Shop Small ~ Unique Gifts from "DreamChaser" Businesses

Hard to believe, but the holidays are just around the corner! 🎄🎅🎄

We can all admit that 2020 has been a kinda totally crazy year, and it would be so  easy to just give up on wanting to salvage it. However, I think we have a way of ending this year on a fantastic note 🎶 that can bring a lot of cheer to the "Dreamchasers" that you may know!

I know several people that have been Chasing the Dream with their own businesses, and have been hit hard in 2020. While Amazon and Wal-mart were doing a killer business, they were struggling to keep their dreams going this year. 

And, while talking to a good friend of mine recently, she reminded me of the best way to shop for Christmas this year. She is planning on buying all of her presents🎁🎁🎁, gift certificates, vouchers, etc. from small businesses this.

Shop Small   🛍 💳💲 🛍

I would like to help my friend, and all of you, by helping you to spend your money 💰💰💰 wisely. 

If you have friends and neighbors in your own community that you would love to support, start by Shopping Small at their businesses. That would be wonderful!

However, if you are looking at new businesses and would like to support a few fantastic ladies just following their dreams...then, check out these DreamChasers right now!

Shop Small at these "DreamChaser" Businesses Today!

Heather @ Blue Barn Hill Farm

"Dreamchaser" Story 

Since I was very young I have loved kids, animals, plants, crafting and baking. It has taken a lot of hard work and sacrifices but I am finally able to do everything I love AND I get to do it all from my home, so I can still take care of my family too . We started our family in 2000 at a young age in Florida . In 2009, after losing everything  in the recession, we had an opportunity to move to Indiana & start over . I came begrudgingly because I didn't want to leave my home (Florida & city life was all I had ever known). I struggled with depression for several years after we moved. And then I started crafting, selling produce & baked goods at our local farmer's market. That reignited a spark that had died...and I started embracing our new life. We started by putting up an honor system produce stand, and we have continued growing from there. I have fallen in love with the farm life. The last two years have been full of growth & change . Currently, we have a farm where we sell all naturally raised produce in the summer, hatch/sell chickens year round, have weekly bake sales all summer, and sell crafts online. 

I have designed a website so I can sell our delicious Old Fashioned Homemade Hard Candy. Our candy can be ordered easily & shipped anywhere in the USA! And the best part of all, is I am able to raise my 10 kids while I work from home. Itls not always easy & I feel like a scatterbrained wreck some days, but it is everything I love all wrapped up together so I can also help provide for my family :)

What I Sell

(Image source: Blue Barn Hill Farm)

Contact Info

Website is www.bluebarnhillfarm.com

Facebook page is www.facebook.com/bluebarnhillfarm

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Katie @ Historically Katie

"Dreamchaser" Story 

I have always been a writer. As a child, I spent hours filling spiral notebooks with stories. As I grew, I continued writing and began dreaming of becoming an author some day. I dreamed especially of writing historical fiction for kids and teens. When I entered college, my first majors were History and Writing with this goal in mind. Somewhere along the line, however, I got it in my head that this wasn’t sensible or even doable. So, I changed my major to Elementary Education. I graduated with this degree and went into the education field, though I have always continued to write and dream in story ideas. In 2012, I finally released my very first novel - and it was young adult historical fiction. It was a dream come true. Since then I have published other books, including a sequel to my first book and a children’s picture book based on the memoir of an ancestor of mine. I am finally realizing a dream of combining education and writing. I run an online business called Historically Katie, which serves as encouragement, support, and guidance for families who write. I am still writing too. I am happy to finally bring my writing dream to life in my career. 

What I Sell  

I sell writing resources for kids and families at my TeachersPayTeachers shop. More are being added all the time, and I offer free writing prompts and activities for email subscribers at my site. Resources include writing prompts, writing choice boards, plus poetry, literature, and history writing activities. Online writing classes for kids may be coming soon, too! 

