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How I ditched the meal planning and grocery shopping… for good!

Wednesday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

HelloFresh

Yep. I have. And it feels SO good.

Wanna know my secret? For the past few weeks, I’ve been using HelloFresh.

Not sure what that is? Basically, it’s the next best thing to having a personal chef. Someone else does the meal planning using seasonal ingredients, and you get a box of fresh food delivered to your door, together with a set of recipe cards. The box contains everything you need to quickly whip up healthy, tasty meals (and get your life back again). It includes fresh produce, meats, cheeses, herbs, spices, and pantry ingredients.

I’ve fallen in love… hard.

I have some big HelloFresh discounts to offer both my Australian and U.S. readers at the end of this post. But because you probably don’t know yet exactly how HelloFresh is going to change your life, read on. Then you will see.

Here’s my top 12 reasons why I love HelloFresh:

1. It’s given me my kitchen mojo back again. 

You know when you get in such a rut with meal planning that you wish you didn’t even have to eat?

That was me for the first few months of this year. For real. I didn’t have the mental energy to think up brand new ideas each week. My inspiration had fled. As a result we were eating the same old, same old things that I’d made a thousand times before.

I was bored. My husband was bored. The kids were becoming overly reliant on the same handful of familiar foods. And I hated being in the kitchen doing the same old thing the same old way for the millionth time.

So I’m delighted to say that HelloFresh has given me my kitchen mojo back again. We’re now eating exciting and interesting food on a daily basis, and I’m once again excited and interested to be making it.

(And yes… in case you’re wondering… all the photos in this post are of HelloFresh meals that I’ve made in the past couple of weeks! It’s like we have our own little restaurant happening at home.)

HelloFresh Australia

2. I’ve got my life back.

Let’s all take a moment of silence to commemorate the amount of time we have all spent each week for years and years, hunting through recipe books for ideas, (or staring into space with pen poised over a blank notepad as we try vainly to conjure up some inspiration), creating detailed shopping lists, and doing the dreaded grocery run with kids in tow.

I get twitchy even thinking about how I used to do the grocery run with kids. If they weren’t running down the aisles like lunatics, they were busy competing for the Guinness World Record in “greatest number of things you can nag your mother to buy you in one shopping trip”.

I mean… begging for chocolate and ice-creams is understandable (albeit annoying) but they didn’t stop there. My kids don’t even have to know what something IS in order to want it obsessively.

Last time I took the kids grocery shopping, Miss 4 had a full-blown tantrum over some shower-cap looking thing that you stretch over a salad bowl to keep the flies off. Apparently her life was about to end if I didn’t buy it for her immediately.

Yup.

My PTSD is flaring up just thinking about it. Thank God those days are gone forever.

3. I’m trying new things.

It’s amazing how a few simple little things that I never would have thought of doing, can add such pizazz and flair to a meal.

That’s the chef’s touch, I guess. There’s nothing complicated or fancy in here, just simple little tricks like adding a squeeze of fresh lime juice to some Greek yoghurt and using it as a dressing… or adding fresh herbs to a sauce… or using a spice rub on the meat… or peeling the cucumber instead of slicing it… or using an unexpected topping on a pizza… or caramelising the onions… or making a mash with cauliflower and parmesan thrown in to liven up the plain old spuds.

I will be honest, I’ve never had much flair in the kitchen. I can follow a recipe and make something presentable, but I’ve never danced a tango with my ingredients.

Now I feel like I’ve got a few dance moves happening. I’m actually really starting to enjoy the process. Instead of dinner being a chore that I have to bang out as fast as humanly possible, I feel like I’m creating some magic.

Shaking up my routine and trying some simple new things has given me a whole new passion for cooking. And I feel like I’m becoming a better cook in the process.

HelloFresh

 

4. The meals take 30mins or less to make. 

You know when Jamie Oliver released his book about 30 minute meals? And we all tried them and they took 2 hours?

Yeah. This is not like that.

These really DO take 30 minutes or less from when you crack open the fridge to when your family is sitting at the table drooling over what you’ve created.

The recipes are simple and straightforward, with step-by-step photos so you can see at a glance what to do next.

I’m all about less time in the kitchen, which = more time to watch cooking shows on TV (oh the irony) while sipping a glass of wine.

