Keeping a home clean can feel like an uphill battle. There’s always more laundry, more dishes. The trash seems never-ending. And even when I finally get things in order, there’s an adorable toddler pulling toys out again and saying, “play, Mommy!” 

We moved into our house in September 2024 and it’s taken quite a few iterations of a cleaning routine to find something that works. Now that we’ve been through all seasons once (plus Christmas twice!), I’m happy with the system I’ve created. 

Winter mornings ask something different of me. 

The light comes later. The house stays quiet longer. The world doesn’t rush me into my to-do lists and plans the way it does in the warmer months. And yet, I often feel the urge to fight it: to turn on every light, to hurry my body awake, to expect myself to move at summer speed.

But winter resists that kind of striving.

Like a lot of moms I know, I didn’t set out to build my life around a screen. It just… happened. Somewhere between grocery lists, calendars, podcasts, notes apps, social media, and “just one quick check,” my phone quietly became the default tool for nearly everything. And while technology can be helpful, I’ve noticed that it’s also been shaping my attention, my patience, and my ability to be fully present in ways I don’t always like.

So in 2026, I’m intentionally going more analog.

January has a way of telling us who we should be. Quiet and calm. Ambitious and ready. Rested or reinvented. Which way, exhausted mom?

There’s something about the first meal plan of the year that feels exciting to complete. 

It sets the tone for a new year, but keeps me grounded in the same old important goal of homemaking: stewarding well. After the rush of Christmas meals, holiday baking, and all the structure December quietly dismantled, January asks a gentler question: What would it look like to feed my family well again?

A Simple, Sweet Way to Gather Without the Stress

One of my favorite parts of homemaking is learning that hospitality doesn’t have to be expensive, elaborate, or Instagram-perfect. In fact, some of my richest moments in my home have come from the simplest gatherings.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions with our little family is our Christmas Book Basket. I started this tradition last year, when my daughter was barely a year old and even then it was a huge hit.

I just gather all the Christmas and winter-themed storybooks I can find, wrap them individually, and place them in a basket near the tree. Each night, my daughter gets to pick one book to unwrap and read with me and her daddy under the twinkling lights. It’s so much fun (and it’s helped her get better at opening presents!). 

The weekend after Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite family traditions. Not because of the sales, but because it's the beginning of our Christmas traditions. Instead of rushing headlong into December, we treat that long weekend like a soft on-ramp: slow, sweet, cozy, and full of anticipation.

Welcome back, friends. November is nearly over and we’ve now arrived at the final cup in this month-long quiet practice of thankful reflection. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving Day! 

Through this series, we’ve looked at God’s kindness in our homes, our relationships, and our communities. Now, as we close November and turn our faces toward Advent, we pause to remember the unshakeable anchor beneath them all: God’s faithfulness.

Welcome back to The Quiet Cup. Each week this month, I’ve been slowing down to name a simple gift the Lord has placed in my life. Today, my heart turns to my church community: the brothers and sisters in Christ who worship, serve, learn, repent, feast, sing, and grow alongside us.

After about six months, we’re cancelling our Good Ranchers subscription. I’ve been so happy with the quality but I just can’t justify the cost. Here’s my honest review!

Welcome back to this month’s The Quiet Cup thankfulness series! Today, I’m thankful for my home. 

Recently, the Lord has been kind to remind me of something I so easily forget. On a Sunday sitting in church, and again during my women’s Bible study later that week, the same truths rose up from Scripture. First in 1 Thessalonians 4, then in Luke 17. The timing wasn’t lost on me, and I’m grateful for a Bible-teaching church, because His Word never returns void. The Spirit knew I needed to hear this truth twice: in the middle of a noisy, unsettled world, I am not called to control the chaos or know the future. I am called to be faithful.

There’s something so perfect about apple cider simmering away in the crockpot, a tradition I learned from my mom. She always made it simple: just a jug of local apple cider and a bag of Red Hots. That’s it. Two ingredients, and the whole house smelled like fall in about an hour.

It’s easy to focus on the undone things: what’s left on the to-do list, the dishes in the sink, the words that I should’ve said more kindly. It’s easy to forget, in the thick of child-rearing and chore-managing and meal-making and holiday-planning, that the man beside me is not just a partner in the work but a gift from the Lord Himself.

The first week of November might seem early to start thinking about Christmas in our homes, but I’m a sucker for early planning and I’m already wearing a Christmas sweater. I absolutely love the Christmas season and Christmas Day is my favorite day of the year. So in order to truly feel present and peaceful for my favorite time of the year, I’m preparing my home (and my heart, but that’s a separate post!) early. Planning ahead gives me and my family space to enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

As you may have guessed with the existence of this blog, I’m a bit of a planner. But I don’t want to box myself into a “perfectly” planned and curated Christmas - I want a truly joyous and peace-filled Christmas that I’ve prepared my heart and home for.

After a giant Costco haul last week, I’m determined to keep this week’s grocery list under $40. (I do a monthly Costco run and this month was a bit more expensive than usual. So I’m trying to tighten up my weekly grocery budget to make up the difference!) Here’s what we’re eating this week.

Keeping a home running smoothly, especially with a toddler, part-time work, and church commitments, takes a lot more than knowing what’s for dinner. And while I’m still learning, I’ve built a system that works well for me and my family, so we know what we’re eating and what we’re doing for the whole week. It’s nothing fancy, just a simple spreadsheet that gives me peace of mind and helps me stay faithful in our daily needs.

God’s provision always stretches further than I expect, and that’s never more evident in this season than looking at my pantry shelves and freezer drawers. I’m reminded that simple stewardship, like choosing meals made with simple, whole ingredients with what I have on hand, is an act of trust. As Proverbs 27:23 says, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.” In our modern-day kitchens, that can look like taking stock of what’s already there and planning with intentionality.