(Image source: Historicallykatie.com)

Contact Info

Website is: https://www.historicallykatie.com/

Also:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Historically-Katie

https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Andrews-Potter/e/B077G5JW1M

Email address: kathrynandrewspotter@gmail.com

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Terri @ The Silver Dragonfly 

"Dreamchaser" story

As the mother of 5 sons, fishing and soccer and rough housing were the norm.  As much as I love spending time with my kids, I needed some girl time.  I have always been a crafter and creator, so I started dabbling with beads.  My little sister moved back from the east coast, and beading became something we could do together -- my girl time.  I was still working full-time hours at a corporate gig at that point.  Then the day came that changed everything....I got downsized!  After some serious soul-searching and the ever present support of my loving husband and son's....The Silver Dragonfly LLC was born!  It will always be a work in progress, but I couldn't be happier with where it is today.

What I sell ~ Handcrafted fine silver jewelry

(Image source: The Silver

                                                              Dragonfly FB page)

Contact Info

Website is: http://www.silverdragonfly260.etsy.com/      

(Terri is offering a code to help you save some money! Just enter DREAMS at checkout to save 10%.)     

Email address is: info@thesilverdragonfly.com

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Sandy James (Award-winning author)

"Dreamchaser" Story

By day, Sandy James is a high school teacher. However, she has also carved out a successful career as an award-winning author, while still continuing to be a well-loved educator. She is the author of several stand-alone novels, and quite a few book series.  Too numerous to list them all here, but you can find them listed on her website (https://sandyjames.com/books.html) or at Fantastic Fiction (https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/sandy-james/). I have already become a big fan of hers, and you can read my "Dreamchaser Spotlight" post here.  According to her standings on Amazon, she has many more fans, also. She has won awards for her work, including the Maggie Award for Excellence Finalist and two Holt Medallion Awards.

What I sell

(Image source: Fantastic Fiction)

Contact Info

Website is: www.sandyjames.com/index, or go to Amazon to learn more about her books.

          🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁

You can't go wrong by "Shopping Small"! ~ You are helping a DreamChaser to continue following their dreams while finding unique gifts to give family and friends! Please remember to share the idea of  "Shopping Small" (and this post, too!) with all of your friends!

     

Thankful Thursday ~ There Is Always a Reason to Be Thankful

Attitude of Gratitude

It is not what happens to us in life that determines what kind of life we have. It is how we respond to the events in our lives that will have the most impact. I have seen very

wealthy people that are miserable, as well as poor people that are joyous.

Choose to have an "Attitude of Gratitude"!!! Look for all the small things to be thankful for, as well as the extraordinary. 

• Take the time to appreciate the beauty of a sunset🌇, or an Autumn tree.

• Notice the small kindnesses that come your way, such as a door held open for you, such as your husband giving a small neck rub 💆 because you are stressed out.

• Even if only for 5 minutes, enjoy the rest for your weary body & mind.🛌💤🛌

• We should always be thankful for our health. A healthy body is such a blessing. 💪🍎🏊

• True friendship is many times undervalued. Having friends who are there for each other can help you weather any storm. 👥👥

• Every day that you are alive is a day to be grateful. Each day, you wake up with a clean slate and can begin anew.🌅

What are you thankful for right now? Do you already have an "Attitude of Gratitude"? 

Don't Box Me In: Lessons From My Cat

Are you always on the lookout 🔍 for new ideas? Trying to keep your eyes 😃👀😃 open for motivation to follow your dreams? 

Fantastic! As you do, you will discover that motivation, inspiration and sources of learning can be found all around you! 

Amazingly, even our pets can teach us a thing or two! 😸😻😸

Today's Lesson by Miss CallieCat

Let me start by introducing you to this little furball, who goes by the name of CallieCat. She is your typical cat that normally goes about her day on her own terms. However, on this particular day, I was attempting to manipulate her to my terms: as a photography 📷 subject. 

