Homeland for the Holidays

This year begins the travel stage of our life.  Since we've moved away from our families we are now like the 42 million Americans hitting the road for the holidays.

It's very difficult living away from family. Although it's only been a short time for us, I constantly find myself yearning to just go home.

So to say the least my better half and I are very excited about heading home, even just for a long weekend. As I was reflecting on going home I realized there is a simple life lesson in going home for the holidays.

When we lived close to our families it was easy to take people for granted and always visit with them next time.  Now we are headed home for just that. To hug necks, kiss cheeks, and sit down around the kitchen table just being together.  It's a great lesson in learning how to keep my priorities straight.  Going home focuses me.

I know the holidays can sometimes be stressful, and traveling is usually difficult.  But maybe this season you will find yourself in the perfect situation to spend quality time with family and friends.

As for me, I am heading home and focusing on togetherness.  To help me with that, I've decided to take a digital break this holiday weekend.  No Blogs.  No Facebook.  No Internet.  No checking my phone a million times for text messages.  Just quality time spent in deep conversation with family and friends, really listening.

I hope your holidays are filled with laughter, love, and a break from societies pull.

Holiday Excess

I've been up to my ears in grant writing this week.  I managed to find a lunch break this weekend and spent some time catching up on current new stories over at NPR.  I just wanted to share two amazing articles I found:

Little Victories

I've realized this simplifying journey needs rest stops. Times for self-reflection and opportunities to rejoice in little victories. If I'm not careful I'll be back with the society masses, always looking beyond today and seeing where I still have to go.  It's an uphill slope I constantly have to climb.

Random Thursday

To make you smile.
(Courtesy of my dear friend CP)

Dining In: Homemade Pizza

My better half loves Pizza. So this weekend I attempted to make homemade pizza from a recipe I found over at Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen.

Speaking Their Language

I love the show RadioLab. This is a one hour, fun-filled, knowledgeable adventure for your ears.  The show talks about everything from famous tumors, to falling in love, to the voices in your head.  It's an entertaining show to listen to while your panting on the treadmill, counting down the minutes until you can stop.

Career vs. Life Success

So I fell off of the simplifying train for a little bit last week.  After spending some much need downtime this weekend I've been able to pick out a few things that are drawing me back into the status quo.

Warning Signs

This week I'm off.

B-List Simple Living

I'm disciplined and some would say a little bit crazy, but I don't think extreme fits into the adjectives that describe me.  Unless you ask my better half.  This comes up when I'm asking him, on Friday night, to help me clean the entire house just so we can do yard-work over the weekend.

Dining In: Teriyaki Chicken & Mashed Potatoes

This was my definition of a southern meal (loads of butter) with a little bit of zing.  I adapted the teriyaki chicken marinade recipe from that Taste of Home cookbook I have.  The mashed potatoes concoction is from my Mom and guesswork (it was my first time).

Do people ever get tired of talking?

I asked my better half this question the other night. You see I work in a field of talkers.

Random Thursday

Some much need motivation for you [and myself]:

"Practical" Things I wish I could do

This post was inspired by Mr. Simpleton over at Living a Simple Life.  Check out their getting back to the basics journey and their awesome farm!

Lessons from a canine

It's amazing what you can learn about the simple life just by paying attention to your surroundings.  A BIG part of my life is our puppy, Mia.  Here is what she knows about simple living: