Category: Inspiration

50 Simple Ways to Live a Little More Toxin-Free

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Small swaps for a more mindful, low-tox lifestyle.

Creating a healthier home doesn’t mean throwing everything away or replacing every product you own. It’s about becoming more intentional with the things we use every day, what we bring into our homes, and the products we put on and around our bodies.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress, one small swap at a time.

Here are 50 simple ways to begin making your home and everyday routines a little more toxin-conscious.

In the Kitchen

  1. Swap plastic food storage containers for glass.
  2. Use wooden or stainless-steel cooking utensils.
  3. Choose stainless-steel cookware for everyday cooking.
  4. Consider cast iron for searing and high-heat cooking.
  5. Use ceramic or ceramic-coated cookware from reputable brands.
  6. Replace plastic cutting boards with wooden ones.
  7. Store drinking water in glass or stainless-steel bottles.
  8. Choose glass or stainless-steel electric kettles.
  9. Store spices in glass jars.
  10. Use beeswax wraps or reusable food covers instead of plastic wrap when practical.

Cleaning and Laundry

  1. Choose fragrance-free laundry detergent.
  2. Replace dryer sheets with wool dryer balls.
  3. Use microfiber or reusable cotton cloths instead of disposable wipes.
  4. Choose simpler cleaning products with transparent ingredient lists.
  5. Reduce the use of heavily fragranced sprays.
  6. Open windows when cleaning to improve ventilation.
  7. Avoid mixing cleaning products, especially bleach and ammonia.
  8. Use a HEPA air purifier when appropriate.
  9. Air-dry laundry when practical.
  10. Be mindful of how much product you use. More isn’t always better.

Beauty and Personal Care

  1. Simplify your skincare routine.
  2. Choose fragrance-free lotions if you have sensitive skin.
  3. Consider mineral sunscreen.
  4. Look for personal-care products with transparent ingredient lists.
  5. Use reusable cotton rounds.
  6. Choose fragrance-free menstrual products if preferred.
  7. Ventilate your space when using nail polish or other strong-smelling products.
  8. Consider cotton or other natural-fiber hair accessories.
  9. Choose towels made from cotton or other natural fibers.
  10. Remember that aluminum-free deodorant is a personal preference, not a requirement for safety.

Around the Home

  1. Take your shoes off at the door.
  2. Vacuum regularly, ideally with a HEPA-filtered vacuum.
  3. Choose natural-fiber rugs and curtains when practical.
  4. Look for solid wood furniture and lower-emission finishes.
  5. Reduce the use of heavily scented candles and air fresheners.
  6. Let fresh air circulate throughout your home when outdoor air quality is good.
  7. Test your home for radon where appropriate.
  8. Keep functioning carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
  9. Choose lead-safe dishes and cookware, especially when purchasing vintage or imported pottery.
  10. Be mindful of stain-resistant and water-resistant treatments that may contain PFAS.

Food and Everyday Habits

  1. Eat a variety of whole foods.
  2. Buy organic produce when it makes sense for your budget and priorities.
  3. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water.
  4. Grow a few of your own herbs.
  5. Choose loose-leaf tea or tea products from brands that disclose their materials.
  6. Use glass containers for meal preparation and food storage.
  7. Reduce single-use plastics when practical.
  8. Choose fluoride toothpaste for cavity prevention.
  9. Filter your drinking water based on your local water quality and the contaminants you want to reduce.
  10. Spend more time outdoors when the air quality is good.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

Living a more toxin-conscious lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. You don’t need to replace everything in your kitchen, bathroom, or home overnight.

Start with the things you use most often. Maybe that’s switching to glass food containers, choosing a fragrance-free laundry detergent, or replacing a few plastic cooking utensils with wood or stainless steel.

And remember, natural doesn’t automatically mean safe, just as synthetic doesn’t automatically mean harmful. Pay attention to materials, product quality, and how things are intended to be used.

The intention is not to live in fear of our surroundings. It’s to become more aware of them.

Small changes add up. A healthier home is built through thoughtful choices, not perfection.

