I’ll admit that I have dumpster-dived a time or two. My sister and I are pickers and the more hole-in-the-wall the building, the better. We are more apt to find good treasures and cool junk in that kind of place. So when my sister discovered a 100 mile long yard sale started not far from her house in the Chicago suburbs, we planned our weekend!

Every morning I work from my laptop on the couch with my dog, but every afternoon I have gotten into the habit of working from my desk. I need a change of scenery, my dog becomes restless and I need to feel a little more professional. But if my desk is a mess, then it can demotivate or distract us from working or at least keep us from working efficiently. So here’s some ways to corral the clutter and stay organized.

Letter writing really is a lost art in today’s culture of texts, emails and instant messaging. But there really are life occassions that warrant a thoughtful, handwritten note instead of an electronic message.

I think I was a little old-fashioned even when I was young. Some of us are like that. My daughter is only 16 but is an old soul. When I was her age, I wrote letters to my new friends across the state that I had met at summer camp. Letters. With stamps.

Go on a bike ride! Sign up below for access to a printable calendar designed for the month of May.

The Midwest isn’t typically thought of as the place to go for art and a city isn’t typically where you find outdoor enthusiasts. Yet the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana is filled with amazing architecture and is surrounded by art and nature.

It’s so much easier to whip together an impromptu picnic when you keep certain essentials on hand. You’ll always be ready to take advantage of getting outside on a nice day if you gather my favorite things!

My husband and I often go on picnics. Sometimes it’s just as simple as grabbing a few snack items to take to the beach or sometimes it’s an entire spread at our local waterfront park.

How long has it been since you’ve gone on a picnic? It’s not something people usually think about and to some it may even seem a bit silly. I didn’t realize it until I started thinking about it, but our family has had a tradition of going on picnics and it started with my husband.

Get outside and have some fun and games. Download our printable, clip, and make your picnic festive. 

Smell the blossoms! Sign up below for access to a printable calendar designed for the month of April.

Route 66 is iconic and nostalgically travels from the Midwest, starting in the windy city of Chicago, to the palm trees of Santa Monica on the West Coast.  There are so many small towns, big cities, plains and vistas to see along the way!