Archive | PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

There’s something magical about the arrival of spring. After months of gray skies, chilly mornings, and bundling up, the season of sunshine and fresh blooms always feels like a deep breath of yes. It’s the time of year that calls us outside, reminds us to slow down, and brings a little more color (and joy!) back into everyday life. Otherwise known as time to celebrate spring!

Whether your kids are grown, you’re enjoying grandkid cuddles, or you’re simply planning weekends with your favorite people, spring is the perfect season to reconnect—both with nature and each other.

Here are a few of my favorite simple, soul-filling ways to make the most of the season together:

🌷 1. Visit a Local Flower Farm or Botanical Garden

Pack up a picnic, grab your camera, and spend an afternoon wandering among tulips, daffodils, or wildflowers. Soak in the color, breathe in the fragrance, and let spring do its thing. We have a lovely little farm near us called Harvest Farm, and their flower section is to die for! I can’t wait until they reopen (they were hit hard by Hurricane Helene!)

🧺 2. Host a Backyard Brunch

Think French toast casserole, fresh fruit, and a pot of coffee on the patio. Whether it’s a quiet Sunday with the family or an open-door invite to friends, there’s something so special about sharing a meal under the spring sky. This is our go-to weekend activity in the mountains! We fire up the Timber Stove and cozy up together!

🐝 3. Start a Simple Garden Together

You don’t need a big backyard to enjoy the magic of growing something. A few herb pots on the porch or a little raised bed can become a family project full of learning, laughter, and life lessons. Bonus: kids of all ages love digging in the dirt. We are starting our first garden here in the mountains, it’s coming along slowly, I can’t wait to share!

🎨 4. Make Nature Art

Collect leaves, petals, and twigs on a nature walk and create a pressed flower frame, homemade cards, or just a beautiful spring collage. It’s a fun way to mix creativity with the outdoors—and a great screen-free weekend activity. Years ago, Eben and I made leaf art (leaf prints and leaf alphabet animals) and they were a huge hit!

🥾 5. Plan a Spring Hike or Nature Scavenger Hunt

Head to a local trail or park and create a fun list of things to find: a bird nest, a blooming tree, a buzzing bee, a feather. Turn it into a gentle competition or just enjoy wandering together with eyes wide open. Sidenote: Do you remember when I use to do the Valentine’s Day thrifted book scavenger hunt for Eben?

🐣 6. Celebrate a “No Plans” Day

Pick a Saturday or Sunday, cancel everything, and just be. Pajamas till noon, board games, banana pancakes, a walk around the block, or a nap in the sun. Let spring’s easy rhythm guide you. So, this one might be my favorite, I’m a huge fan of just being lately, In fact, the slogan for Banner Elk where we live is BE (as in Banner Elk/but really the point is, just BE!)

🌱 7. Volunteer at a Community Clean-Up

Spring is all about renewal—and giving back to the planet is a beautiful way to model kindness and responsibility for younger generations. Bonus: fresh air + feel-good energy = the best kind of day. We have been spending our weekends doing exactly this BECAUSE = Hurricane Helene! 🙁

🧁 8. Bake Something Seasonal Together

Lemon bars, carrot cake, berry muffins… spring baking is light, bright, and often a little messy (which is part of the fun!). Wrap up extras in reusable cloth and drop them off to neighbors or friends. I love to bake and try to squeeze it in at least a few times a month! Up next, a coconut cake (hello, Ina Garten!) for Easter! Yum!

🚲 9. Take a Family Bike Ride

Whether it’s around your neighborhood or along a local greenway, biking is such a joyful way to explore together. Pack water bottles, wear layers, and stop for ice cream or a treat along the way. We LIVE for biking in the mountains. The fresh air, beautiful scenery, quietness, it’s perfection!

☀️ 10. Just Sit Outside Together

No agenda, no phones. Maybe it’s morning coffee on the porch or a glass of lemonade in the afternoon sun. These are the quiet, golden moments that often become the most cherished memories. Need I say more?

Spring reminds us that life doesn’t have to be big or busy to be beautiful. Sometimes, the simplest things—sun on your face, laughter around the table, the scent of lilacs drifting on the breeze—are the ones that fill your heart the most.

Wishing you a season full of fresh air, light hearts, and all the sweet moments you can gather. 🌸

💬 What’s your favorite spring tradition or family activity? I’d love to hear how you’re welcoming the season!

Spring is in the air, the daffodils are blooming (not up here in the mountains…yet, and Easter is just around the corner—which means it’s time for egg hunts, sweet treats, and pastel everything! But let’s be honest: the holiday can also come with a lot of waste—plastic grass, disposable baskets, candy wrappers, and decorations that get tossed after one use.