50 Ways to Be More Whimsical

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  1. Wear perfume just for yourself.
  2. Collect pretty rocks, shells, or leaves.
  3. Drink tea from your fanciest mug on ordinary days.
  4. Dance in the kitchen while cooking.
  5. Watch sunsets like it’s an event.
  6. Add ribbons or bows to everyday things.
  7. Write tiny love notes to your future self.
  8. Read poetry under a blanket with candles lit.
  9. Buy flowers simply because they made you smile.
  10. Name your plants.
  11. Leave room in your schedule for wandering.
  12. Wear linen, flowing skirts, or cozy oversized sweaters.
  13. Make homemade lemonade in glass jars.
  14. Start a pressed flower journal.
  15. Listen to instrumental music while cleaning.
  16. Create little rituals around your mornings.
  17. Dry orange slices or lavender for decoration.
  18. Keep fairy lights on after dark.
  19. Take the scenic route home sometimes.
  20. Use handwritten recipes and notes.
  21. Bake bread just because the house smells magical after.
  22. Wear sunscreen that smells like summer.
  23. Read outside under a tree.
  24. Decorate your bathroom like a tiny spa.
  25. Watch the moon phases.
  26. Romanticize grocery shopping with a cute basket and playlist.
  27. Keep a jar filled with happy memories.
  28. Buy children’s books for the illustrations.
  29. Paint even if you’re “bad” at it.
  30. Make your bed feel like a cloud sanctuary.
  31. Learn the names of birds and flowers around you.
  32. Make playlists for different moods and seasons.
  33. Light candles during rainy days.
  34. Wear matching pajamas.
  35. Make homemade soup on cloudy afternoons.
  36. Create themed movie nights.
  37. Put cinnamon in your coffee.
  38. Journal with colored pens and stickers.
  39. Pick one slow hobby and protect time for it.
  40. Open the windows in the morning.
  41. Take photos of tiny beautiful moments.
  42. Use cloth napkins and real plates more often.
  43. Sing softly while folding laundry.
  44. Keep fresh herbs in the kitchen.
  45. Visit bookstores and wander without rushing.
  46. Create a “cozy corner” in your home.
  47. Wear outfits that feel like your inner child would adore.
  48. Make ordinary meals look beautiful.
  49. Let yourself be fascinated by simple things again.
  50. Treat life like something sacred instead of something to survive.

Whatever It Is, Just Start – You’ll Figure It Out Along The Way

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Honestly, what holds many of us back is the fear of what our peers might think. It’s wild, really—because they’re probably not as concerned as we imagine!

How someone views you often says more about them than it does about you. If someone mocks or criticizes, consider how they treat themselves. Those who truly love and support you will always be there, regardless.

Remember, you don’t need to please everyone, and you don’t have to. You know your reasons, and that’s enough. Keep that close to avoid the noise and stay true to your path.

And here’s the thing: You don’t need all the answers to start. Taking the first step is what sets the journey in motion. Trust that clarity and confidence will grow as you go. Every step forward brings insight, and before you know it, you’ll be far beyond where you started—proud that you chose to begin.

m.g.

While Trying To Discover My identity This Is What I Realized

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I read a blog not long ago and a girl was sharing what she felt she identified with. A hint of jealousy hit because I thought how lucky is she to know who she is and what she identifies with.

But then as I was driving to pick up my kids from school this little story came to my head,

A rainbow goes to a cloud and asks, “what color am I?”

The cloud says, “you’re blue.”

The rainbow goes to another cloud and asks the same question.

This time the response was, “you’re red.”

The rainbow asked many different clouds the same question and each response was just a different color.

The rainbow becomes frustrated. Thoughts emerge.

“Will I ever know who I am?”

“I feel so lost.”

“How are others so sure of themselves but I still can’t figure it out?”

The rainbow shouted, “I don’t understand! What color I am!”

The rainbow decides to ask a bird this time.

“Little bird, what color am I?

The bird says, “Well, you’re a rainbow my dear! You are more than one color!” And then flys away.

And then it hit me. I do not conform to one thing. I am many beautiful things, made up of all sorts of color, like a rainbow!

Here I am searching for my identity, only to realize I’m a little bit of everything!

If you’re struggling with your identity, then you’re probably a rainbow as well my friend.

Which makes us pretty special, don’t you think?

Peace and love ,

Marie

Feng Shui Tip – When You Feel Stuck In Life Move 27 Things

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simple shui tip: move 27 things!