5. We’re eating fresh, healthy food. 

It’s the bane of every mother’s existence… the pressure to come up with a healthy, balanced, interesting menu that everyone will love.

You want your family to eat healthy. You know you need to cut down on the pre-packaged stuff and get more whole foods into everyone. You know you should be eating a rainbow of fresh veggies and a variety of proteins and so forth… but it’s easier said than done, right?

Life is just. So. Busy. And planning that sort of menu, let alone keeping a fridge stocked with fresh ingredients to feed a voracious family of little dinner-monsters… well, it’s no easy feat.

Well, I’m happy to report that we are now eating the freshest of whole-food ingredients on a nightly basis. And all with a lot less effort than we were expending before.

6. The kids love it. 

I was in such a cooking rut at the start of this year that kids were never being challenged to try new things. And it’s always been my fear that I’ll create picky eaters if I feed them the same narrow, monotonous diet week in and week out.

On the other hand, there can be a lot of internal resistance to stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new foods with kids, because chances are they’ll hate it, right? And then that’s all your hard work down the drain. Might as well just throw up your hands and feed them a cheese toasted sandwich, which AT LEAST THEY WILL ACTUALLY EAT, even if it has like zero nutritional value.

Well, in theory the Family Box is designed to be family friendly, and with three fussy kids aged 4-8, this family was about to put HelloFresh to the ultimate kid test.

Yes, the Kid Challenge from which professional chefs shrink back in dismay.

Would they like it?

WOULD THEY EAT IT??!

The first HelloFresh meal I served my kids was a Moroccan Lamb Filo parcel. I will admit, I didn’t have high hopes for how this would go down. It’s not the sort of thing I’ve ever fed them before.

HelloFresh

But truth be told, I was happy to not have to be sweating these decisions for myself – that’s just what came in the box, so I trusted the process and the expertise behind it, and that’s what I made.

I slapped down those plates on the table and we all tucked in.

After a few minutes of silence (always a good sign), my 7-year-old said, eyes wide, “Mummy! This tastes too good to be homemade!”

LOL. Uh, thanks, son. I think.

(For added context, this is my son who has Sensory Processing Disorder and has some massive hangups about food textures and trying new things in general. He’s pretty picky with his food.)

He took a few more bites, then gushed, “This is my number one favourite meal! As well as McDonalds, pizza and spaghetti bolognaise!”

Kid stamp of approval officially given.

We’ve been cooking from these boxes for a few weeks now, and the kids have eaten and enjoyed every single meal. I’ve had to coax the 4-year-old with a couple of them, but she’s always needed a bit of coaxing with dinner, so that’s no different to before. As for the older two, it’s almost funny how effusive they are with their praises.

“Mummy, I LOVE these noodles!”

“This is SOOOOO tasty.”

(In a tone of great excitement) “What’s your favourite bit, guys? Mine is the nuts! No, it’s the crunchy bread pieces! Oh, I don’t even know, it’s ALL so good!”

“Mummy, when can we have this meal again? I love it soooooo much!!”

There’s been at least three times that I’ve said to hubby, “I wish I could record the kids’ reactions to these meals, because it’s so over-the-top, no one would ever believe it’s true.”

It does make me wonder… was my cooking really THAT bad before…? ‘Cos I can’t remember ever having a reaction like this to any of “my” meals. Hmmm.

HelloFresh, this family takes our hats off to you.

7. It’s got my husband cooking.

There’s something about having full-colour, step-by-step, mouthwatering recipe cards on the counter and matching fresh ingredients stocking the fridge that seems to lure out the inner MasterChef in all of us.

My husband has cooked more in the last couple of weeks than in all the months prior this year.

The HelloFresh concept has really given him a sense of ownership over the whole cooking process.

Instead of me having my own little plan that I’ve worked out for myself in my head and haven’t told him anything about… instead of checking the fridge and not finding anything inspiring in there… he now knows exactly what’s for dinner, how to do it, and has everything he needs at his fingertips to carry it through.

So being the man of action that he is, he just gets in there and does it.

It’s ridiculously inspiring. And means I get to sit on the couch with a glass of wine and watch him cook.

(Are you beginning to understand yet why I’m so obsessed with this whole thing? Ha!)