I had been following her around with my smartphone for a little while, to work on my focusing skills and candid shots. And as I watched her with these empty boxes, it hit me that I was being taught some very interesting concepts about life!

1. Don't Let Anyone Box You In.

I had been trying to get her to jump into the other box. She was not having anything to do with it. When I least expected it, she jumped into this box on her own. Then, looked at me like, "I will get in the box I want, when I want!"

2. Have an Open Mind, and Stay Curious.

Learning is always a good thing! Be willing to look at life from different perspectives. Investigate new ideas. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone. If you notice, CallieCat is not leaving her original box as she investigates a new box. She is merely learning about it, before making any changes. As the saying goes, "Look before you leap!"

3. Think Outside the Box.

The box is the status quo, or the "way things have always been done".  Sometimes, the best answer to a problem can be found outside the box. Trying a different way to proceed, or looking at a project from a new angle, might be the exactly what is needed to have that golden "Aha" moment!

In Conclusion

This blog post is a perfect example of the lessons I have learned from Miss CallieCat.  😻😻😻 Although this blog is generally about following your dreams and trying new endeavors, I am always open to new ways of inspiring you to do just that.

Realizing that I myself can find inspiration from my cat 😺 and a couple of boxes 📦📦 was a little bit of an eye-opener to me.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Have you found inspiration, or interesting insights, in the most unusual places? Have you learned anything from your pets? Are you already an "Outside the Box" thinker who doesn't like to be "Boxed in" by others? Do you have an open mind, and try to stay curious?

I'm curious about your thoughts. Leave me a comment below, and let me know what you think. And always, if you think others might be interested, please share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest!

Embrace Who You Are!

 Do you like who you are? 🤔🤔

I understand that this may be tough to answer, but it is necessary to ask yourself this question every so often. 

Why? Because if you cannot embrace who you are, you cannot really go forward in life. You can exist, but you can't go towards what you really want without some type of inner compass leading the way.  When you know who you are and what you want, you have confidence in yourself.

And according to an affirmation inside my new purse:

EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE

What does this mean to embrace who you are? Let's start by defining what it means to embrace.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, one definition of the word:

 Embrace ~ an act of accepting or supporting something willingly or enthusiastically. 

It is easy to accept something enthusiastically when it is a fun activity, or a new passion. Much, much harder to enthusiastically do the same for yourself.

How to Start Embracing What Makes You, You!

♡♡ Embrace What You Love to Do

    *For myself, I have always loved reading. I cannot remember a time that I didn't. I 

      love this facet of my life. I have learned so much, gained perspective & been made a 

      better person through my reading. 

       (I know that I have truly accepted this. Today, Facebook brought up 5 past "On this 

        day" memories ~ they were all about National Booklover's Day!)

      

A Typical Reading Pile from 
my nightstand!

♡♡ Embrace Your Unique Personality

     *If you love to talk (and can make friends standing in lines even), wonderful! If you           are more reserved & quiet, fantastic! People that are drawn to you appreciate these         qualities in you and will enjoy your company.

♡♡ Embrace Authenticness

    *I am not sure if "authenticness" is a word, but it is now! LOL 🙌  Being authentic is        one of the best things you can be. Whether someone is an unlikable old cuss or a              people person, at least you can appreciate when someone is real. No games, no                messing around, just be yourself! People will either like you or they won't, but at least          you will be true to yourself.

Last Words

I will close with an appropriate quote. I am not quite clear on the origins of this quote, but it is very fitting for our discussion today.

"No matter where you go, there you are." 

EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE! You are unique for a reason! And, at the end of the day, you have to learn to love yourself, because no matter where you go, there you are. 

And as my purse👛 has already stated above: Confidence is your best accessory!

Tuesday Motivation~Permission to not be Perfect

As we all love to binge-watch favorite shows on Netflix, I have to confess that I am no exception! LOL.  📺📺📺

Recently, I found a new uplifting positive show about inspiring women. It is called "Shine On With Reese", starring (of course!) Reese Witherspoon. She goes around the country, interviewing women that have made a difference.

