Simple White Walls

Words & Photography
by Manda McGrath



One of the things I struggle with when it comes to decorating is my love for simple white walls. I’m often told it feels cold or boring, but it’s the exact opposite for me. I find it soothing and calm.

One of the things I struggle with when it comes to decorating is my love for simple white walls. I’m often told it feels cold or boring, but it’s the exact opposite for me. I find it soothing and calm.

I never want to put things on my walls, but I also worry it might look too plain or like we just moved in. (I have yet to hang anything on my bedroom walls and we’ve been in that space for over a year.)

So while I’m still in the process of rearranging and figuring out this space, I’m enjoying the simplicity of my lack of wall decor since I’ll add that last. Plants always seem to work well though, so I can always fall back on just adding more plants if it feels too sparse!

A Raised Garden Bed

Words & Photography
by Brittany Viklund



I made a Mother’s Day request for my husband to build us a raised garden bed. We honestly have no idea what we are doing, but we are rolling with it and excited to learn from our mistakes, and to cheer on tiny little sprouts as they emerge from the soil.

As someone who loves to cook, and loves to cook with fresh produce especially, I’m giddy over the idea of harvesting ingredients a handful of steps away from the stovetop. 

As someone who loves to cook, and loves to cook with fresh produce especially, I’m giddy over the idea of harvesting ingredients a handful of steps away from the stovetop. And we all agree that getting our hands dirty with the earth is really filling to the soul.

Here’s to a new adventure and a peony plant with one beautiful bloom that I absolutely had to toss in with our vegetables.

Looking Up More

Words & Photography
by Shelby Goodman

I met eyes with the little old ladies who wanted to peek at my baby. I didn’t hurry on to my next thing, instead I asked them about their babies. Cause you know what, I hope someone will do the same for me when I’m a little old lady trying to catch a peek into young motherhood again.

I went out running errands with just Graham today and I realized that just having one child with me (who was asleep half the time) allowed me to look up more. I slowed down and smiled at strangers. I met eyes with the little old ladies who wanted to peek at my baby. I didn’t hurry on to my next thing, instead I asked them about their babies. Cause you know what, I hope someone will do the same for me when I’m a little old lady trying to catch a peek into young motherhood again. And I’ll be able to lovingly recall the way my babies smiled with their whole face when they looked at me.

Forever My Love Language

Words & Photography
by Cici Wonger



Making summery desserts to ward off
this crappy weather is my current delusion.
But feeding ones I care for most
is forever my love language.

In The Midst Of The Juggle

Words & Photography
by Kari Jensen





Her eyes get heavy from waiting ever so patiently for her mother to finish up a few work-related things. She quietly flips through the pages as her mother busily taps on the keyboard in the other room. Eyes getting more heavy, she curls up with a blanket to rest her head. Her mother finishes her work only now to see that her baby is peacefully sleeping, holding onto the book she was supposed to read to her.

Guilt fills her mother’s heart as she watches her peaceful baby sleeping, waiting for her....⠀

Eyes getting more heavy, she curls up with a blanket to rest her head. Her mother finishes her work only now to see that her baby is peacefully sleeping, holding onto the book she was supposed to read to her.

We have days where the balls seem to drop no matter how carefully I juggle them. Guilt. Shame. Disappointment come knocking and it’s all in how I chose to greet them that will shape the moments that follow.⠀

To all the mamas, dads, foster parents, grandparents, caregivers: be gentle on your heart in the midst of the juggle. Know that you are enough. That you’re doing your best. That you are what they need even when you feel like you have failed them in the moment. ⠀

...She rises from her peaceful sleep, mother greets her with a smile. A kiss. An "I love you so much", and cuddles next to her to start reading the books her baby carefully selected hours ago for story time. ⠀