When I think about what makes our house a home, it isn’t the things that fill our spaces. It’s the memories and times spent with my family, cooking meals and playing games. The times spent working in the garden in the summertime, bringing in a harvest for dinner and cutting a bouquet for the table. When I find myself with a momentary pause in the busyness, I am able to sit and look at the life we’ve woven together. We live quite frugally, but even so, our home is full of love and memories.
Compared to my minimalist husband, Scott, I am a squirrel - gathering little tidbits from the outdoors, collecting items from artists and antique stores, and displaying them throughout our home. Our kitchen is the room we spend the most time in, and it is filled with our finest collection of goods - from hand-crafted spoons and serving ware to locally sourced pantry items and produce. To be honest, it is these things that inspired our business.
To me, surrounding ourselves with these intentional goods enhances the experiences we share together by “stacking” the goodness. When we sit down to a meal together, it feels better than when we eat on the go. When the meals we share are made with ingredients that have stories and served with dishes and utensils that were crafted with care, there is a depth and a beauty that is unmatched.
Here are our favorite ways to add abundance to mealtime:
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Source LOCAL ingredients & grow your own!
When possible, seek out ingredients from farmers in your area. You define what is local to you! And don’t feel like you have to buy everything local all at once - that can feel overwhelming. Focus on a few things you use often and see if there is a local source. When you buy directly from a farmer or maker, you’ll be supporting your local economy and starting a relationship both with the farmer and with the food!
Growing your own food can be fun and rewarding - and you can do it almost anywhere. Even herbs in a windowsill garden will add a certain amount of magic to your dinner plate! -
Invest in tools, utensils, and servingware that is made to last & made with love
When I’m cooking, it feels great to reach for my favorite handmade spatula or ladle! Even when I am cooking alone, it feels like I’m in the company of others, as I honor the craft and skills that went into making the tools that I’m using. -
Share a meal
I am a strong believer in the power of food to bring people together. For us, it always comes back to food. Make time to share a meal with someone - be it your roommate, your partner, your family, a neighbor, or a group of friends - when you create space for gathering, the rewards will be great. -
Make the table!
In this modern world, we often don’t take the time to make a table setting. Case in point: fast food, where our car is the table…. Taking a few extra minutes to set the table, slow down, gather flowers, or light a candle will help to center the moment and the meal. Whether it’s a simple supper enjoyed alone or a gathering with others, setting the table makes the meal intentional!
Here’s the truth. Not everything we eat in our home was sourced locally and not all of our things are made in small batches by artisans. But the food that is and the things that are feel so rich and valuable and make our experiences glow with warmth when we use them. So, when we can, we seek out locally sourced goods and ingredients. And we share them here with you!
What does it take to fill your home with abundance? It would take a million pages to write this answer, and it will be different for everyone. But for me, it’s something like this: surround yourself with people, objects, materials, and ingredients that you LOVE. When you do, I think you’ll find yourself feeling full and connected and whole.
