Walking in Spring | Vlog

I enjoyed making my first video so much, I've made a second - I thought I'd take you on some of the walks I've been on lately. You can view it here.

Slow Spiced Hot Chocolate

If you've been reading the blog lately you'll probably have figured out that I'm working pretty hard on making a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy having 'enough'. There is one thing though that I find it hard to have enough of somedays and that is hot chocolate. I'm not a coffee drinker or …

In the Garden | Cottage Update

Once again, today the sun is shining and of course, it's windy out. We'll likely spend the day tucked up inside as both as S. and T. have colds. There's been a lot of that these past few months, and, given the state of the world, there's really nothing for it but to hunker down …

On the Cusp of Spring

Here in Aotearoa, we seem to be balanced right on the cusp of Spring. And, unsurprisingly (because it happens at this time every year), I have found renewed energy in connecting with nature. Maybe it's the warmer weather, or maybe my soul is recognising some deeper stirring in nature, either way, I'm excited to share …

Life in the time of Covid-19

Goodness! Stops and starts seem to be the natural order of this blog. Or perhaps, there is something about the summer months that encourages me to write more. Regardless, it's a strange time to be writing in, much less living in. How do you begin to wrap your head around it all at the moment? …

Beginning Zero Waste

Recently, S. and I were asked to share some of the steps we've taken to reducing our waste and living in a more sustainable way. To be honest, it took some thinking since a lot of the things we do we've been doing for years. It's always helpful to these things written down to refer …

Buying in Bulk

I recently had a question from a friend about what things we buy in bulk and where. Now to be fair, S. does basically all of our food shopping since she is at home during the day (and going to the shops is generally a whole lot more pleasant during the week day than on …

Simple. Sustainable. Frugal.

Where did the rest of October and November go?! I always feel like Spring should be a gentle slide into Summer, but it never is. Not weather-wise and not in life either. There are so many work commitments at the school I teach at in November that it always feels so crazily full and then …

Enough needs space

I wrote the title of this post a few days ago - the spark of an idea - but it's taken a few days for the that first thought to find the words to express itself, which actually is the perfect illustration of what I want to write about today. It's true, enough does need …

Blog Revamp: On being (more) myself

Kia ora all! If you've just stumbled across this blog, welcome! And if you've been here for years - kia ora! You might have noticed that I've given the blog a wee bit of a revamp (or you maybe not if you're reading this on an RSS reader). To be perfectly honest, it was time. …

Celebrating Spring Equinox

A couple of days ago, we had a beautiful Spring Equinox celebration with a few other families out at Battle Hill Farm Park. Battle Hill Farm Park is a new discovery for us this year and it's quickly become one of our favourite places. A regional park that still functions as a working farm, Battle …

Urban Homestead Update

How is it that a month flies by so quickly at the moment? September is always a busy month for me outside of the home, and so it’s always nice when we hit the school holidays and things can slow down for a bit. With so much energy focused outwards lately, it is taking me …

Urban Homestead Update

Spring in Wellington creeps quietly, full of gentle promises of warmth at the end of Winter, and just when you think to yourself this is the beginning, the storms return.   - Wild winds rampage around the house, searching out any cracks you've dared to leave unmended, sheets of rain slam the window panes, and …

What Enough Isn’t

I've written here about choosing 'enough' in my professional life and about living with 'enough' in the past month, but today I want to write about what 'enough' isn't. Enough isn't missing out. Some people might look at my life and see the things I don't have. We don't go away on flash holidays or …

Enough is Enough 2

Last week I wrote about finding 'enough' in my professional life - you can read it here. This week I want to write part 2 - 'enough' in our home life, or more specifically our home. We're always reflecting on the things we choose to have in our house, but more recently we've been thinking …

Simple. Sustainable. Frugal.

A five-week round up this week. I realised this week as I was trying to break things down into my usual 3 categories, that so many things that are sustainable are also frugal and so many simple pleasures are frugal ones too, so gone are my categories this week, instead just a simple list of …

Enough is, well, enough

I want to write today about the idea of having 'enough'. 'Enough' is essentially the idea that you live, and are content with 'enough' - enough stuff, enough money - basically what you need and no more. It's about stepping outside the constant drive for material wealth and material goods and creating a life that …

Simple. Sustainable. Frugal.

A two weekly round up of our progress towards simple, sustainable and frugal living. Sustainable Things. Vege market - The vege market is usually a weekly stop for us, and we are lucky to have access to many different vege markets around Wellington, while not quite a farmer's market the produce is affordable, seasonal and …

Smashing the Patriarchy One Stitch at a Time

A friend recently asked why I'd bother to knit dishcloths in a perplexed and possibly appalled tone. I'd not thought twice about knitting dishcloths, but now well, it felt like a small act of rebellion. The more I thought about though, the more rebellious I came to feel. And it's taken a while, but I …

Simple. Sustainable. Frugal.

Inspired by my cousin Emma at Craving Fresh, whose Frugal Fun posts I always enjoy reading. I thought it'd be good for S. and to sit down each week and highlight (for ourselves as much as anything) the frugal, sustainable and slow decisions and wins that we have had over the past week or so …

Under the Weather

It's school holidays now, and I'm writing this while relaxing on the couch as the monkey child sleeps. I'm also recovering. I've been sick for the last nearly two weeks and I do not like being sick. It's not the flu or anything, just a nasty viral cold that I can't seem to shake. T …

Celebrating Autumn

At the beginning of May we celebrated Samhuinn, the mid-point between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. In the Druid tradition, this is the time when we honour those who have gone before us and recognise that as we journey into the dark of the year, we give our soul much needed rest. This is also …

Odds and Ends

My week in photos 1. This guy and his unwavering love of trains 2. A new book to read is always nicer. Even better when she is an amazing spoken word poet and you get to hear her perform live on the only night she was in NZ 3. I can never resist a good …

A (very) full life.

There are times during the year, where everything seems to pile up. The reality of teaching full time, running a dance school, being mum to my beautiful boy and of course spending time with my wife can seem like a lot. Probably because it is a lot. I love my full life. I love all …