Full Original Article

Ways To Switch It Up

turn your vertically lined books to horizontal stacks

swap around drawers – linens, silverware, files in the desk

rearrange the kitchen cupboards

switch up the refrigerator shelves

push furniture an inch to the left or right (or completely into another room!)

switch lamps out to different rooms

move the chairs around your table

put everything dropped by the door back in its space

color-code your closet (or bookshelves!)

fold your towels a new way

organize the spice drawer / shelf

hang the dog leash somewhere that reminds you to take her for a walk

shake out the front door mat

edit the book pile by your bed

move your phone charger out of the bedroom

change the bulbs in a light to a brighter watt

flip a table arrangement so everything on the left is now on the right, and the right is now a lefty

move art on the walls around

turn all the shoes in your closet so they face one direction — with the toes facing out

dress the table with a linen-cloth and make mealtime a little more fancy

bring a few candles that normally sit somewhere unlit into a room where you’ll light them

take everything off your desk, wipe it down, and put everything back (ahhh!)

switch out your bed linens or add a different quilt to the foot of the bed

move an entire room around and try it out for a week

move the fridge magnets around

put something different in front of a mirror so that it doubles something new in your life

sharpen your pencils

give the dog bed a hearty shake and fluff / rotate the cat condo

turn the plants around so the other side soaks up the sun

flip the rugs, mattress, or couch cushions!

why 27 items, you ask? the short answer—it’s a shui thing. twenty-seven is [a multiple of] the number 9, the number representing power, manifestation, and completion. bonus: you don’t need to add or buy anything.

@simpleshui

You Are A Sacred Gift

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There’s a book I just began reading called, “A Child Of The Native Race.” A story of woman who was born to an Indian family but taken away at 18 months old and raised by a white family. It’s a story of returning to her roots.

In her dedication the author Sandy White Hawk says this,

“

Even if we came into this world in the worst of circumstances.

We are not that circumstance; we were sacred when we were born

separate from the hardship that surrounded us.

Our life is good and has a purpose.”

“

This quote above really resonated with me in such a way. I don’t know that I can fully put into words.

It resonated with me because of my own adoption story and discovering my roots and finding my biological family. And it resonated because of my daughter, and her adoption story.

And currently, we are fostering my nephew, who we plan on adopting.

It is sad? The circumstance? In a way, yes, yes it is. And that should be acknowledged. But it is also a gift as well in it’s own way. And the gift may not be recognized until many years later (I can testify to that). This quote above affirms what I already know. That each of us are sacred, no matter how we entered this world. No matter the circumstance in which we are born into.

When we enter into this world we couldn’t be anymore pure. Each of us, first born, are so full of life, curiousity, adventure. It is the world, the pressures, the fears, the power and greed that work to steal us away from who we are. We become confused, afraid, and we feed ourselves lies.

Listen to me….

We are sacred gifts. We are miracles. We are love. You must never forget that. Never forget how significant you are. Never doubt your capabilities. You are chosen. That is the truth.

Forgive others. Forgive yourself.

Many of us DO enter this world through challenging circumstances. But how we come into this place does not define who we are. We are still chosen to be here, despite the troubles that may surround us. And we will find our way.

Lean not on your own understanding.

Live your days recognizing the gifts that surround you. Remind others that they are treasure. Help others to see how remarkable they are. We are never alone on our journey.

Discussing and sharing is healing and it’s connecting.

Lots of love always.

– m.g.

Meat And Cheese Charcuterie Board Inspiration – Visual Layouts And Pairings

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Get started! Charcuterie Boards short cut!

#ad as an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Charcuterie boards are so much fun! They are kind of like snowflakes, they are each unique in their own way. And what a way to display your creativity! I love it! This blog is specifically meat and cheese but I see myself sharing a sweets charcuterie board blog too in the future. So many possibilities!

I went to a wine tasting last weekend to celebrate a friends 35th birthday. There was a total of 5 of us and we all met because of our daughters. Our girls all met last year in kindergarten and now our little beauties are in first grade. It’s been so much fun developing these types of friendships and I’m so grateful.

Back to the wine tasting, one of the girls brought a prepared charcuterie board that we all got to enjoy and indulge in. A friends of hers actually creates them as a business!

Just sitting with the girls drinking some wine in the vineyards while snacking was pure bliss. If you’re a mom you know how badly you have to take some time for yourself to recharge your batteries.

The board we snacked on. My favorite is the spicy meat paired with a flavored goat cheese and crispy cracker. So yummy!

We all get excited about having a charcuterie board party. Maybe the wine was kicking in or we were just really hungry which resulted in this charcuterie board being the best thing ever. But this charcuterie board inspired this blog.

I share some layouts to help you with your charcuterie board party that you may be planning and some common pairings. You don’t have to follow it exactly but use this more as a guide and have some fun with it!

Thank you for reading and have fun charcutering! (I just made that up)

Charcuterie Board Visuals

Charcuterie Board Pairings And Tips

Would love to see your board! Share it with us on instagram!

Click here 🙂

For additional pairings with wine specifically check out this blog!

Fall Wines And The Perfect Pairings That Go With Them

Beautiful Bouquets Of Flowers With Quotes To Inspire You

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Sometimes we just need a little encouragement and inspiration, and flowers are full of both.

