Welcome Home!
hello, i’m Janice
I’m a lifestyle blogger, with a focus on Simple Living, Self-Care, and Calming Spaces— exploring Personal Growth for Christian Women.
In 2019, my little family of four moved to New Zealand from the Philippines in search of a calming life.
Juggling family, work, and relocating got really hard. I was exhausted and often had anxiety attacks.
You know, they say you can’t pour from an empty cup.
I saw I needed a calm home for me and my family.
This blog shares my journey, and helps Christian women, giving tips on making a peaceful home for the body, mind, and soul.
Covering simple living, self-care, relaxing interiors, and personal growth aligned with Christian values, the blog aims to be a trusted resource for those aspiring to turn their homes into calming havens.

What you’ll learn on this site
I believe that calmness is subjective. What brings peace to one person may be unsettling for another. It’s crucial to consider your own preferences and needs to discover what truly brings you a sense of peace.
At A Calming Home, we view everything through the lens of a Proverbs woman, ensuring that we cover every aspect that contributes to and leads to the creation of a calming home.
Home Design
In design, we often say “form follows function”. It is a way of saying that when you design something, like a chair or a building, you should make it look the way it does because of what it needs to do.
So, if you’re making a chair, it should be comfortable to sit on and easy to use.
If you’re building a house, the way it looks should match what people will do inside it.
It’s like saying the design should fit what the thing is supposed to do, and it shouldn’t have extra things that don’t really help with its job.
Garden Design
People’s cultural background can shape their garden preferences. Some may prefer Zen or rock gardens, while others like the charm of a cottage garden, especially if they have roots in the UK. Gardens can serve various purposes. For example, some people want a vegetable garden, while others like having an aromatic garden to help with anxiety.
Choosing plants for your garden is also a personal choice. Some people find peace among tropical plants, while others prefer the simple care of succulents. When planning your garden, pick plants that not only look good but also match your idea of a peaceful and calm space.
Organization & Declutter
Creating an organized and clutter-free space means different things to different people. Some like the simplicity of minimalism, while others feel comfortable in a more organized chaos. Find the balance that fits your sense of order, making your space uniquely yours.
Getting rid of unnecessary items can be done in various ways, and everyone has their own approach. Customize decluttering techniques to match your personal space, creating an environment that feels calming and comfortable for you.
Wellness
Mental Well-Being
Whether it’s meditation, journaling, or other activities, select self-care practices that align with your inner peace. Some find solace in religious activities, while others may turn to the soothing nature of art.
Physical Well-Being
Discover a balanced approach that resonates with your unique well-being goals. Since we all have different physical needs, it’s advisable to discuss exercise and dietary choices with a healthcare professional.
Self Care
Your self-care experience is unique to you, as what relaxes one person might not work for another. Your beauty and well-being routines should reflect what makes you feel good. Whether it’s a calming face mask or a soothing bath, customize DIY treatments to match your preferences. Create self-care routines that align with your personal definition of relaxation.
My love for Arts & Literature
My journey began in a provincial town in the Philippines, where traditional homemaking was an art passed down by neighbors, teachers, and the elderly community. Picking leaves from the garden, cooking them in clay pots over a real fire, learning to sew a backpack, crafting a stool from salvaged wood – these experiences shaped my understanding of how women managed their homes in a traditional setting.
As a kid, I loved reading and would borrow 4 to 5 books from the school library every day. Reading anything and everything made me passionate about writing. I contributed to our school paper whenever possible.
When I went to the city for college, I followed my home economics teacher’s advice and pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design. She thought I had a talent for design and home management, making it a suitable career choice.
Sadly, because not many people could afford interior designers in that country, I had to find other jobs that were more needed. This led me to various positions in sales, marketing, and writing. Wanting to go back to design, I took up different freelance writing jobs for furniture websites and design companies.
Later on, I created this website as a hobby to document my makeover project for our old master bedroom. Because life got busy, I wasn’t able to touch the site until we moved to New Zealand.
Both my husband and I worked hard, managing to buy a new house, which fueled my desire to create a calming home. So, I revisited this site, and now that I have a stable job as a writer and editor, I can afford to write again for leisure.

get to know me
These are a few of my favorite things…
- Writing, reading, drawing & painting, baking, gardening, thrift shopping, sky gazing, knitwear, dresses
- Homeware & furniture, Garden centers, book shops, libraries, stationery & office supplies, museums, art galleries
- Coffee, matcha, seafood, Portuguese tarts, Asian cuisine, garden-to-table food, fresh fruits
- Worship songs, Bossa Nova, The Corrs, Creed, Japanese anime, Korean dramas, Gaming
My people will live in peaceful places…in safe homes and… calm places of rest
– (Isaiah 32:18 NCV)