In the episode I watched tonight, a small part of a conversation with Sara Blakely caught my attention. 

Just one of those little things that you don't realize you need to hear, until you hear it!

Transcript of Conversation

Reese: Well, I think you have to be like water off a duck's back...if you wanna accomplish anything.

I think about people like you or anybody who's accomplished something really extraordinary, has to learn to tune out the naysayers.

Sara: Yeah, I consider that a life practice for me is to really work on not caring what other people think.

I think that that is something that, as women, if there's, if we could free ourselves up from feeling that need, to look like we have it all together at all times...

Reese: Yeah. I have these days when I'm so on it, and everything is firing on every cylinder, and there's days where I'm just like 30% of myself. Like I'm lobotomized or something.

I had this great coach when I did this movie where I was playing a softball player, and she said, "I don't care if you have 30%, give me 100% of that 30%."

I was like, "Thank you. What a relief."

Sara: Permission.

Reese:  Permission to not be perfect. 

Sara:  Permission. Right.

"Shine On with Reese" on Netflix

Tuesday's Motivational Takeaway

In an era of Pinterest and more, I think that last line bears repeating one more time...."Permission to not be Perfect."

~  Be yourself! Enjoy life! Be a good person! Try to help people! ~

Those are important. But, do not worry at all about being perfect! You have permission to not be perfect. 

What do you think? Did you need to hear this today?

Photography Friday ~ Life in the Country

Peaceful...that is the word we hear all the time from our visitors. 

"I love being out here! It's just so peaceful." ☺💬☺

On this Photography Friday 📷📸📷, I thought I would share a little bit of our peaceful countryside charm.

Enjoy! We definitely do!

Sunset in Paradise

No Electricity Stops Me from
Enjoying Life!

A Beautiful View 

Apple Tree Blooms

Miss CallieCat

What do you think?

Monday Musings ~ Learning the Fine Art of Listening

Growing up as the fourth child in a family of five, it would be safe to say that I didn't spend much time on the fine art of listening.👂🙉👂

No, I spent a lot more of my time and effort on making sure I was heard instead. It was very important for me to insist on getting my point across to anyone that would let me.

In over 50 years, I would hope that I have learned a few skills in the listening department. I try my best to be a good listener to my friends, family and co-workers.

However, with all that 2020 has thrown at us in the last several months, it has become apparent that a crash course in the fine art of listening might be in order.

Image source: Canva

With a pandemic, an election and so much more in the news this year, it has honestly looked like our communication skills have taken a turn for the worse.

In person and on social media, I have witnessed a multitude of talking, shouting, sharing of opinions, passing along of memes/images and so forth.

If I could put all of it into a visual, I think it would look something like this:

Image source: Canva

This picture reminds me of that child I described above that is demanding to be heard by anyone that would listen. 

This is not communicating. It is only a mere fraction. Real communication and understanding comes with LISTENING.

WHAT IS LISTENING?

• Listening is truly understanding what a person is trying to say. If a friend is telling you about something personal, listen to where it is coming from, why they may feel what they feel.

• Listening is remembering that other people will have other experiences, backgrounds and perspectives than you. This is what makes us the beautiful, individual souls that we are.

• Listen to the character of the person that is talking to you. The old expression, "Reputation is what you do when someone is watching; Character is what you do when noone is watching" applies very well here. Who we chose to listen to will affect what we hear.

Using Listening Skills in Real-Life Situations

Recently, a friend shared on Facebook how she had felt upon meeting me & other friends at our class reunion. I had previously gotten to know her on FB a little when I had reconnected with her husband/my classmate. 

She has given me permission to share this with others. I would like you to read her words, as you use your newfound listening skills. Her story is important to share, but you need to be listening to hear all she is saying.

