Category: Simple Life

SuitcaseSquareSzd4

Minimalist Concepts Anyone Can Use To De-clutter

Posted on by Joy

“We’re out sharing a recipe. You know, we’re not out here trying to proselytize. We’re not trying to convert anyone to minimalism. But I do want to share a recipe and see if there are ingredients that other people can get value from and apply those ingredients to their own life.” – Joshua Fields Millburn, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things Over the past few years, I’ve read countless books, articles, and blog posts on minimalism. I also enjoyed watching Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things on Netflix. I don’t claim to be a minimalist (yet), but I’ve begun Read more…

SleddingSquare

Reflections on a Southern Snow

Posted on by Joy

When 2018 began, there was snow in the forecast for Charleston, SC. The meteorologists said we could get up to three inches, but I was skeptical. I couldn’t imagine anything more than a dusting – not even enough to cover the grass. This is my fourth winter here in Charleston. Every year, my six-year-old asks, “When is it going to snow?” Every time, I tell him, “It isn’t going to snow, sweetheart. We live in Charleston. It never snows here.” We lived in Norfolk, VA, when he was a toddler, so he has seen snow, but he doesn’t remember it. Read more…

new-years-eve-2018szd

An Alternative to the Same Old New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on by Joy

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I do. They usually last until February or March, then I’m making the same ones again the next January. Last year, I did something different. Instead of making resolutions, I set goals. And while I didn’t achieve all the goals I set, I had a lot more success going about it that way. This year, I’ll be setting more goals, but I’ll be adding one very important resolution. My one resolution is not something I’m going to do, but something I’m not going to do. When 2017 began, I had already purchased the domain Read more…

SummerfieldGirlSzd

Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Posted on by Joy

  I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). I’m hesitant to share the private details of my battle with PCOS in such a public way, but I think it’s an important topic to discuss. My intent with this post is two-fold: First, I want to let others struggling with PCOS know they’re not alone. Also, I want to educate friends and family members of women and girls with PCOS so they’ll have a better understanding of what it’s like to live with this condition. In my early teen years, I began to realize something was wrong with my body. On the Read more…

Turning37SzdMrkd

Five Habits That Made Me a Happier, Healthier Thirty-Something

Posted on by Joy

Birthdays sometimes come with a bit of trepidation about growing older. For some people, 30 is tough, while others dread the big 4-0 or 5-0. For me, it was 37. Suddenly, I was in my “late thirties.” There was no more pretending I just graduated from college “a few years ago.” I found myself saying things like, “I remember that…it was 25 years ago.” [Cringe!] I also felt physically older. For the first time in my life, I had to face the fact that I was aging. Life would require more of me if I wanted to continue feeling healthy Read more…

HouseHancockSizedMarked

The House on Hancock Street

Posted on by Joy

Antonio Gentile packed his personal belongings and left the tiny Italian village of Atena Lucana, bound for a new life in America. He arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1919, and was greeted by his brother, Alfonso, who had recently emigrated as well. Antonio trained to be a machinist like his brother, and worked diligently for Van Norman Machine & Tool. He learned to speak English and became a U.S. citizen. In 1920, Rosina Mango (also from Atena Lucana) joined Antonio in America and they were married. Over the next eight years, Rose gave birth to five boys: Luigi, Alfonso, James, Read more…

FirstPostSzdMrkd

The First Post

Posted on by Joy

Here it is! My first blog post. I’ve been thinking about this blog and planning it in my head for quite a while. When my youngest son was in preschool, I realized I would want some sort of “job” once he started kindergarten. After being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, I considered going back to work, but decided against it for several reasons (more on that in a future post). I wanted a creative outlet for my writing, photography, and design skills – all of which are still emerging and in need of much practice and refining. A blog Read more…