I would be remiss in my journey of learning contentment if I didn’t talk about finances. All those words that spring to mind—saving money, frugal living, economical, simple living, thrifty, budgeting—some are decidedly more appealing than others. But the most charming expression for dealing with this topic comes from a favorite book, Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell. The term, “elegant economy” is described by the narrator as something practiced with fervor by the genteel middle aged widows & spinsters living in a sleepy little village in the middle of the 19th century. The story glides gently along, but the daily lives and wonderfully vivid personalities and quirks of these worthy women…
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How to Style a Mantel~ Tips & Tricks from a Stylist
I could scroll for hours on Pinterest looking at beautiful home interiors and perfectly styled mantels, shelves, and room vignettes. But for some reason, I can never quite figure out why those images are so pleasing and the mantel or bookshelves in my own house always feel a little… off. I asked interior stylist and long time friend, Lisa Minor, for tips & tricks for styling mantels. Her philosophy of using what you have and making a beautiful home regardless of budget fits perfectly with the Learning Contentment philosophy of a being content with what you have and making the most of it. Check out Lisa’s Instagram Hummingbird Home and…
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Cozy Winter Teas
When the weather outside is frightful, I drink tea. Drinking tea is more than just consuming a liquid beverage. It’s evocative of warmth, comfort and a sense of well-being. And that doesn’t even account for the different flavors, herbs, and vitamins that add their own layer of enjoyment and health benefits. I’ve put together a list of a few of my winter time tea favorites. To make the list, each tea had to be affordable, available at my local grocery store, and one that I reach for on a regular basis because it’s just so good. I tend to do caffeinated teas in the morning and herbal or rooibos in…
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Confessions of a Houseplant Serial Killer
You can’t go anywhere online right now without seeing beautifully decorated apartments filled with healthy happy houseplants. And I am here for that trend–I love houseplants and usually have between 20-25 houseplants at any one time. But I’ll admit that I have killed 8 houseplants in the last 9 months–and I can’t say it’s a fluke and blame it on quarantine. I’m not entirely sure why houseplants continue to meet their end in my house, but I think it has something to do with my particular form of plant neglect. How to take care of houseplants (Don’t listen to me, obviously) Basically, my houseplant care routine looks something like this:…
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Table Settings ~ Pulling Out the Pretties
There’s something so satisfying about pulling out all my pretties and actually getting to use them. I love the idea of using my best china and silver for every day, but I’m too lazy to wash the dishes by hand all the time. Every once in awhile though, it’s worth it! Setting the table with special dishes, silverware, and linens fills me with an unreasonable amount of joy. I’ll admit I’m not really that great at making fabulous table settings–I just love all my pretties and the memories they represent. I am definitely not a minimalist and with two hutches filled with china, silver, linens, and the like, the most…
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Table Manners ~ Lessons from the Past
Table manners and etiquette tips from the past can be as useful today as they were 100 years ago. I have a couple of useful table manners tips from various sources and time periods ranging from the 1850’s to the 1960’s. Some of the advice will sound strange and formal to our uber casual sensibilities, but I think if we dig a little deeper to find the core purpose behind some of these guidelines, we’ll be able to apply the principles to our modern manners. If our actions are rooted in the desire to promote the comfort, convenience, and pleasure of those around us, we will invariably be on the…
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Why Manners Still Matter
How to Not Be a Jerk – Etiquette Tips for the Holidays People are jerks. I’m sure most of us have been both on the receiving end of rudeness and, unfortunately, the giving end. It seems like the difficulties of this year have given people license to behave with appallingly bad manners and a lack of common decency towards their fellow human beings. Taking a peek at some of the etiquette and manners wisdom from years gone by can help us to reevaluate some of the habits that have turned us all in to a bunch of mean girls from high school. “Fanny Reaching” as described in the Oregon College…
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Drying Herbs From the Garden
There is something immensely satisfying about drying your own herbs. Over the last few years, I have focused more on herbs in my garden rather than vegetables because for me, the rewards are so much greater. I have limited space in my raised bed so I’m very choosy about what gets to come back year after year in that space. The beauty of growing herbs is that they can also be planted right alongside my flowers and shrubs and be perfectly happy. Rosemary and lavender thrive in my borders and make up the hedge between the sidewalk and my property. Chives have pretty purple blooms in the spring, golden creeping…