Flowers Need Time To Bloom. So Do You. – unknown
You’ll grow beautifully in your own way. – unknown
May flowers remind us why the rain was so necessary. – Xan Oku
She may lose a few petals, but it doesn’t make her any less of a flower. – Alicia N Green
Deep in your wounds are seeds, waiting to grow beautiful flowers. – Niti Mejethia
A flower blossoms for its own joy. – Oscar Wilde
Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands. – A Japanese Proverb
When a flower doesn’t bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower. – Alexander Den Heijer
Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow the flowers or you can grow the weeds. – unknown
Where flowers bloom, so does hope. – Lady Bird Johnson
The Flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all. – Walt Disney
A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms. – unknown
May the petals teach me the art of letting go. – Xan Oku

Have a wonderful day, and buy yourself some flowers.

Xo m.g.

Allow God To Catch You When You Fall

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When your child is just learning how to stand or learning how to walk you are either holding them, or standing very close by.

In case your child falls you want to be there to catch them, versus them falling down and hurting themselves.

Nobody wants to see their child hurt or in pain, so we stand very close.

In this walk of life, we are the child and God is our heavenly parent.

But like most children we are very stubborn. We believe we can do things on our own, better yet, WE WANT to do things on our own. Like we need to prove something.

The thing with this mentality is we end up falling many times in life and learn many things the hard way, and it hurts. It hurts really bad. And God is just there waiting, patiently, to help us when we are ready to ask for it.

It’s not that he hasn’t tried to help us, we have pushed Him away saying, “I can do it myself, I don’t need you.” So he watches us fall and thinks to himself, please let me help you.

He knows learning how to walk is challenging and He knows the walk of life can’t be done without the help of Him.

Actually, it’s not that it can’t be done, it can. God just doesn’t want it to be a hard walk of life. He gives us an opportunity to try on our own but he stands by waiting for the permission to help us.

He wants to catch us on those falls because he knows if we keep falling we will be become discouraged and won’t try anymore.

Nobody wants to crawl forever. We want to walk and RUN. When we allow God to catch us we will begin to take more risks, we will be confident, and we won’t be afraid.

When my children were small they would crawl to the edge of the bed only because they knew I would catch them. Imagine if they could talk at that age and say things like, “alright mom, stop, I want to crawl all over the bed myself without you hovering me.” But my children let me be there for them just in case. They felt safe. And they actually enjoyed me catching me.

If you don’t want to let God catch you when you fall that is ultimately your choice, however if you surrender and just let Him help you….your life will change in the most incredible way because you will know that you can do anything.

You can crawl to the edge of the bed with no fear, always.

If, you allow God to catch you when you fall.

– m.g.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #11

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“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Proverbs: 27:17

I had a really great, thought provoking conversation with a friend of mine that I have only known now for a few months. Our daughters are in class together and we met at one of their classmates birthday parties. Neither one of us knowing a beautiful friendship was about to be born. How grateful we must be for the small moments that lead to something priceless, like an amazing friendship.

We had a conversation on the phone not too long ago, and we had a deep conversation as we normally do. Unfortunately it came to an end due to my children needing my attention, but once we got off the phone I was provoked to find a scripture related to friendship because I felt so grateful to have a friend who I can share my inner thoughts with. We each challenge each other with what we believe in, in a very respectful way.

No offensive is taken, only respect and listening to each other sharing why we feel, believe, or think the way that we do. I believe we humble each other in our discussions and help one another to see more beyond the horizon. We sharpen each other.

How important, and what a gift, friendships are. A friend that is pushing, challenging you, and encouraging you, is going to improve you. Sharpen means improve or cause to improve. Improve means make or become better. Countenance means to admit what is acceptable or possible.

In relation to the scripture above, we strengthen each other’s tolerance and endurance to the sufferings that are experienced in this world. We alleviate burdens and give the gift of perseverance to one another.

To live is to experience suffering, we know this is true, and this scripture tells us how you and I can give strength to one another and endure what to some would be unbearable. This scripture reminds us that we are not alone in our sufferings and how important relationships are with one another.

We are here to uplift one another not to bring down. We must sharpen each other to the best of our capabilities. Because everyone at one time or another will seek or is seeking right now alleviation in what they do not know. We must share our light. We only shine because of those that taught us.

Reach out to your best friends today and remind them how much you cherish their friendship. Explain to them why you choose to have them in your life. Give them love and gratitude. How special to have such friends who develop us and push us to grow.

Love to you all.