Winter trampled all over Fall this year and we went straight to freezing. Between the crazy weather shift and having a germy baby this season, I spent most of the month sick 😦 I’m feeling better now and excited to share what I’ve been lovin’ with you!
1. This 5th grader who wrote a children’s book about depression
A fifth grade student at one of the elementary schools in the district in which I work wrote a book for children about dealing with depression.
Once I saw the story, I immediately ordered the book.
2. My sewing tip was featured in Maker’s Journal
I recently submitted a tip and it was chosen to be featured in Closet Case Patterns‘ Maker Journal (vol. 14).

A friend of mine is actually to credit for this tip – she told me about it many moons ago and now I trace all of my patterns with freezer paper! You can find freezer paper pretty readily at most grocery stores (this is what I use).
Submit your own tip here & sign up to receive future Closet Case Patterns newsletters here.
3. These holiday rules
I know I’m not the only one that gets stressed out at the holidays. On that note, I saw this and had to share.
Be kind to yourself this season.
4. Tips from Waste Free Living
Earlier this month I stumbled upon Waste Free Planet on Instagram and fell head-over-heels for their posts!
They share lots of tips on reducing your waste as well as waste-reducing DIYs. A few of my favorites:
- Using a lemon as a seed starter
- Make use of those pesky little slivers left from your bar soap by putting them all in a bag!
- I totally do this (& this) with all of my empty essential oil bottles – makes a great DIY gift to have on-hand.
- Planning to make this face wash very soon.
- Recycle pumpkins & winter squash as bird feeders
- A good reminder about mending clothes
- 3 questions to ask yourself before making a purchase
- You could use lace (look for old tablecloths at the thrift store) to make a produce bag
- Plant spray!
5. #icareaboutwaste Challenge
This month I participated in the #icareaboutwaste Challenge on Instagram hosted by Sew in Love and Sustainable Wraps.

6. This post about sewing for an insulin pump
I really appreciated this post about sewing for an insulin pump on the Sewcialists blog. Sewing allows us a lot of “flexibility” with modifying and constructing clothing to fit our needs – something I often take for granted.
7. Slow cooker vegetarian chili
This is perhaps THE EASIEST recipe I have ever made. For years I’ve been searching for the perfect chili recipe that did not require me to pre-cook my vegetables. Well, folks, HERE it is!

8. These 7 Things That Shouldn’t Impress Us Anymore from becomining minimalist
My favorite quote from the article:
But I’m starting to wonder if we have been using the wrong measure. Maybe the number of dollars in a bank account is not the greatest measurement of success. Maybe instead, the amount of good we are able to accomplish with our lives is a truer measure of success.
9. A system for managing sewing waste
In Sarah’s post How I Am Learning to be More Sustainable on the Sewcialists blog, she mentioned a 4-bin system for waste in her sewing room: recyclables, fabric scraps to recycle, things that cannot be recycled, and thread scraps and bits of material to reuse for stuffing a pillow (brilliant!).
I loved her ideas and hope to implement them in my sewing room too!
10. Holiday Gift ideas
In case you missed it, I shared 10 Environmentally-friendly gifts and a few of my favorite DIY lip balm recipes.
Are you planning to DIY any holiday gifts? I’d love to hear your ideas!
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What have you been lovin’ this month? Let me know in the comments so I can jump on your bandwagon!
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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}