Homestead in the Mitten
By: Melissa | Michigan homebody • jewelry maker • bird nerd • coffee addict
Language: en
Categories: Leisure, Home, Garden, Society, Culture, Personal, Journals
Cozy coffee chats with Melissa — a Michigan homebody who disappears to a 10-acre up-north cabin every chance she gets.This podcast is part personal journal, part cozy cabin life—no advice, no pressure, just honest reflection.One minute I’m making jewelry at the kitchen table while the German Shepherd snores, the next I’m dodging mosquitoes and chasing cardinals in the quiet woods.Expect soft humor, zero pretense, and whatever I’m obsessing over this week:🌲 cabin chaos & bonfire nights🐦 birds at both feeders (suburban and wilderness)🎨 new jewelry drops📺 binge-watch confessions☕ the little moments that actually matterIf you like your podcasts like...
Episodes
Ditch the Chaos: Simple, Stress-Free Organizing for Your Homestead Life
Jan 08, 2026Feeling overwhelmed by a messy workspace, endless clutter, or that constant state of urgency on your homestead?
In this episode of Homestead in the Mitten, we dive into practical, low-pressure ways to bring order to your home without the overload. Learn how to clean small spots gradually (over several days, not all at once!), repurpose everyday items like old jars, plastic containers, and pill bottles, and the freedom of letting go of what you don't need. Plus, tips like listening to music while you tidy to make it enjoyable.
If you're stuck in chaos and...
Duration: 00:07:04A Simple Kitchen Glow-Up: Rechargeable Sensor Lights for Cozy Nights
Jan 06, 2026In this quick episode of Homestead in the Mitten, we share a budget-friendly home upgrade that's perfect for our slow-living lifestyle in Michigan. Discover how easy it is to install rechargeable motion-sensor under-cabinet lights – no drilling, no tools, just magnetic magic! For under $30 total, these wireless lights provide soft, adjustable glow that lasts weeks on a charge, making late-night kitchen visits peaceful and cozy without harsh overheads.
We're loving this simple addition so much that we're planning to add them to our up-north property too. Tune in for the details, plus a heads-up on our YouTube video dr...
Duration: 00:04:51New Year, New Focus: My 2026 Goals on This New Year’s Day
Jan 01, 2026Happy New Year! On this Thursday, January 1, 2026, I’m kicking off the year by sharing my biggest goals:
getting comfortable on cameradiving into up-north adventures like rock hounding and bird watchingand bringing real consistency to Sunset ArtisanJewelry and Homestead in the Mitten.It’s all run by just me—no team, scattered thoughts, and a lot of learning. If you’re a solo creator ready to level up in 2026, let’s start the year together.
Our Links:
Blog - www.homesteadinthemitten.com
Shop:
www.sunsetartisanjewelry.com
Duration: 00:06:15Balancing Two Homes: The Pull of Up North and the Reality of Building a Dream
Dec 30, 2025In this heartfelt episode, I open up about the emotional tug-of-war between our suburban Michigan home and our seasonal vacation property up north—a quiet, pine-scented escape that feels more like home every visit. I share the dream of one day moving there full-time, the slower pace of bird watching, crafting jewelry for Sunset Artisan Jewelry, and small home projects… and the very real hurdle my husband has set: the businesses need to be successful first.
Right now, they’re not lifting off. I have the websites, the social media, the handmade polymer clay earrings and silicone bead k...
Duration: 00:05:58A Quiet Christmas Morning At Home
Dec 25, 2025Merry Christmas, everyone. This episode is just a soft little visit with you on Christmas morning—right here in our Metro Detroit home, with no snow outside, a few gifts for our grown boys, and nothing fancy under the tree for my husband and me.
It’s been a tight year financially, but sitting here in the glow of the lights, listening to the quiet before everyone wakes up, I’m just so grateful we’re all together and healthy.
Sometimes the simplest Christmases are the ones that fill your heart the most...
Duration: 00:04:12Why Spending Time Up North Always Gives Me Peace
Dec 23, 2025In this episode I’m opening up about something that’s been on my heart lately; Why spending time on our little piece of land up north always brings me such deep peace.
It’s not about big adventures or getting everything done on the property. It’s the quiet walks, the wind in the trees, the way the world slows down, and how I always drive home feeling lighter, steadier, more like myself.
If you’ve ever had a place that just settles your soul, I think you’ll understand. Come sit wit...
Duration: 00:05:27When Your Mind Won’t Quiet and Life Feels Loud
Dec 18, 2025Lately, life has felt loud—especially in my head.
In this episode, I talk honestly about overwhelm, racing thoughts, and the cycle of overthinking that can keep us stuck. From lying awake at night with a noisy mind to walking away from goals out of fear of failing, this is a quiet conversation about noticing the pattern and learning to create space for calm.
This isn’t about pushing harder or having it all figured out. It’s about slowing down, finding structure, and taking one small step when the noise feels...
Duration: 00:05:02When Squirrels Aren’t Enough: How I Became a Birdwatcher at 45
Dec 16, 2025I used to be obsessed with squirrels… until forty-five hit and suddenly I’m a birdwatcher. In this episode, I unravel how that happened, why it seems universal, and what this says about midlife hobbies. If you relate, welcome—you’re in good company.
Our Links:
Blog - www.homesteadinthemitten.com
Shop:
www.sunsetartisanjewelry.com
Duration: 00:10:52He Said “I Can Fix It” – The Day I Bought 10 Acres I’d Never Seen
Dec 12, 2025We’d been hunting for up-north property forever. One popped up, I couldn’t go see it, so my husband drove up alone.
He called me from the middle of a garbage laden, bug infested-trailer disaster and said, “It’s rough… but I can fix it.”
I thought he’d lost his marbles, but we’d already lost too many good ones, so I told him to make the offer.
Fast-forward through years of dumpsters, sweat, and a million trips to Menards… and that same dump is now the quiet, cozy 10-acre getaway our whole family l...
Duration: 00:14:45