"When my husband wanted to come to the class reunion, I was hesitant to go. I was afraid that because he was married to me that people would not want to be around us.  When he started introducing me to his former classmates at the reunion, my heart was racing. Waiting for someone to make a remark or see in their body language that they were uncomfortable with our interracial marriage."

She discovered through the course of the evening, that there was nothing to worry about from us. However, this does not discount how she felt. By truly listening to her words, this message hit me deep down to my soul.

Image source: Canva

Last Thoughts

Learning the Fine Art of Listening is truly a valuable skill that will  enrich your life immensely. Everyone has a story to tell. If we just remember to stop talking and shouting every once in a while, we may just learn something from each other.

~~Are you a good listener? Let me know your thoughts?~~

Keeping Our Sanity during the Quarantine, Together!

How are you holding up these days? 😮

Are you keeping it all together? 😵

Even in the best of circumstances, it can still be difficult keeping it all together. I know and understand. I have been there. I am usually an upbeat type of person, but some days are just hard.

These are unusual times, to say the least. Even though we are cooped up in our homes 🏡 away from everyone else, we are still in this together. 👥🏠👥🏢👥🏡

That last bit bears repeating: WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! 

If we are going to remain safe, and yet retain our sanity, this is what is most important.

Take the pledge, TOGETHER!

So, I am Asking All of You to Take a Pledge

 1)  I pledge to reach out to friends, family and acquaintances to 

       let them know someone cares, and they are not alone.

 2)  I pledge to give myself permission to not have to "be productive"

       at all times. Taking care of yourself is being productive!

 3)  I pledge to give myself permission to feel off-kilter, sad, isolated, 

       etc. 

4)   I pledge to reach out to someone if I need to talk. Even the most 

       upbeat of us need to share our feelings, too.

Take the pledge, TOGETHER!

Reach Out to Your "Peeps"!

Friends, family, hotlines, even social media acquaintances...these are all people you can reach out to in times of need.  Just reach out to someone! It is so important for you to remember that you are not isolated and alone.

Your "peeps" are always
there for you...in so many
 different ways! 

Please remember, no matter how you are feeling, there is always, always someone to reach out to talk to at all times.  I honestly just witnessed this on Twitter the other day. A person had a very tragic event happen in their life, and felt they had noone they could tell.  Another person not only replied, but kept her in conversation and sharing good memories.

Years ago, someone who I had thought of as an acquaintance-type friend had told me to give him a call if I ever needed to talk. One evening, I needed just that...and he was there in a heartbeat! He became one of my best friends, with a friendship of 30+ years going strong.

Take Action, Take the Pledge

Once again, I urge you to take the pledge, TOGETHER! We will get through this together. We will keep our sanity through the quarantine, together. 

Please help get the word out that you are there for your friends and family. Take this pledge and share it with everyone you know! Share it on FB, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Share it with the hashtag →🙋🙋 #TakeThePledgeTogether ←🙋🙋

TOGETHER, we are strong! 💪💪💪

Are You Prepared Enough? 10+ Ways to Start Being Sustainable!

Power Outage...Job Loss...Natural Disasters...Pandemics

You never know when something might happen that leaves you without income, transportation, power or other necessities of life.


Would you be fine?  Not sure? ~ Read on to find out, and discover ways to help ensure that you are!

Let's begin this post this post with a small quiz. 📝  📝 📝 

Nothing to difficult, but it will help you decide how prepared you actually are. ❓Ready❓

Are you prepared for emergencies? Would you be able to take care of you/your family's needs if you weren't able to leave your home for an extended time?

 ❓   Do you have another power source if the grid went down?

 ❓   Do you have enough food to eat for a month?

 ❓   Do you have a source of clean water?

 ❓   Are any of the above sustainable for longer periods of time?


