top of page
HEY JILLIAN
Actually Just a Real Person Doing Sh*t:
A Lifestyle Blog
Search
I created pro looking landscape plan in just over an hour, with only paper, crayons, and a laptop
We have lived in our house for three years, and I've been actively renovating it for two and a half. Despite this, neighbors often ask me...
Jillian
Aug 20, 20193 min read
I don't look for recipes on Pinterest anymore (and where I look instead)
I have found a few gems in my recipe searching on Pinterest. This Mediterranean Fish Stew is stellar. These lentil and goat cheese...
Jillian
Jul 15, 20193 min read
Why I'm a radical homemaker, not an urban homesteader
It was just over a year ago that I finished Shannon Hayes' Radical Homemakers. Blessed with a large, sunny yard and a life based in and...
Jillian
Jul 3, 20192 min read
Review of Botanical Bodywork and Beauty: If you have eyebrows and eyelashes in Vermont, this is rele
So I know it's been kind of forever since I shared anything here, but honestly I have just been feeling like what has been going on with...
Jillian
May 14, 20193 min read
It's official: I have low social media tolerance
I vividly recall being both pleased and amused by my 6th grade career aptitude test results. They suggested fulfilling and successful...
Jillian
Feb 23, 20193 min read
2018 Goals in Review: We did it! (mostly)
At the end of 2017 I outlined some goals for the coming year. Now that 2018 is wrapping up I wanted to revisit them and see how the year...
Jillian
Dec 19, 20184 min read
Cope Not Collapse: My Strategies for Surviving Midwinter This Year
I know I am not alone in finding both difficulty and comfort at the end of each year. The holidays bring us together, for better or...
Jillian
Dec 6, 20185 min read
A brief but positive review of Kronk's New Groove
The Emperor's New Groove came out when I was in high school. Contrary to being too old for it, at the time I was frequently hanging out...
Jillian
Oct 30, 20182 min read
We're living on timers and play-doh
So, both of these things will probably stop working because I'm telling you that they are working for us right now, but I'll take the...
Jillian
Oct 26, 20182 min read
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything...You know, as a career,
I've taken nearly two months off from writing. A crisis point with my mental health overlapped with the demise of my laptop, and I...
Jillian
Oct 16, 20182 min read
Host a Soup Night: A relaxed dinner party for all your friends for less than lunch out alone
One February night last winter my husband and I went out for fancy pizza and beer while my parents hung out with the toddler. As we sat...
Jillian
Aug 21, 20184 min read
I thought treating my anxiety would make me a better housekeeper, instead it showed me the beauty of
I thought when I started depression and anxiety medication recently that my house would get cleaner. I imagined myself freeing up all...
Jillian
Aug 17, 20182 min read
Chickens are the Perfect Lazy Person Pet
It's easy to get stuck in the contemplation stage of the decision to get backyard chickens. Since we got ours there are a few people who...
Jillian
Aug 15, 20185 min read
Extended Rear Facing: What You Need to Know
After receiving some dubious information at a recent pediatrician visit regarding turning Mo forward facing in his car seat, I invited...
Jillian
Aug 9, 20184 min read
How (and Why) We Did it: Downsizing Our Fridge
One of the first significant steps we took in our kitchen renovation was tearing down the upper cabinets. Unlike the cabinets you find in...
Jillian
Jul 31, 20184 min read
Don't call me Mama
I can say with confidence that it would never have occurred to anyone to call me "mama" before I had a child. When it happens now,...
Jillian
Jul 30, 20183 min read
How I did it: Choosing a New Range, a ridiculously comprehensive guide
If there's one decision I poured more time and effort into than the rest of our kitchen renovation, it was definitely our new range. I'm...
Jillian
Jul 27, 20187 min read
Things I don't expect of my young toddler
My son's big phrases right now are "no, self!" (I want to do it myself) and "not yours, mine!" This perfectly demonstrates where he is in...
Jillian
Jul 25, 20189 min read
Women's Illness, Medical Bias, and Self-Gaslighting
It's hard for me to admit, but for a very long time "not experiencing acute pain or illness" has been my definition of a good day. I...
Jillian
Jul 23, 20184 min read
How I Did It: Creating a Personal Style Guide
I remember going clothes shopping over a decade ago, with a very picky and style-oriented friend, and they ran around the store, picking...
Jillian
Jul 20, 20189 min read
bottom of page