Yesterday was water day for the plants around here. After a trip to IKEA last fall, I gave each of the kids a snake plant for their rooms, and then I kind of forgot about them. Oops! According to my friends on Instagram, this is the best thing I could've done for them (the plants that is). Snake ...
Instant Pot Duo Size Comparison 3 vs. 6 vs. 8 quart
Hey Friends! Did you get an Instant Pot for Christmas? By FAR my most viewed blog post last year, with over 2,000+ more views than any other post, was this one that was actually from the year before, where I explained how to make frozen brussels sprouts in the Instant Pot. Apparently, you all like ...
Homemade Gluten-Free Donuts
I'm going to keep this one short and sweet today folks. One of my children struggles with processing gluten. The more I listen to my body, the more I realize I really do too. We aren't allergic, but there is definitely some kind of intolerance. I've been eating about 80% gluten-free for 4 or ...
Parenting Hack: Foolproof Behavior Adjustment For Children of All Ages
Want to hear a foolproof parenting hack for whiney kids? Okay, just promise not to tell my kids, I don't want them using this against me later on. When I realize one of my kiddos has been acting out for a couple of days, or just seems extra whiney for no obvious reason (too much sugar, food ...
How {and why} to Make Pour Over Coffee
Hey Friends! If you have been following me on any of my social media channels (and I hope you are) you probably saw I ditched my Keurig a few months ago. It's not that I didn't appreciate the convenience, it's just that I started to question the purpose of it in our home, and if it was worth the ...
Life Hack: Don’t Lose Your Keys
Always losing your keys? I was that way once too. 3 tips: 1. Designate one pocket for your keys when you're out and about. Maybe it's a jeans pocket, maybe it's a purse pocket, just keep it the same each time. 2. Install a simple hook for your keys at home. Don't just toss them on the counter, ...
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp Resort- Beaver Trails in Austin, MN
This past week we took our 2nd annual camping trip to Yogi Bear’s Jelly Stone Park- Beaver Trails in Austin, Minnesota. The campground is located just off of I35 and was a little over an hour away from home for us. Let me preface this with we intentionally went “off-season” because we ...
The Day the Joy Began to Fade…
It’s Saturday, April 20, 2019, Mr. Awesome is home and I am grateful to get a few minutes to type what’s on my heart. I woke up to a quiet house, I turned over and grabbed my phone to start my online bible study. My heart craves a “real” bible study, but in this season, I just don’t have the ...
Peaceful Parenting
Years ago, at a Mops International meeting, I gathered at one of the many round tables in the Fireside room of a local church. The room was filled with a couple of dozen other mothers who had at least one child somewhere in the age range of 0-5. Some, like me, also had older ...
The Easiest AND Best Gluten Free Edible Cookie Dough
Can I let you in on a secret? I have a serious LOVE for raw cookie dough. There, I said it. I put it on the table, so to speak. Now let’s talk about it, okay? The way I feel about biting into raw cookie dough I don’t think most people could not possibly understand. Like, when it ...
Easy 3 Ingredient Cheese Dip- With REAL Cheese
This recipe was born out of a desire to eat my weight in cheese dip during a past Super Bowl, without sacrificing the quality of the food I was putting in my body. I think it's only fitting to share it now, as we embark on another Super Bowl! Go, Patriots! The fake cheese in the box has its ...
Preventative Maintenance: Frozen Pipes
Friends, You know I can't help myself, after all, I'm the maintenance man's daughter. ;) Bear with me while I step out of my typical Niche. I promise to keep this one brief! If you too are experiencing the extreme cold (I know, that's such an understatement) like we are here in ...
Want to Take a Peek Inside my Drawers?
2019 is the year I get all the systems in place for a smooth life. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I have talked with Mr. Awesome about how important to me it is that this is the year I pour a little more time and energy into the areas of our home that “don’t ...
Coffee < Jesus
As I was pouring my iced coffee this morning and sifting through a thick stack of bills that needed to be paid, the 5 year old boss of the house walked up, threw her hands on her hips, and yelled at me "Hey! How come YOU get a big glass?!" ~I had given her a couple ounces in a small glass, with ice ...
Friday Favorites + A Giveaway
One week this summer we missed our traditional Friday night library date in a neighboring town, so we stopped in to return our books on a Saturday instead. I’m so glad we did! Unbeknownst to us, it was their town celebration day and there were a bundle of family-friendly activities going ...
Baby/Toddler Wearing with the Diono Carus Carrier-Full Review
Let me preface this with I have 4 children, ages 16 months to almost 16 years! I’ve tried a lot of different baby and toddler wearing methods, some I’ve loved, some I’d never do again, (like the carrier my two week old child fell out of 11 years ago, thankfully just onto my fluffy bed, but can you ...
A Slightly Better Monthly Meal Planner {Free Printable}
This sweet monthly menu planner post has been a labor of LOVE. I adore calendars, planning, prepping, and the benefits of being prepared. When I stress over our monthly menu plan all in one evening (or two), I can then sit back and just enjoy the rest of the month. I first look at our calendar ...
We Added String Lights in the Garage!
If you've been following me over on Instagram you know that I've been slowly trying to make our garage into more of a cozy outdoor living space. We have a three stall garage, so one small stall can house most of the "stuff", like bikes, baseball gear, the mower, gardening supplies, etc. That means ...
The Summer of Simple {Recipe and a Tip}
I dubbed this as the summer of simple, long before this gorgeous {and-sometimes-a-bit-too-hot} summer weather even came along. I promised myself I wouldn't get worked up in making everything perfect and giving my kids endless opportunities to never be bored. Boredom is great for the mind ...
Lunch: Simplified {Yumbox}
Friends, I have to share this with you! I have found a way to bring more peace and order to our homeschool lunch routine. I'm sure you're thinking it's lunch, slap some PB & J on a piece of bread and move on, but with allergies, preferences, and a baby/toddler with only 4 teeth, it's so much ...