In the article "Sustainable Living Vs. Self Sufficiency" (http://www.altenergyshift.com/page/blog/_/green-energy/sustainable-living-vs-self-sufficiency-r655), LaMar Alexander states "Going off-grid and sustainable living does not mean giving up all the tools and conveniences that make life easier, safer and more comfortable. It does mean reducing your reliance on society for things like food, energy, and other conveniences that you could produce for yourself.

My post today will concentrate on the last part of LaMar's statement: reducing your reliance and could produce for yourself.

Actions to Take

1.) Have alternative sources of power.

     🔌  Have a generator ready for use. Install a woodstove, if  possible. Look into 
                 solar products. 

     🔌  Ensure everything is prepared. Does the generator have gas? Is firewood cut,            
                seasoned and ready?

2.) Keep stocked on food staples.

    🍞  Keep canned goods, baking items, dry milk, etc. always on hand.

     🍞  Learn how to keep foods fresh/safe for as long as possible.

3.)  Have several sources of clean water.

   🚰 Keep jugs of drinking water on hand & away from sunlight.
           
  🚰 Keep water filters on hand to use as needed with any water source.

4.)  Find long-term solutions for sustainability

 🌱  Start planning for future energy needs. For example, we will be filling a large propane
            tank soon & are designing our solar energy system for our future.

 🌱   Start a garden. Plant fruit or nut trees. Try your hand at microgreens. Learn how to can
             and preserve.

 🌱   Consider rainwater harvesting, if possible. Not for drinking water, unless extremely                    filtered. Use the rainwater for other purposes, so you can conserve your drinking         
            water.

Practicing What We Preach

My hubby and I have faced some of these emergencies. We have had a job loss in the past, and also several power outages where we live now. 

We make sure our present needs are met, while consistently looking towards our future. What does this look like for us?

🔌 Regarding power, we are hooked up to the local electric company. We do have a generator         filled with gas. A woodstove helps to keep our heat bill much lower. And for future needs,         we have been gifted a propane tank. It just needs to be filled once prices have lowered to           out-of-season rates. We have also been working on designing a solar energy system that         will meet our needs.

   



🚰 Although our water needs are being met, we are looking at plans  to be able to harvest                 rainwater. Two of our neighbors have given us permission to access springs on their      
       property, if the need would arise. We also always keep several water jugs on hand and out         of sunlight.

🌱 We have made sure to always keep food staples on hand, and fresh as long as possible. I            have my garden catalog in front of me, and ready to order. We have blackberries, apricots        and apples we could harvest. Lately, we have started to look at the possibility of                            microgreens.

You know the old adage, "You can never be too prepared!" Does this mean to be scared and start panicking? Not at all. 

Just one step at a time, start taking steps. Take stock of what you already have in place. Figure out what the needs of you/your family are. Each household is different! And take it from there!

👉 I would like to hear from you! What steps have you taken to be more sustainable? What steps do you plan to take?

Sources:

Sustainable Living Vs. Self Sufficiency

May 05 2012  solarman (LaMar Alexander) in Green Energy

Monday Musings ~ Looking Back, Learning, Looking Forward

Tonight's Monday Musings finds me taking a trip backwards ⛟⛟ in time. What started out as just reviewing a few things on the blog, turned into reading some of my old posts.

Wow! What an eye-opening experience!  👀 😯  👀

I had honestly started the blog in 2012 to step out of my comfort zone.

It accomplished that and so much more!! I just didn't know how much I would I would be stepping out of my comfort zone over and over again.

In the past eight years, I have added so many new skills to my "repertoire"!

New Skills I've Learned This Past Decade

• Hitching a Trailer
• Towing 
• Writing and Promoting a Blog
• Running a Generator
• Running Electrical Lines 
• Painting 
• Starting a Fire

...and so much more!

What has looking in the rearview mirror taught me tonight? What can I use from this experience tonight?

Looking forward, I know that I can learn anything that I put my mind to! My confidence in myself has evolved over these years because I have succeeded in learning these skills.

So, my next question for myself: What will I be learning as I look forward?

