner—with candles, our fancy dishes, and a themed menu. Thrilled, the kids piled on ideas: we could dress up, play music, decorate.  Then came the question: “What should we call it?”  I said, “How about…Saturdinner?”  They were all in, but to eliminate any pressure we decided the only real requirement was the feast; the rest was optional. It didn't even have to take place on a Saturday. Still, once ...