The Hearth Book

If you’ve ever felt like your thoughts, plans, and dreams were scattered across a dozen half-filled notebooks and sticky notes, hi, same. That’s exactly where this project began for me.

But before I dive into the Hearth Book itself, I want to tell you a quick story.

When I was 9 years old, my parents took us on our very first big holiday. We went to Mexico with several other families, and I was absolutely bursting with excitement. Since I was being pulled out of school for the trip, my teacher assigned a ridiculous amount of homework. Seriously, it was wild. One of the tasks was to keep a daily journal of my travels.

So I got this journal with a golden retriever puppy on the front, and I wrote in it every single day. I documented everything. My first plane ride. Going through busy customs in Mexico. Reuniting with the other families. Watching a gecko drop its tail to escape the boys who were chasing it. Getting my hair braided. Sharing chocolate with local kids. Eating at a local restaurant where I had my first ever Fanta in a glass bottle and the best fajitas I’ve ever tasted. And, of course, fighting with my dad over the pile of homework I was trying to finish in paradise (which I did, by the way, and I came back a full month ahead of my classmates. Take that, mean teacher).

I remember that trip so vividly, like it’s etched in my brain, and that’s what journaling has always done for me. It roots me in the moment and helps me carry those memories, feelings, and experiences forward. Since that trip, I’ve always kept a journal. Sometimes it’s been paper, sometimes digital, but it’s always been there. My quiet companion. My memory keeper.

These days, I’ve been wanting to take journaling a step further. Not just as a personal practice, but as something practical and lasting. That’s where the Hearth Book comes in.

At first, I started writing everything down in regular journals—thoughts, plans, recipes, garden ideas, routines. But I quickly ran into the same issue. Total chaos. Referencing anything later was impossible. So I made a binder, complete with sections and even Canva-designed templates for meal planning, garden layouts, seasonal reflections, and more. It was helpful, but also huge. Too big to carry around or use daily.

After a ton of research, I stumbled across discbound journals. Life changing. They come in all sizes and are held together with small discs, which means I can completely rearrange the pages anytime I want. I can add, remove, or reorganize sections as I learn and grow. I recently ordered one from Etsy (it hasn’t arrived yet, and yes, I’m counting the days), and while I wait, I’m planning out what will go into it.

My goal is for the Hearth Book to be the polished version of all the ideas, discoveries, and wisdom I collect. My everyday journal will still be the place for experiments, thoughts, and raw notes. But when I figure something out, really figure it out, it’ll go in the Hearth Book. It’ll be neat, organized, easy to navigate, and beautiful. A personal guidebook of the life I’ve created. Something that can grow with me and, one day, be passed down to someone else.

The blog will be part of that too. A place to track the long haul projects like gardening, home renovations, and the slow crafting of a life. A record of trial, error, and eventually, mastery.

I’m so excited about this project. The Hearth Book feels like a culmination of so much of what I love: intentional living, learning through doing, and creating something meaningful for the future. A piece of our family lore, built one thoughtful page at a time.

And I want to encourage you to start your own. We all live in different corners of the world, with different needs and rhythms. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s exactly why your Hearth Book should be your own. Tailored to the life you’re building and the legacy you want to leave behind.

Thanks for being here. I can’t wait to share this journey with you.