I have been dealing with complicated feelings about social media for the past several months. I’ll be honest, I never thought I’d say that. Every time someone would complain about social media and what they didn’t like about it, I’d begin to feel a little defensive. I’ve been using Instagram since it started. One of my best friends I only know because of the app. I can still picture the first photo I shared, probably with the Valencia filter, of my oldest son Brady when he was about 5 years old shooting a slingshot airplane on the back porch of the first house my husband and I owned together. Since that over filtered photo 9 or so years ago my Instagram has changed a few times, both in name and in content. But for the last several years it’s been where I’ve connected with community and shared bits and pieces of my life. Until several months ago when I just felt like something switched. Instagram went from this place where I felt connected to depleted.
I could blame it on a lot of things that I don’t enjoy about the video focused trends, or the algorithm, but that really doesn’t even start to cover it. Sure Instagram is different from how it started, but it wasn’t the changing of the gram that made me feel depleted, it was how I was changing. I stopped connecting and started comparing. There are so many people sharing tips and tricks on how to better your life in some way. When consuming content that is constantly telling you something in your life isn’t good enough, or could be done better it is really hard to not feel that way. I no longer feel ok with spending a significant amount of time in a place that makes me feel like I need to be doing more. I’d rather be present in a space that allows me to do just that, be present.
Homegrown Haven was born out of a desire to show up in a space that fills me up instead of empties me. If you are reading this, know I am so grateful that you’ve joined me here and let me tell you a little bit of what you’ll be seeing.
If you look up the definition of homegrown you’ll find something along the lines of grown or produced in one’s own garden or country. I attempted a small garden this year and failed miserably so let’s shift the definition a bit. I’ll be sharing homegrown (grown or produced inside the walls of my home) stories, photographs, and recipes. I’m inviting you into my stories, and offering a seat at my family’s table.
Haven is a place of safety and refuge. It’s what I strive daily to make my home feel like for all who enter. Hot coffee is waiting for you in my kitchen and nine times out of ten I’ve baked or cooked something. I want you to feel warm, welcome, seen, and valued in my home. I want you to know you have a place, you belong. I have a knit blanket waiting for you on the couch, put your feet up.
Don’t worry, I have dishes piled up in my sink too. Yes, that basket of laundry has been there waiting to be folded all week. I cried after I tucked my kids in last night because I worried I dropped the ball on some really pivotal parenting moments.
Here I’ll share that haven doesn’t have to be perfect. Oftentimes it's beautiful, messy, chaos, but it absolutely is homegrown.
.