A Wildwood Story

Weekend Favorites

April 16, 2018 by Rachel

Closing out this weekend with a few of my favorite things…

∇ Because she is the sweetest, and this music video is adorable:

∇ How to Overcome Comparison: An Open Letter From a Recovering Perfectionist {Soul Scripts}

“My life is not a competition–neither the messy parts nor the marvelous parts are a measurement of my worth.” I’ve been following Jordan on Instagram for awhile; she’s the real deal! Encouraging women to live in their identity in Christ and follow hard after God.

∇ The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle

Wow, this is a unique wealth of resources. I was first introduced to the bundle last year and was so pleased with my purchase! It has ALL THE THINGS.

∇ Do you have what it takes to travel the world and be a flavor finder? Noosa is looking for yogurt superfans!

Thank you to my sister, Mara, for bringing this to my attention. I would apply except I have not actually yet tried Noosa yogurt and therefore feel unqualified for such a mission.

{You can see last week’s Weekend Favorites here.}

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of my links, I may receive a {very small} commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog! It means the world and a weekend full of favorites to me.

Letter 35 {Netflix & Patio Tacos}

April 14, 2018 by Rachel

Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them. -Lemony Snicket

Dear Candace,

We are slowly making our way through Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, season two, and by “we” I do mean our entire family, together, of an evening. As you know, Tom is not a T.V. person* and it’s rare that he’ll watch a movie (however, this past Christmas he was stuck with the rest of us in a Star Wars marathon, haha!) but this show has reeled him in. {Or maybe he’s just humoring the rest of us.} In our 18 years of marriage, I can’t think of any other T.V. series we’ve watched together as a couple or with the family (and I don’t count Andy Griffith played on repeat when the kids were small).

…

Morning Routine, Condensed

April 11, 2018 by Rachel

{The wordy version: My Morning Routine}

In the event you are curious, and because this is great accountability for me, here is what I do most mornings these days (though the actual times will vary somewhat depending on the day):

“Think Cheerful Morning Thoughts,” is my motto

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Monday

April 9, 2018 by Rachel

Mondays get all the memes and exasperated sighs for a reason. It can be haaard to get back into a work routine any day of the week after a little rest, a tiny wee siesta for your nerves. Even if you love your Monday work! You may be rolling your eyes about all the #Monday drama. Of course I make fun of it, too, until I find myself having one of those Mondays.

Looking at pictures of succulents brings calm and peace to my Monday soul

It’s like quicksand at times, over here on Monday. In which you are doing stuff, but getting nothing done. Everyone else is seemingly on top of their game, making headway on the productive work week of your dreams, and you’re just standing there trying to remember what math is and wondering why the dishes are never done and knowing you have 4 appointments to make but talking on the phone can be weird….

Weekend Favorites

April 7, 2018 by Rachel

I thought I would wrap up this week with some of my recent favorite things:

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Letter 34 {The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow}

April 3, 2018 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

This letter could also be titled, “when you are waiting for spring and feeling very Eeyorish.”

Rain, sleet, spring snow, thunderstorms…this is the Midwest! {tagline: variety is the spice of life}

I try not to whine about rain-it’s a blessing, I know. Rain is fine. I’ll adjust. Especially if I’m in London-my plan is always go to the nearest Tesco for an umbrella and then walk arm in arm with my sister to a cozy tea room. Rain in London is delightful.

I didn’t promise to never complain about cloudy grey days, though. One needs to complain about something.

What I’m telling myself is this: buck up, buttercup- when it does stop raining and greying for a moment, it’s going to be so green and bright my eyes will hurt from all the color and it will all be worth it.

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Easter Dinner Menu {Version 03/18}

March 31, 2018 by Rachel

Every year Easter weekend looks different for us. In recent years we’ve had some variety-traveled to visit family, shared a meal with church friends who graciously invited us into their home, hosted our own extended family gathering, or kept it simple with just our group of five.

I rarely dye eggs. My interest level in that is a 0.5 at best. I may plan our spring outfits in advance, or, more likely, survey closets the day before and wonder if I can pull off a new, fresh spring look with whatever we have and minimal effort. I love Resurrection Sunday and all it represents; I’m ambivalent about everything else. {Or lazy. You could also say that.}

I do care about FELLOWSHIP and FOOD, and this year I get to host a smallish family dinner, which is perfect.

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Clarity & Stories

March 29, 2018 by Rachel

The dark felt darker this morning. When the early morning light arrived, it was heavy and dim with fog.

I love an occasional morning like this, but the repetition of gray days…well, it gets a bit old for me!

*googles SoCal real estate*

*resigns self to remaining in Midwest*

My brain felt just about as foggy as the weather. I was going round and round with a few things. To say I feel uncertain about which course of action to take in any number of areas is an understatement.

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Letter 33 {Wedding, Donuts}

March 26, 2018 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

Thursday, March 22:

I’m writing to you from Indy, where spring has been welcomed with fluffy snow and strong winds. Naomi’s wedding on Saturday will probably feature temps below freezing and more precipitation. Remember that proverb about March?

In like a lion, out like a lamb.

False. OPPOSITE.

However, this is not dampening our spirits in the least and we are enjoying every minute of preparation and time spent together this week! Many important tasks have already been accomplished, such as last-minute shoe shopping for certain unnamed member of the family, the purchase of chalkboards from Michael’s, flower petal accumulation (for the send-off), getting our nails done, and eating of Thai food.

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My Morning Routine {Version 03.18}

March 20, 2018 by Rachel

Anyone who knows me well knows I’m not and never have been an early morning person. {And to my brothers-in-law who came knocking on our trailer door before 9am those first few years I was a young bride and mother, no I have not forgiven you.}

I’ve always regularly needed at least 8 hours of sleep, and when my babies were little I needed at least 10! I used to wonder if I was missing out on some sort of holiness game-up, in which rising before dawn would not only improve my productivity but more importantly, my spirituality. Like, didn’t the Proverbs 31 woman get up while it was still dark? I always thought that if I had servant girls, they’d be making ME breakfast, not the other way around.

What I really want to wake up to every morning.

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