The Blue Dot Effect study shows how our brains tend to find something “wrong” or “scary” in situations—even if the actual danger has disappeared. The Blue Dot Effect study — here’s how it works: In the study, participants were shown a series of colored dots and were asked to identify which ones were blue. At…
Ever feel like your own expectations are tripping you up? Let’s break them down, examine what really matters, and find freedom in embracing the season you’re in. “There is no expectation without explanation.” – Leah Boden I have used this quote to improve my relationships with my kids, in homeschooling, and even in my marriage.…
The calendar change does not require an upending of my life, just encouragement to make small adjustments. Yesterday I sat in my quiet kitchen with gingerbread toast, a mug of English tea, and listened to a podcast that reminded me of a few of my foundational truths. “I want us all to have the foundational…
Relationships are hard. Humans are flawed and messy. (Especially me.) In honor of our anniversary, here are a few things that I have learned over the years. In the last 23 years, we have had some great moments and hard ones. We have had seasons of closeness and times when we each did our own…
Edwards Farmhouse happenings and of course the story and pictures of the newest addition to our home. This year I have leaned into the abundance of the Christmas season. On a whim, I decorated the house the weekend before Thanksgiving. It has made a huge difference for me. It has been so nice to separate…
Keeping a home organized, clean, and cozy actually takes a lot of work. (Especially during the holidays.) Here are some tips to help you create a comfortable space for life to unfold. Homes are not naturally comfortable and relaxed. The nature of a busy home with kids is chaotic, messy, disorganized, and grimy. The activities…
Building a restful weekend can be tricky in a culture that moves too fast-paced and has little understanding of the desire to slow down. We have lost the art of building downtime on weekends that fill us up and bring us energy for the week ahead. When I began changing what my weekends looked like,…
Each season of the year has challenges and changes. I want to apply those lessons learned, not repeat them endlessly. Reflection brings me valuable insight. I am inspired to do reflection by what Brené Brown calls Act 2 – The Messy Middle. Characters in a movie, book or any story get stuck in Act 2.…
The transition into Back to School Season can often feel harsh and abrupt. I plan to do things differently this season. [ + free PDFs ] 🌞 Our society treats transitions like a bucket of ice water dumped on our heads. Fast, cold, abrupt, and shocking to our systems. Then we wonder why we can’t…
How changing my habits with my cluttered kitchen counters made me more productive and gave me clarity. My dad was a professional chef, he taught me all about kitchen efficiency. I learned about cooking tools, ways to prep your station, how to chop fruits and vegetables, and how to batch together tasks to get food prep done quickly.…
Photos are either taken by Mary Edwards or April Edwards.
Most are uploaded from the awesome site Unsplash.com.