Ida Karelsen grew up in Lambton County and spent a lot of time in her parents’ greenhouses. Her love of plants and design led her to landscape design. Ida worked as a landscape designer until the birth of her first daughter. Fast forward a few years, she is now the mom of four children all … Continue reading The Collective Series: Ida Karelsen
February is birthday month in our home. Three of the five birthdays and our anniversary were last week. Sensibly, we postponed that celebration until all the cakes have been eaten and our sanity returns. Doesn’t sound too slow or thoughtful does it? It has taken a few years to figure out how to celebrate everyone … Continue reading Buttermilk Party Cake
Last week Alison talked about purging our stuff and it got me thinking about this whole other world online. I thought I would share some thoughts on purging relationships. I’m talking about those relationships we’ve built online that are fake, stagnant, unhealthy, or just too many. There is a reason that people fall out of … Continue reading How many friends is too many on Instagram?
This week I’m sharing a wonderful poem by one of my favorite writers. Storage written by Mary Oliver When I moved from one house to another there were many things I had no room for. What does one do? I rented a storage space. And filled it. Years passed. Occasionally I went there and looked … Continue reading The Reason They Can Fly
I’ve heard a lot of talk recently about the exact date people give up on their new year’s resolutions. It’s sometime between January 12th and the 18th. Already?! It hasn’t even been a month. Why do we make these grand plans to change and yet we can’t even carry through for a couple weeks? I … Continue reading Our Habits and Simple Living
Stephanie Ouellette loves thought provoking design, cooking for people with allergies or food aversions. She lives in Sarnia, Ontario with her husband and two busy little boys. She is a photographer and Made Collective’s creative visionary. What started you on a simple and thoughtful journey? My journey started at a very young age and was … Continue reading The Collective Series: Stephanie Ouellette
Happy 2020! We hope that you took some time to rest and reflect over the past couple of weeks. A new year is spread before us like a brand new journal just waiting for us to make a mark. The challenge is to not fill it up too quickly but to leave blank spaces and … Continue reading A New Year
love definition: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own … Continue reading Advent: Love
peace definition: a state of tranquility or quiet. Stop. Search it out. Find it. It won't be easy. A peace like no other. A perfect peace.
joy definition: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. When sorrow and longing is the backdrop for advent, joy is present. Joy can't be deterred by our present circumstances. We celebrate and offer this bright light and renewed definition of joy to a dark world.
