Dena is perhaps best known on the internet for sharing about how she and her family self-built their home from scratch for only $70,000.  Dena has had extensive DIY, renovation, and design experience on a number of homes, and she is sharing her best tips with us today.  She shares lots of practicals, but we also dive into what it looks like to embrace your own definition of “dream home” and create a beautiful home that your budget can sustain.  For anyone with a DIY spirit, this episode is such a good one!

Join us as we discuss:


 
How Dena and her family built their home from scratch for only $70,000



 
Why it was important to them to build their home debt-free



  
The reality of self-building a house from scratch as a family



  
Where to start when you are designing your home



  
Budget-friendly tips for creating a home you love



  
Behind the scenes of creating content about your life and projects



  
Design specifics: window treatments, outdoor furniture, rugs



  
What you need to know about adding old charm to a new build



  
Top two must-haves when designing your dream home



  
Evaluating your perspective on “dream home” when you are trying to live within your means




View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Toups and Co Organics | Use code FARMHOUSE at ToupsandCo.com

Carly Jean Los Angeles | Use code FARMHOUSE20 at CarlyJeanLosAngeles.com

Blogging Success Masterclass | Visit bit.ly/farmhousebloggingschool

RESOURCES

How to Make DIY Concrete Countertops

CONNECT

Dena Breitmeyer of Fletcher Creek Cottage | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Pinterest

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!

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185. You Can DIY Your Dream Home on a Budget | Dena of Fletcher Creek Cottage

With over ten years experience making a home, author and mom of eight, Lisa Bass, shares her love for from scratch cooking, natural living and all things handmade. As a full-time blogger and homeschooler, Lisa also mixes in a little mom life and business tips.

Home & Garden

Leisure

I am a firm believer that education does not take place exclusively within the walls of a classroom during certain hours of the day.  I loved chatting with Lyndsey again on the podcast about the freedom that comes with prioritizing an environment of learning in your home instead of strict parameters around when and how school must happen.  Lyndsey shares why year-round schooling gives her family more flexibility and how their daily rhythm fluctuates with the seasons.  Whether you are already in the thick of homeschooling or thinking about getting started, let this episode encourage you and take the pressure off! 
In this episode, we cover:

How Lyndsey and her husband self-designed and self-built their new home and involved their children in the process

What it looks like to homeschool year-round and why it’s so freeing

How a typical day in the life of a year-round homeschooling family may shift with the seasons

Debunking some common misconceptions about how a homeschool day unfolds

Viewing your family as a community that works together

Making intentional choices to turn everyday tasks into learning opportunities for your children

Considering the opportunity cost of prioritizing a rigid bookwork schedule in your education

Encouragement for the mom who is nervous to start homeschooling

Changing your perspective on what education can look like in chaotic seasons of life

Practical considerations for how to set up your home to support a home-centered life﻿

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.com
ABOUT LYNDSEY
Lyndsey is a homeschool mom of four and the founder of Treehouse Schoolhouse. Before motherhood, Lyndsey had a career in children's ministry and special needs education. Her home education centers around living books and ideas, hands-on learning, nature exploration, and biblical discipleship. She shares experiences and home education inspiration through her Instagram and blog, as well as creates curriculum and resources for families around the world. Her most popular curriculum titles are An Expectant Easter, A Connected Christmas, and Treehouse Nature Study.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Save 15% on any purchase from Lyndsey’s shop using the code SIMPLEFARMHOUSELIFE15
(15% off total order. One use per customer. Cannot be combined with other promos.)
CONNECT
Lyndsey Mimnagh of Treehouse Schoolhouse | Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest 
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast?  A guest you’d like me to interview?  Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.
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237. All of Life is an Opportunity for Learning: Freedom in Homeschooling  | Lyndsey of Treehouse Schoolhouse

With so much noise around us in our digital world, we often find ourselves swimming in seas of negative voices and anxious thoughts. In today’s conversation, Natalie is sharing how she helps women overcome these negative thought patterns by memorizing scripture. Anyone who has committed God’s words to memory knows how impactful those words are in your heart and mind. If you are new to memorizing scripture, our encouragement to you is to give it a shot and see what fruit it produces in your life!
In this episode, we cover:

Ideas for getting started with memorizing scripture

Why memorizing God’s word is so powerful

Do you really need to memorize scripture when you have 24/7 access to the bible?