The good news? You can still have a beautiful, joyful Easter while keeping it eco-friendly. With just a few simple swaps, you can cut down on waste, support sustainable brands, and create memories that are as good for the planet as they are for your family. 🌎💚

Here are some of my favorite ideas for hosting an eco-conscious Easter celebration—fun, festive, and green in every way.

🌿 1. Choose Reusable Easter Baskets

Instead of buying cheap plastic baskets that fall apart after one use, opt for something sturdy and reusable that you can bring out year after year (or repurpose throughout the house).

✨ Eco-Friendly Basket Ideas:

• Woven baskets made from natural fibers like seagrass or bamboo
• Fabric-lined storage bins or canvas totes
• Small wooden crates (which can be reused for toy storage or decor)
• Recycled felt baskets—adorable and earth-friendly

You can even thrift baskets and paint or decorate them for a fun family craft!

🌱 2. Skip the Plastic Grass

We all know that neon plastic Easter grass is… not great for the planet (or your vacuum). Instead, fill baskets with:

• Shredded recycled paper or kraft paper
• Fabric scraps or scarves
• Colorful yarn remnants
• Or better yet—nothing at all if your goodies are pretty enough on their own!

🥚 3. Dye Easter Eggs Naturally

Forget the synthetic dye kits—natural egg dyeing is fun, non-toxic, and beautiful. Bonus: it’s a great hands-on activity for kids (and adults!).

🎨 Try These Natural Dyes:

• Red cabbage = blue
• Turmeric = yellow
• Beets = pink
• Onion skins = orange/rust
• Spinach = green

Boil your chosen veggie or spice in water with a splash of vinegar, then let the eggs soak to create soft, earthy tones.

🐣 4. Fill Their Baskets With Earth-Friendly Treats & Treasures

Skip the individually wrapped plastic-heavy candy and go for better-for-the-planet alternatives:

🍭 Better Easter Basket Fillers:

• Chocolate bunnies or eggs from fair trade or organic brands (look for foil-wrapped only!)
• Homemade cookies in beeswax wraps
• Wooden toys or handmade plush animals
• DIY play dough in reusable jars
• Flower seed packets or mini garden kits
• Books or puzzles from local or indie shops (or the thrift store – my favorite!)
• A cute reusable snack bag filled with trail mix or dried fruit

You can also make homemade coupons for things like a nature walk, picnic, or movie night—memories over material things!

🐇 5. Host a Low-Waste Egg Hunt

Ditch the plastic eggs and use reusable alternatives instead:

🥚 Sustainable Egg Hunt Options:

• Fillable wooden eggs (paint them yourself!)
• Fabric or felt eggs
• Reuse last year’s plastic ones and commit to using them year after year (I’ve been using the same eggs that I purchased when Eben was little, he’s 24!)
• Hide real dyed eggs for a fun traditional twist (just remember to find them all!)

For extra fun, hide small nature treasures or write clues for a scavenger hunt. You can even turn it into a learning moment with a “nature egg hunt”—hide leaves, stones, or eco-themed prompts in your yard or local park.

🧺 6. Celebrate With a Sustainable Easter Brunch

We always celebrate Easter with brunch. Here are some fun ways we keep our Easter meal simple, seasonal, and earth-friendly. I hope they work for you, too.

🥕 Visit your local farmers’ market for fresh produce and pasture-raised eggs
🍓 Choose recipes with minimal packaging and compost your scraps
🥗 Serve on reusable dishware (skip the disposables!)
🕯 Decorate with fresh flowers, potted herbs, or hand-dyed cloth napkins

A backyard picnic or patio brunch with local food, sunshine, and fresh air? Yes, please.

🌸 7. Give Back With a Spring Clean & Donate Tradition

Easter is a season of renewal—why not use it as a chance to give gently-used toys, clothes, or books a second life?

Start a family tradition of spring cleaning with purpose and donating to local shelters or charities. It’s a great way to teach kids about generosity and sustainability.

🌼 A Greener Easter Is a More Meaningful One

The beauty of these ideas is that they don’t take away from the fun—they add to it. Making thoughtful choices and simplifying your traditions not only helps the planet, it creates space for slower, more intentional moments—and those are the ones that stick.

So this Easter, swap the plastic for something more sustainable. Keep the joy, lose the waste—and celebrate a holiday that’s good for your family and the earth.

💬 Have your own eco-friendly Easter tradition? I’d love to hear it—share it in the comments or tag me in your photos!