First Things First: “What Matters Most?”

Since this is the first post for my shiny new blog, I’ve been thinking a lot about “What matters most?” Of course, we can’t name just one thing. Our unique circumstances and priorities are what matters. I narrowed my answer down to three things: Family…Home…Planet. These lofty subjects are so intertwined. For me, they create the makings of a lifestyle. What matters most is how they ground and sustain us. Family, home and planet form the foundation from which we grow, connect and build healthy econests. Here are some images that say econesting to me. Family

Our families are timeless, and moments in time. This picture is of my dad and daughter at my uncle’s house. I can’t remember the summery occasion, but it was an eclectic moment of creativity, balance, beauty and patience (he had a way with crying babies). The perfect mix of old and new.

Home

It's summer, and these calm and breezy images say econesting to me. If I can't live right smack dab in a natural environment with beautiful things, maybe this house by a lake will do? A girl can dream, right?

Planet

I’ve had this photo pinned on my inspiration board since I developed the econesting name a few years ago. The elegant connectedness of changeable beauty, and the fragility of nature's resources says planet to me. The nest may be empty, but wouldn't you love to spend some time there?

There you go, these three things matter to me. It’s funny; sometimes I post three or four articles a day, as you’ll see as I continue to update the links to my Care2 and Planet Green articles into the archives. But, this first post for econesting came slower. I wrote it with a different intention. That was immensely satisfying. My hope is to continue to inspire and share musings about subjects that matter to us. What matters most to you?

Image credits: Beach: Day via The Style Files, Lake House: ChicTip, Northern Oriole Nest: Richard Barns via House and Garden

How econesting works…

Welcome to econesting!

This blog was set up for old and new friends who want to follow my writings. Now my articles can be found in one neat space. I'll be posting my latest articles from the websites and magazines I write for here. Those articles will be interspersed with more personal posts just ripe for commenting. To read the Care2 and Planet Green posts, follow the link at the end of each post that says CLICK HERE FOR MORE, and it will take you to the full article on those sites. When you sign up for econesting, you'll receive an email notification when a new post is added on this site.

A Few Thanks…

My econesting team: Ted, Lainey and Elissa get a big round of applause for all their assistance in getting econesting up and running. Thank you readers for following my writings and leaving such inspiring comments.

Again, welcome to the econesting conversation. Please stop by often, say hi, dig into the archives, try a DIY project and chime in!

A Barefoot Home Makes Life a Breeze

I don’t know about your lifestyle, cialis but mine is pretty casual. From the clothes I wear to the informal home I live in, stuffiness is not an option. There’s no need to stand on ceremony when you enter my home. Just toss your shoes at the door, curl up your feet on the couch and relax. So, when Taunton Press sent me a book called, The Barefoot Home by Marc Vassallo, I was excited to find a book that shows us how to make barefoot living synonymous with a healthy home. The Barefoot Home celebrates dressed-down informal living in its best form. The photographs present the reader with examples of how to bring nature into your nest with a casual and comfortable breeziness. It begins with this manifesto: CLICK HERE FOR MORE Credit: The Barefoot Home

8 Reasons To Rock-On With Meat-Free Monday (with Paul McCartney and Gwyneth Paltrow)

I don’t generally get star struck, and food is not one of my writing niches, as the cook at the ‘ol econest is my husband, but when a Beatle and an Oscar-winning actress get involved in something I care deeply about, like whether or not to eat meat, I’m over the moon. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has a blog. She and Paul McCartney, a dyed-in-the-wool vegetarian, have a story to tell about the environmental impact of raising livestock.

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Magazine Love: Print vs. Online

I was in Toronto last weekend for my nephew’s wedding, there and while we were prancing around that lovely and lively city, treatment I ducked into a newsstand and spent the better part of a precious hour devouring the Canadian and European magazines. I no longer do that in the States unless I’m in a big newsstand in NYC. Many of my favorite magazines (Domino, House and Garden, Cottage Living, Blueprint, O at Home and Gourmet) have been served a swift death. Leaning against the shelf of magazines, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Has the American reading public moved on?" CLICK HERE FOR MORE