Today is summer solstice.  "Midsommar" in Sweden.  I wanted to celebrate by sharing a lovely poem by an American Pulitzer prize winning artist and author who's parents were Swedish.  He lived in North Carolina and his home is now a National museum.
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Every year, usually the week leading up to Independence Day in July, we support a state-wide effort called Indie Week which highlights and encourages Arizonans to support small, locally owned businesses in every way that they can.  

This year, of course, nothing is normal.  Indie Week kinda got squashed.  And so it was brought back a bit late for the whole month of September to make up for it.  We are proud members of Local First Arizona who sponsors this event and hope that you will support this effort, now more than ever.

It's fun, it's the right thing to do, and... you stand to win some cool prizes.
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• Indie Week XXL brings you a whole month to discover and support Arizona’s small, independent businesses — like us — and when we need it most!

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• ​Join in on the fun by visiting localfirstaz.com/indie-week to download your #IndieWeekAZ Action Card, shop and live locally (which you may already safely be doing), and get rewarded for it!

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• Cross just 5 calls-to-action off your card and get entered to win locally-curated prizes.

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• Small businesses need your help this summer. Shop with purpose, shop for your community, and let’s come out of this stronger together.

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Thank you for your support.

Peace and contentment,
~Miriam

​Swedish Lagom will help you embrace a simpler lifestyle.

​Swedes have a few lifestyle concepts that might be part of the reason they are often considered one of the happiest places to live.   This post is just a little introduction to "lagom".

Lagom is all about living in moderation.  Finding a balance ... in life, at work, in your finances, and certainly with the size of your home.   Thinking about the "whole" and not just the "self".

To be fair, this is an idea that's been hyped and also can be, ironically, overdone.  But at it's core I think it has a lot to offer our American overly excessive way of life, if applied in a thoughtful way.

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National Simplicity Day is coming up on Sunday July 12th. 

This is sort of a special "holiday" for us here at The Whiskey Porch because it's at the core of what we are all about.  After all, our tag line is "cultivating contentment & possibility in a smaller & simpler lifestyle."  

And, now more than ever, it just feels like we are all seeking refuge and inspiration to lift our spirits as we traverse this wild year of 2020.  So it goes without saying, that finding pleasure and calm in simple ideas is something many of us are striving for now.

Ibis-the-yellow-lab is helping me stay sane and focus on the positive and smile-worthy moments every day.  

​I've got some new content to share with you for this Midsummer Newsletter.  You'll find original articles and inspiration related to cottages and bungalows, seasonal living, art, and simpler lifestyles.
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​If you'd like to be in the know, may we suggest that you join our mailing list for up to the minute news and inspiration:

Okay, well that's all for now.  Enjoy the 4th of July.  Stay safe.  Wear a mask!

Contentment & Possibility,
​~Miriam

Finally, coming up for air and getting the train back on the tracks!  Our spring newsletter is here with an update for you on what we've been up to this winter.  Let us know what you think in the comments below.

If you'd like to be in the know, may we suggest that you join our mailing list for up to the minute news and inspiration:

Stay well and may you find contentment at home,
​~Miriam

Just published - our November news, inspiration and local goodness:
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• Renovation Planning:  7 Key Steps
• Finding a Contractor in the Wild West
• 14 Ways to Embrace the Shorter Days of Autumn
• Explore the Arts Locally
• Size Matters:  Does it Have to be Tiny?
• Event Roundup:   Holiday Goings On in Prescott
• November Prescott Porch Feature
• What's Up Next at The Whiskey Porch?

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​If you don't want to miss these roundups, or other announcements, please join our mailing list.  

​You can trust that we won't spam you.  In fact you'll only hear from us maybe a couple times a month.  And you can always unsubscribe.
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Cheers and contentment,
​~Miriam

This week, we are thinking about some ways to incorporate artfulness in our lives.

I think it's vital to carve out time in your schedule, whether it be weekly or just monthly, to open yourself up to creativity.  It may seem frivolous if you aren't an artist, but the truth is that doing something creative is beneficial in countless physical and emotional ways.  It's good for you!

And it brings you together with other people in a positive and open way.  Nothing bad about that.

There are two general ways to incorporate more creativity and artfulness into your life:

1. Do it yourself - as in, create something 
2. Explore and support the arts in your community

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​How do you celebrate autumn?

I mean truly embrace it?  Not the "holidays" but the season.

We know that it's obvious to talk about pumpkins, and pumpkin spice, and then before you know it holiday decorations... BUT there is so much more you can do to truly connect with this cooler season with it's soft, low light and briskly shorter days. 

It's a time to celebrate beyond the standard holiday themes and hype.  In fact, I would honestly say that my deepest desire is to escape much of the commercial and cultural pressure and demands that are almost impossible to escape once Labor Day hits.  ​

We've compiled a list of wonderful ideas on how do just that...

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Every month or so we like to round up a whole bunch of the most recent news and inspiration we've written, curated, and published to make it easy for you to follow along.  For October you'll find tons of good stuff, it's pretty jam packed actually:
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If you don't want to miss these roundups, or other announcements, please join our mailing list. 

​You can trust that we won't spam you.  In fact you'll only hear from us maybe a couple times a month.  And you can always unsubscribe.

​Cheers and contentment!  We'll #seeyouontheporch...
​~Miriam