Prioritizing scripture memorization even in chaotic seasons of life

How to combat negative thinking with the truth of scripture

The power of creating new pathways in your brain

Establishing habits around reading God’s word


View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible!
Azure Standard | Use code SIMPLEFARMHOUSE10 at AzureStandard.com
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Dwell Differently: Overcome Negative Thinking with the Simple Practice of Memorizing God's Truth
Dwell Differently Podcast
CONNECT 
Natalie Abbott of Dwell Differently | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

236. The Most Powerful Tool to Fight Negative Thoughts | Natalie of Dwell Differently

You all submitted more great questions about parenting, work/life balance, our homestead, and more!  Join me as I share my perspective on these topics.  If you’d like to submit a question for a future episode, visit bit.ly/SFLquestions.
In this episode, I discuss:

Thoughts on how to handle babies and toddlers sitting through church

How I currently schedule my day to balance all the family and work responsibilities

My tips for planning out and accomplishing work tasks for the week

Thoughts on adding a new baby to your family in the midst 

How we approach baby sleep throughout the baby’s first year

An update on some of our ups and downs with having a dairy cow

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
﻿Visit the website for more information on our podcast sponsors!
RESOURCES
Bread machine sourdough bread recipe
SFL podcast episode with Jess of Roots and Refuge
SFL podcast episode with Amy Fewell of Homesteaders of America
Use code FOB10 to save on your tickets to the Modern Homesteading Conference
CONNECT
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

235. My daily work rhythm, sleep training babies, dairy cow update, and more Q&A!

The topic of home decor can be intimidating for many who don’t feel that they are naturally talented at decorating. But decorating is a skill that anyone can learn and continually improve. Myquillyn has been mastering the skill of home decor for many years, and she helps others do the same in their own homes. Today, she is encouraging us to stop taking our homes too seriously, to take risks in our home decor, to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. May this episode leave you feeling inspired and full of attainable ideas to experiment with in your home!
In this episode, we cover:

How to quickly create a homey feel in a new house

What it means to not take your house too seriously

Strengthening your decorating muscles by taking risks

Practical suggestions for experimenting with your home decor without spending too much

One major pitfall to avoid when curating your home decor

Some unique thoughts on the process of finding your style

Prioritizing the feeling of your home over the specific style

The three decor elements that will transform any room

How you can enjoy indoor plants through the concept of “plant math”


View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to our sponsors!
Toups and Co Organics uses nourishing, organic ingredients to create simple and safe skincare products. Toups and Co is offering my listeners 10% off any one purchase with the code FOB15. Visit ToupsandCo.com to order today. And check out my interview with the founder of Toups and Co, Emilie, to find out more about this amazing company and their products.
Visit the website for more information on our podcast sponsors!

ABOUT MYQUILLYN
Myquillyn Smith, also known as “The Nester,” is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Welcome Home and Cozy Minimalist Home . For the past 17 years, she’s been encouraging women to embrace their space—imperfections and all—and make it their own. Her previous homes have been featured in Better Homes & Gardens , Ladies’ Home Journal , and Cottages & Bungalows . She recently purchased and redecorated a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian home in Morganton, North Carolina, the inspiration for her new book House Rules . She’s never met a home she didn’t love. Find her online at TheNester.com and on Instagram @TheNester.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget by Myquillyn Smith

CONNECT
Myquillyn Smith | Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

234. Don’t Overcomplicate Your Home Decor | Myquillyn Smith, The Nester

As homemakers and mothers, our role extends beyond completing the daily tasks of housekeeping and child rearing. We are the ones who nurture the atmosphere of our homes and infuse life into our families. I am so happy to have Jennifer back on the podcast to talk about her latest book, Habits for a Sacred Home. This conversation is rich with ideas and real life examples of the everyday practices that make our homes come alive and impact our children for decades to come. May this episode inspire you as you create live-giving rhythms in your own family.
In this episode, we cover:

How the everyday tasks of motherhood might actually be the most impactful things we can do

The long-term power of gathering together for morning time

What to do about regret in your parenting journey

Starting small when establishing new habits and rhythms in your home

Recognizing the uniqueness of your family and avoiding comparison

Balancing community rhythms and protecting family time

Embracing relationships with those who are different from us

Simplifying education by living real life and engaging living stories


View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.
Thank you to our sponsor!
Toups and Co Organics | Use code FOB15 at ToupsandCo.com
ABOUT JENNIFER
Jenifer Pepito is the host of Restoration Home podcast, author of Mothering by the Book, and founder of The Peaceful Press. Jennifer is on a mission to help moms overcome fear and live with wonder and purpose. Her homeschool curriculum empowers this mission through heroic stories, heartwarming poetry, and engaging life skill development. Her resources create joyful memories among families, which lead to deeper connections and lasting relationships. She has made guest appearances on popular podcasts such as 1000 Hours Outside, At Home with Sally, and Read Aloud Revival. Jennifer lives in the mountains with her beloved family, where she enjoys reading aloud, working in her garden, and watching the sunset. Learn more at ThePeacefulPress.com.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Habits for a Sacred Home: 9 Practices from History to Anchor and Restore Modern Families by Jennifer Pepito
Restoration Home Podcast
CONNECT
Jennifer Pepito | Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
Join us in the Simple Farmhouse Life Facebook community!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

185. You Can DIY Your Dream Home on a Budget | Dena of Fletcher Creek Cottage

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