Tuesday Motivation~ Embrace the Journey as You Follow Your Dreams

Embracing the Journey

"Someday"..."When I have the money"..."In five years, I will"...

What do all of these have in common? They are all comments that we have made at one point or another in our lives.  Have you found yourself making any of these statements?

If so, then you know what they really are...excuses, procrastination and fear talking.

However, I have an answer for you...TALK LOUDER.

Yes, that is exactly what I said...Talk Louder. Every time these thoughts come up, replace them louder with this:

~ Embrace the Journey ~

We all tend to see dreams as something that we will achieve one day, in the future. But, what is just as important as the dream itself, is the journey that we take to get to that dream.

Each step that we take in following our dreams should be just as exciting as the dream itself.  For example, my hubby and I have a dream of making a life being able to follow our interests and passions in our everyday life.

Our first step...moving to our place in the country where some of those passions can be followed whenever we step out our front door...fishing, enjoying wildlife, photography.

Just living on a quiet road where every visitor remarks about how peaceful it is at our place. This is all part of Embracing the Journey!!

Baby Steps

Since one of the first questions that we ask ourselves is "where do I start?", I will share an inspirational message with you. It comes from a woman whose story helped me in following my own dreams. Jenna Woginrich, in her book (Made From Scratch, p12) reminds her readers that  "Accepting where you are today, and working toward what's ahead, is the best you can do...But the starting point is to take control of what you can and smile with how things are.  Find your own happiness and dance with it." 

Taking Baby Steps is what you can do today towards your dreams of tomorrow. Taking Baby Steps is how you talk louder than the fear, also. Jenna wanted to own her own land where she could grow her own food. Living in the city, that wasn't possible at the moment. But growing several plants on her balcony was very possible.

My hubby would like to start beekeeping at some point. He has been attending meetings with local beekeepers in the area. He reads books, and articles in Mother Earth News and Countryside magazines, on the subject. Meanwhile, he has been putting money away for a beekeeping kit, hives and such.

Inspiration For the Road

I know it is not easy to talk louder than your fears. I used to be a master procrastinator! I would research anything to death, because it was my way of moving forward without ever moving forward.

So, I am leaving you with additional quotes that should help you to replace those negative thoughts.

😀 Remember to make a life, not just a living!

😀Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured! 

Are You Inspired?

If this post has inspired you to follow your dreams, take baby steps or embrace the journey, please leave me a comment below. I love encouraging others and hearing about your dreams!

If you love encouraging others too, please share this post through email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest!

Small House Sunday ~ Review of "Tiny House Basics"

As you begin your journey into the Tiny House world, you are excited at all of the possibilities in front of you.

Then, you may begin to feel overwhelmed with all the information that you are finding. Quite understandable!

I think I have a solution to your problem! 

May I present a great resource that answers many of your questions all in one book...

Tiny House Basics by Joshua
Engbergand Shelley Engberg

As you start looking at books on the topic, you begin to discover that most of them seem to be just tiny house design & idea books. Although they are wonderful for that purpose, they just don't seem to be quite what you are wanting.  You are looking for so much more than than just design ideas.

What is it that you want?

You Want to Know Everything

With chapter titles like these, you can see that this book has so much more to offer!

• Making the Decision to Go Tiny
• Planning: Research
• Downsizing
• Building: The Unspoken Realities of Doing It Yourself, Plus the Cost
• Why We Chose Our Design Aesthetic and Layout
• Making Room For Your Junk in a Small Space
• Pets in a Tiny Home
• How Practical Is a Tiny House for th Long-Term?

And, here is my favorite ~

• Relationships in Tight Quarters

Chapter 8: Relationships in Tight Quarters
 (Source: Tiny House Basics)

Why is that chapter my favorite, you ask? Although my husband and I did end up choosing to live in a Amish-built shed that is being converted into a home, we had lived in our 18-foot camper for over a year.

