f&f Family Journal

I think one of the most challenging aspects of having a thoughtfully simple (limited) wardrobe for our family is caring for stains — right? After investing into (or making) such essentials the most dreadful thing to happen is a messy stain to ruin it all.

After much failure, I've landed on a homemade solution that has worked well for us — hydrogen peroxide mixed with a big squeeze of natural dish soap stored in a amber bottle (as hydrogen peroxide loses its properties when exposed.) A quick spray on any stains & muck marks right as it goes into the laundry basket quickly addresses any issues while still being gentle enough on fabric such as merino wool. I am still stumped by set in banana stains and chocolate on wool but this simple, inexpensive solution has worked well to keep most every other stain from setting in.

It's sort of old fashion to put value in taking care of my family's wardrobe, but it's a skill I have enjoyed learning. #fewerbetterthings

For variations on this simple homemade stain remover, be sure to read all the comments on my instagram post. 

My favorite merino wool tees by Chasing Windmills, pointelle tank by Goat-Milk & Wayda Scarf (more in stock soon!)

I hope you've had a wonderful Summer! 

As our rhythms change with the seasons I start to pull together my thoughts on what is needed for the season ahead.

New long sleeve shirts and a cozy set of pajamas is on the list for each of my children. If you've had a few things on your list, be sure to shop our Labor Day Sale...

Use code LABORDAY for 10% off through Tuesday, September 5th .

Please note that rewards discounts cannot be combined with a sale discount code. 
(*Excluded brands: Oeuf, Naturepedic, Monte, Stokke, Nursery Works & Babyletto.)

Switchel is fun to say & fun to drink and has been one of our unexpected hits this summer that I am excited to share with you!

It's an old-timey drink to stay hydrated in the summer heat that's super nourishing, inexpensive & simple to make — and my children love it!

Shake together —
2 cups. water
2 tablespoons organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon raw honey* 
A heaping 1/4 tps. cinnamon

This makes roughly 1 serving that i make in the glass milk bottles shown above. However, take the simple ratio of water / acv / honey and adjust as needed. 

* Heating Raw honey kills all the nutritional elements. The honey will eventually dissolve in the switchel. However, to speed this up, simply add a bit of room temp water to the honey and stir with a fork to make it more fluid before adding it to the switchel.

Switchel is best ice cold but my children love it room temp as well. It is somewhat tart, slightly sweet and not at all overpowering. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is incredibly nourishing to our bodies — balances PH levels in the body, is great for digestion and aids in detoxifying the body.

You can add smashed berries, ginger, turmeric etc., but really the honey/cinnamon combo is so refreshing & simple. 

Click HERE to see a few of my favorite cups & such for children.

Concerning sleep I fall into the category of "do what fits your family rhythm". This far into motherhood I know what works for one family may not work for another and that's the beauty of it. When I was pregnant with my first child 12 years ago we set up the nursery, the crib, the bassinet. But once baby was in my arms so much of what I thought changed, it didn't feel right. My newborn was relentlessly unsettled and fussy and he just needed to be close to me. Co-sleeping just felt right, it worked, we all got sleep. We realized that we really enjoyed the closeness with our baby, it was comforting for us all.

So we ended up with the Family Bed, sharing sleep with all of our 4 children at various times over the years. Our two year old daughter is the only one that still sleeps with us -- I sense she still needs the closeness and well, living in a tiny house during this season of our life doesn't allow for separate sleeping quarters. We're all cozy and content.

A list of my favorite Family Bed sleep essentials:
Lambskin
Holy Lamb Wool Mattress Topper
Holy Lamb Wool Pillows
Snuggle Me Organic Co-Sleeping baby lounger 
Naturepedic Organic Mattress
Holy Lamb Family Bed Bumper

And those beautiful organic sheets?

My friend Lauren has a company called Blaynk that crafts bedsheets from cotton, wind & water -- AMAZING! Watch her truly inspirational video HERE & back her Kickstarter! Blaynk is off to an incredible start with nearly a 75% backing in the first day! 

Blaynk will be available in the shop soon, can't wait!! 

A couple years ago I started weeding through my children's clothes in order to simplify, streamline and bottomline, have less laundry to contend with. Here is a peek at my daughter's basic summer wardrobe, a capsule of simplicity. Add in a couple dresses & rompers and these handful of items are truly all that she has worn this summer. 

Intentionally purchasing fewer items has allowed me to be more thoughtful in my selection, focusing on quality of materials & versatility -- linen for children is so practical and lightweight merino wool is surprisingly cooling on hot days!  #fewerbetterthings

I'm still working out a blog post with details of my approach but until then, take a look at a few of my favorites this Summer ... goat-milk, Chasing Windmills, Billie Blooms, Briar Handmade and Tortoise & the Hare.

"All in all, it was a never to be forgotten summer —
one of those summers which come seldom into any life,
but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which,
in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing,
come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world."
—L.M. Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams


If you've had your eye on something, be sure to shop our Summertime Sale...
Use code SUMMER for 10% off through Monday, July 31st. 

Please note that rewards discounts cannot be combined with a sale discount code. 

(*Excluded brands: Oeuf, Naturepedic, Monte, Stokke.)

This year fawn&forest is turning 10! To celebrate we're opening a brick & mortar shop in our little county town of Yamhill, located about an hour outside of Portland, Oregon.  We're in a unique area, Oregon's wine country and in one of Yamhill's original brick buildings from the 1800's. 

Yamhill was the little country town Beverly Cleary grew up in (her childhood house is just down the street from the shop!) and this area is rich in  so much amazing pioneer history. My desire for fawn&forest is to evoke that feeling of a mercantile from yesteryear that speaks more about quality & essentials of family life than flashy brand names —filled with curiosity and the simplicity of a thoughtful life. 

The storefront is currently but a small wonderful stack of essentials. There is so much to be done & purchased yet I am enjoying the process, slow and intentional #fawnandforest

I'll be posting our progress on instragram, so be sure to follow along — @fawnandforest

I have gathered a few new favorite swaddles that remind me of the slow days of Summertime.  Gentle prints and lightweight cotton, muslin swaddles are a summertime essential,even if baby has grown beyond those sweet swaddling days.  

This Summer we've been enjoying swaddles as a lightweight wrap after playing in the pool, draped over the stroller to block the setting sun and as soft layer to snuggle in on these breezy summer evenings...

Shop Swaddles.

"Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it.
It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it."

- Unknown

I've gotten back into the habit of making yogurt for the family. We end up eating a lot of it and instead of making 1 big batch (which doesn't go very far in a big family like ours) I started making 1 glass bottle for each of us at a time.

Homemade yogurt is incredibly nourishing and I am loving the heirloom variety starter that I use which doesn't require heat for it to do its thing — I simply add a bit of yogurt starter to the milk (I use non-homogenized whole milk from a local dairy) and shake, then leave the yogurt to culture on the counter for up to 24 hours, refrigerate & then sweeten with raw honey. It ends up a bit thinner like kefir and is drinkable which we all love.

It's as simple as that!

You can make yogurt in any glass jar, but we love these glass milk bottles (available in the shop soooon!) and this yogurt starter by Cultures For Health.

Cultures for Health is an amazing resource for homemade yogurt making and sell fantastic yogurt starters as well.