Hi, Reader,

How are these long last days of August treating you?

It's funny...as a blogger, I have a whole schedule for sending emails and talking about just the right topics, but right now, I feel like I need to step out of it and talk about something else.
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(Don't worry - I'll share recipes and helpful links below, too).

I'm exhausted right now, and I wonder if you might be feeling the same.

There's just so much going on, my to-do list seems piled higher than ever before, and I literally cannot keep up. It doesn't feel like a time to just go on with regular programming; it feels like a time to pause and slow down.

Are you feeling the same?

Late summer often prompts this feeling in me, whether it's from the back to school grind, the overflowing garden, or needing to preserve all the veggies roaming around my kitchen counter.

Except this year, it's truly none of those. Our garden has been really small this year and I haven't canned anything in months (can you even believe it?!).

Instead, I took a part-time job to get out of the house, started a vintage booth, and took a trip to Wisconsin, all while radically restructuring my writing business.

All of these are good things, but they took up a lot of time and totally shifted my weekly schedule.

We each go through seasons, even within seasons, that require us to shift how we use our time and energy. These are all temporary, just like everything.
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They'll change soon enough.

The things I really want you to remember in this moment are two-fold:

1) Do your very best to get back in your body and soak up these moments because they will pass before you know it.

2) Take even the tiniest moment to reflect on what is draining you and what is energizing you. The things that aren't worth it should be edited out or reduced while you expand time for the things that feel good.

You do not have to keep *everything* in your life. This is it; your one wild and precious life. Your time is really all you have to give.

The things that are worth it will look different to everyone, but your inner voice will tell you. If you keep thinking, "I need to leave that job" or "I wish I had more time to paint" or something similar, find a way to set that in motion.

Let your outer life align with your inner needs and values. It will take time, but it is so very worth it.

End of Summer Organizing

There are several key systems that can reduce your overwhelm and mental clutter, including keeping a well-stocked pantry and meal planning.

When you have the right ingredients and tools on hand, you can really make anything!

Have you heard of a "capsule wardrobe?" It's basically a smaller, curated collection of shirts, pants, skirts, blouses, etc. that can be mixed and matched into a bunch of different looks. (I tried it once and it was LOVELY.)

Although a capsule pantry requires probably more elements than a wardrobe, the idea is the same.

Mix and match several basic ingredients together in new ways to make lots of lovely dishes.

My Homestead Kitchen Starter Kit covers stocking a pantry, buying in bulk, meal planning and more, all set to help you get started ASAP. Check it out here!

​Setting Up a Homestead Kitchen​

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​Keeping a Well-Stocked Pantry​

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​Printable Canning Inventory Chart​

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​Zero Waste Pantry Staples​

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​Baking Essentials for Beginners​

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​Zero Waste Meal Planning​

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​Clever Ways to Simplify Meal Planning​

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​Minimalist Meal Planning​

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End of Summer Flavors

This is the very best time to be a local eater. The most flavorful, juiciest produce is coming in from the fields, like melons, heirloom tomatoes, plums and peaches, and so much more.

You don't even need to cook them - just eat them fresh or pile them high in salads. But if you want to do something more than that, here are some options to consider.