HelloFresh

8. Opening the box feels like Christmas. Every single week.

Who would’ve ever thought I’d get excited about unpacking groceries?

But I do. There’s just something about opening up a big cardboard box packed to the brim with secret goodies. I have been known to squeal with excitement as I uncover what’s inside.

The kids even join in with the fun and get involved, pulling things out and helping put them away.

I wondered at first how the delivery part was going to work. I go out a lot – what if I missed it??

The HelloFresh folk reassured me that around 90% of their customers are actually out when a delivery is made. This company is all over it. The way they pack these boxes is an art form unto itself. They use woollen insulation and icy cold gel packs (all recyclable) so everything inside stays refrigerator-chilled even if it sits on your doorstep for hours. It’s actually pretty awesome. Plus – no more plastic bags going into the landfills.

Here’s a look at me unpacking one of the boxes:

9. The quality of the food is brilliant.

HelloFresh have top quality suppliers. I’ve been really impressed by the brands they use and the quality of what they pack.

Roza’s Gourmet pestos and chutneys, Tasmanian farmhouse cheeses, fresh herbs, dewy-crisp vegetables, free-range chicken breasts, La Boqueria salamis and chorizo, authentic Fillo pastry, thick and creamy Greek yoghurt… I could go on and on.

In the last box I unpacked there was even two tubs of Meredith’s Dairy goat’s cheese. I always thought goat’s cheese smelled like old socks, until I tried some Meredith’s Dairy on a cheese platter at a Tasmanian winery. It was love at first taste. The stuff is pure deliciousness.

Previously I’ve only ever been able to find Meredith’s Dairy goat’s cheese at the sort of gourmet deli we just don’t have in my part of the world. Now HelloFresh brings it to my front step.

(Oh… and I live in a tiny village in regional Queensland, 8 hours drive from the nearest capital city. So if you think they won’t deliver where you live, look them up. You might just be surprised.)

10. It’s convenient but flexible, too.

There are three types of boxes on offer – a Classic Box, a Family Box (kid-friendly), and a Vegetarian box, so you can choose what suits you best. You can also choose how many mouths you’ll be feeding, and how many meals you want per week.

A HelloFresh subscription is fully automated, so you can retire from being the family hunter/gatherer for good. Just click once, fill out your preferences and let the bounty roll forth.

And yet, as much as we all love the idea of the food fairies leaving a magical delivery upon our doorstep every week, some weeks life happens. You might be going away, you might still have leftovers from last week, or you might just want to flip the script and try out a different box that week.

HelloFresh makes it very easy to change, pause, or stop your order, whenever you like. There’s no minimum subscription term, and no cost for cancelling at any point. In other words, it’s completely flexible.

You can also log in and check out the recipes coming up for the next week. I love browsing through the recipes to see what will land on our doorstep. We usually get a Family Box, but if, say, I like the look of the Classic Box line-up better that week, I just switch it over.

HelloFresh

So what are the quantities like? The largest box you can get from HelloFresh Australia feeds 4-5 people for 5 meals (or 4 meals if you get the family box.)* There is a LOT of fresh produce packed into that big box. The delivery guy warned me it was heavy, and he was right.

But we’re not that into portion control over here, and usually when a recipe says it feeds a crowd, we tend to decimate the entire thing. So I did wonder how the portion sizes would go.

After a few weeks trying it out, I’ve found the food quantities to be generous. We’re feeding 5 of us (2 adults, 3 kids) and we nearly always have leftovers.

*U.S. readers, your meal plans are structured slightly differently. Your family box contains three meals. Keep reading – I have a special discount for you at the end of this post as well. 

11. It costs the same as we were already spending on food.

I feel like some spoiled rich person bragging about how we basically have our own personal hired chef planning our meals for us and a concierge to drop all the fresh ingredients at our front door once a week, every week.

I mean, I know it sounds impossibly entitled. I never have to plan a menu or do an epic grocery shop with whiny children again.

Surely this service has got to cost a fortune, right?

Well, no.

A family meal plan is priced at only $8.75 per meal. 

After using HelloFresh for a few weeks, the results are in, and we are definitely not spending any more than we used to on food. In fact, it’s slightly less.

The reason? When you try to menu plan for yourself, there is a ridiculous amount of waste involved. It can be hard to buy some things in small quantities, so you have to get the whole packet/ box/ shebang, and then the leftover bit sits in your pantry for the next one hundred years.