We downsized from a 2,000 square-foot home, into an 18-foot camper. Now, we are happily living in our 500-square-foot "shabin".

A sketch of our home & guesthouse. 

Although my hubby and I did not choose to go into a tiny house, we were at a place in life a few years ago to make some decisions. We downsized, donated and dug deep into all of our possessions.

We researched our options, and the "shabin" eventually made the most sense for us. We needed a temporary place to live while we were converting the cabin. Since we already owned the camper, it made the most sense.

Going from a 2,000 square-foot ranch style house with a basement and garage down to a 18-foot camper...What an eye-opening experience!!! My hubby and I had to to stay on top of our relationship game!

Each chapter is filled with the questions you want answered. The authors have an easygoing writing style as they walk you through their experiences. Many of the chapters end with an extra, such as an "Are you ready?" quiz, tips for downsizing, etc.

I bring up my background as a librarian for two reasons. I have the soul of a researcher, and want to find the best user-friendly information I can find. The second reason is that as the adult librarian in a small library, I have to spend the money wisely. 

And I chose to spend the library's money on this tiny house book, out of the many that exist. I am sure that I will buy more in the future, but I was very confident in this purchase.

In Case You Want a Second Opinion

As I close this post, I leave you with one other glowing review. I had read a post in a in tiny house group. The person was in the beginning stages of planning, and wanted book recommendations for initial planning. 

I suggested "Tiny House Basics", and she chose to buy the book. Three days later, I received this reply: "This is so what I needed, excellent recommendation! It's so exciting reading each page and thinking over and over 'yes! This is exactly what I wanted to know!!'

Would Love to Hear Your Opinion

Have you read this book? If not, check it out and let me know what you think! Share this review with your friends who may be thinking of going tiny through FB, Twitter, IG and Pinterest!

How You Can Embrace Life, Learning...and Hygge?

My WORD for 2020 is Embrace!
What is YOUR word?

What word is going to help bring 2020 into focus for you? To give you a new way of looking at your life and adventures?

For me, it was an easy choice! I have been trying to enjoy life a little more. And, recently,  I came across the word ~ EMBRACE ~ and it just captured my outlook on life so well!

So, my WORD for 2020 is going to be ♡~ EMBRACE ~♡!!!!  In 2020, my goal is EMBRACE LIFE ~ LEARNING ~ EACH MOMENT!!!

How Can You Embrace Life More!

One of the best ways to start incorporating this into your life, is by surrounding yourself with what makes you happy as much as possible. Not necessarily the "I can't stop smiling" happy, as much as the "just feeling content deep in your soul" happy.

Myquillyn Smith, blogger (https://thenester.com/) and author of Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff discovered this as she was trying to find the right style for her small house. 

Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style,
Less Stuff by Myquillyn Smith

And that is when she learned all about...Hygge!

What in the World is Hygge?

According to the Danish website (visitdenmark.com), Hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") is a Danish word. "In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. 

How Does this Fit in With Embracing Life?

According to Smith in her book, "Hygge is all about creating a cozy, safe, warm and inviting atmosphere. It's about finding contentment and joy in the simple things like sitting by a fire playing a board game."

"Hygge is not a look or a style; it's an intention. The goal of hygge is cozy togetherness, get-through-it-ness, comfort, and knowing you are not alone."
And she is absolutely correct! If you have created a home where you feel ~ 'just feeling content deep in your soul' happy ~ THEN, you are already:

• Embracing Life

• Embracing Each Moment

What Are You Waiting For?

Get a fresh start in 2020! No resolutions to worry about. Only one word...YOUR word! What will be YOUR word that brings 2020 in focus for your moments, your dreams, your life?

Now, as for me, I will stop writing, and go create a feeling of "Hygge" in my front room!

♡  Embrace Life!

♡  Embrace Learning!

♡  Embrace Each Moment!

Source:

•   https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/highlights/hygge/what-hygge

• Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff by Myquillyn Smith (p. 27).