Welcome to Life Keeping, a place where we explore how to build a meaningful life, one ordinary experience at a time. Here, you’ll find thoughtful observations and quiet practices that help everyday life feel more deeply lived.
We aren’t trying to make life perfect. We are trying to make it align with what matters.
I’m Marisa, a 40-something mom of three and a former teacher and school librarian. I love to read, garden, and sit on my porch and stare at my garden. Sit with me and let’s build a life on purpose.
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Weekly Basket!
Each week I’ll share a few things worth keeping that made life feel fuller.
Inside The Basket:
1. Listening: Fizzy Fun from The Girl Next Door Podcast hosted by Kelsey and Erica
This is a new-to-me podcast, and I must say I had a lot of fun listening to it. This episode was Kelsey and Erica’s favorite beverages, and I enjoyed thinking about mine along with them. I agree that Arnold Palmers are the most refreshing summer drink. My mother-in-law introduced me to them years ago, and they’ve been in my basket ever since!
2. Watching: Silo on Apple TV
I just started this from season one this month, and wow, it sucked me right in. It’s all about a community of 10,000 people living in an underground silo. They don’t know how or why they got there. The story reminds me of a book used to love reading aloud to my classes when I was a teacher, The City of Ember. Except this was written for grownups! It’s so compelling.
3. Trying: Ikebana
My sister and I took a class on ikebana (the Japanese art of floral arranging) at our local botanical garden. We both enjoyed it, but my main takeaway is that ikebana is much harder than it looks!
4. Reading: When Two Worlds Collide in Costco by Michelle Downey
Wow. This was an essay about meeting a former teacher in Costco, but it was also so much more than that. Not only did I enjoy reading about the chance encounter, but as a former teacher, the message really hit home for me.
5. Dreaming: About a Parisian Getaway
I’m a longtime fan of Anna Howard from the podcast, Wild Geese. I was excited when I saw she had published a vlog all about her recent trip to Paris. I was lucky enough to visit Paris twice, once in my teens, and then again when I was 25, but I haven’t been back since and it was a delight to escape there with Anna for a short while. I love that she had no plan. I’m the opposite type of traveler, but it’s fun to dream!
Thank you for reading!
🍒 In Case You Missed It… 🍒
Nobody Told Me To Do It, I Just Did
Welcome to Life Keeping, a place where we explore how to build a meaningful life, one ordinary experience at a time. Here, you’ll find thoughtful observations and quiet practices that help everyday life feel more deeply lived.
🍒🍒🍒
Before you go…What was worth keeping in your basket this week? Let me know in the comments.
P.S. Feel free to pull up a chair, crack open a Cherry Coke, and sit with me on the back porch to help me figure out what actually matters. Let’s tend to life, together.
P.S.S. If you enjoyed The Weekly Basket, a heart or a comment helps other readers discover Life Keeping. Thank you for being here!
See what I’m reading
Check out what I’m pinning
I didn't know about Silo until your post. I just checked out the trailer, and I'm sold! It's officially on my watchlist.
Going to the pool is in my basket this week. I have never been a pool girl, but we got a family pass this year since my youngest needed one for camp. It has been the most wonderful way to relax at the end of the workday and reconnect with my kids. Pools forever!