(Did you know Australians waste 50% of the groceries they buy? True story.)

HelloFresh, on the other hand, portions out the exact amount of each ingredient that you’ll actually need. From dainty packets of fresh spices, pine nuts and sesame seeds, to cute little tubs of Greek yoghurt, you have exactly as much as you need for the recipe at hand, without spending a fortune to purchase a whole lot of excess that will only go to waste.

HelloFresh

They also seem to plan their recipes with convenient ingredient overlaps, so that you’re actually using up the rest of that packet of baby spinach leaves instead of leaving it to turn to slime in the bottom of the crisper.

In short, they’ve done all the thorough planning and calculating, so you don’t have to. And the wondrous result is that you can still make practically-done-for-you meals per week without spending any more than you usually would.

12. HelloFresh will give you free food… just for trying it out.

Look, sometimes bloggers get really cool perks. Because I’m totally obsessed with HelloFresh and have partnered up with them to spread the awesomeness, I’m able to offer my readers an exclusive discount.

My Aussie readers will get $35 off your first box. While my U.S. readers will get $40 off their first two boxes. (That’s $20 off your first box and another $20 off your second box.)

Yep, you’ll get free food just for trying it out.

Oh, and the first box is a one-off trial, so you don’t even have to sign up for anything to give it a go.

I hope you’ll try it and fall in love just as hard as I did.

And then you too can quit the menu planning and grocery shopping and get your kitchen mojo (and your life) back again.

Australian readers, you can click here for $35 off your first box – the coupon will be automatically applied when you click through this link.

HelloFresh Australia

U.S. readers, you can click here for $40 off your first two boxes.

Note for U.S. readers: Your specific suppliers will vary from what I’ve mentioned in this post (HelloFresh uses top quality local food suppliers no matter where you are in the world), but otherwise, the system is virtually the same.

Please make sure you click the appropriate link, as you’ll be directed to either the Australian or U.S. site.

Any questions? Ask me in the comments and I’ll do my best to help out!

HelloFresh

HelloFresh

Happy eating, friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post contains affiliate links.

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Categories: Eat

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Lovely comments

  1. Aimee B says

    Thursday at 12:36 am

    When I go to check out as a US user the discount is only $20, not $40. It’s like that no matter what size plan I try to purchase.

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Thursday at 8:38 am

      Oh, I’m so sorry for the confusion Aimee! Okay, so I’ve figured it out. It is $40 in total, with $20 off both your first and second box. I’ll amend the post so that the wording is more clear. So sorry for my mistake!

  2. Janet A says

    Thursday at 12:34 pm

    Ugh! It sounds so dreamy! That price of $8ish is per meal per person? We spend around $1500 per month on groceries and almost never eat out. So $1500 divided by 30 days, 3 meals per day, 11 people equals only $1.52 per meal (and I didn’t even further split it up for snacks, which the $1500 included snacks.) Looks like I’ll continue slogging through the grocery store…

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Thursday at 1:15 pm

      WOW – you’re totally my hero. 11 people??! And you’re feeding them all for $1.52 a meal? Yep, keep doing what you’re doing – it’s hard to beat that! I’m obviously not a good budget shopper, lol! That sounds impossible to me! You’re rockin’ it! xo

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Karen Schravemade

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Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
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My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
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It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
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I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
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I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
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There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
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If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
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I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
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Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
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PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
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I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
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I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
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Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
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It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
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Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
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P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
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#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
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I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
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I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
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It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
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And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
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Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
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The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
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And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
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A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
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"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
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Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
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He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
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💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
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I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
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Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
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xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
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For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
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Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
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Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
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We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
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Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
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Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
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Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
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Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
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There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
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The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
⁠
But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
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It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
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We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
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Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
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Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
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How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
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We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
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How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
⁠
I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
⁠
But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
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He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
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So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
⁠
So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
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If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
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If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
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🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
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Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
⁠
What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
⁠⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
⁠
It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
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Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
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Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
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One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
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P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
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Here are the 9 types:⁠
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1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
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I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
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I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
⁠
Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
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Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
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I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
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Yes, yes and YES.⁠
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If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
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If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
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Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
⁠
The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
⁠
I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
⠀
P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
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