It was about this time last year when I finally put I the effort on making my own kombucha. I learned the basics, picked a tea and even learned how to do a second ferment. But I skipped over a super easy way to flavor kombucha that required less work and less time than a second ferment – using herbs! I’ve fallen in love with rose hip and hibiscus kombucha, and it’s what I have brewing in my carafe every day! ... Continue Reading
Showing all results for: meal plan
Our “One Day” Dream: Buy a Home with Cash
When my husband told me he wanted to buy a home with cash, I thought he was crazy. I clearly remember thinking, “No one in this house, is paying cash for a house. It’s impossible!” Yet here I am, 8 years later, eating crow because last month, we bought a house and paid cash. ... Continue Reading
How to Spatchcock a Chicken
Try this easy recipe for spatchcock chicken, the fastest way to cook a whole chicken. This method puts dinner on the table in under an hour & it's now our favorite! Pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies! I am notorious for waiting until the very last second to start dinner. That’s one reason why I started making slow cooker chicken in the first place – I knew the chicken would be ... Continue Reading
Why My Family of 4 Chose to Live in a One Bedroom Apartment
Four months ago we decided to move to Georgia. Three months ago we gave away almost everything we owned, set aside a few bare essentials to get us through 2-3 weeks of “minimal living” and packed up the rest into a moving truck. When it was time to leave California and drive across the country, those bare essentials were packed in the cars. ... Continue Reading
Cross-country Road Trip (part 2)
We've officially been in Georgia for one week and one day and I have a quiz for you. Which of the following statements are true: ... Continue Reading
Viewing Your Life in Terms of Boxes
I don’t think it's possible to really comprehend what you own until you view it in terms of boxes. We had 27. Plus 4 big storage bins, 2 smaller bins and one bin that rolls under the bed. ... Continue Reading
How to Dehydrate Cranberries
My love for cranberries extends far beyond the sauce (or chutney or jello mold, depending on where you're from) you typically find on Thanksgiving tables. I love them in scones, in salads and homemade trail mix. I love them in granola bars, in biscotti and even in potpourri! I've been known to buy a bag or two when Costco has dried cranberries on sale, but I really go crazy in November because it's the ... Continue Reading
18 Hacks for Packing School Lunch – A Parents Guide
It's been one full week since my kids started school and oh.my.goodness. No amount of training or mental preparation could prepare me for the mother of all wrenches in your real food plans - a.k.a. packing school lunch. I mean, I THOUGHT I was prepared. I knew it would take work, some planning and a few cursory talks with the kids to make sure we were all on the same page... but in all seriousness, reading ... Continue Reading
Essential Oils
If you've only spent a few minutes searching the web for natural remedies, I have no doubt that you've come across essential oils before. There's all sorts of controversy about brands, where they come from, how they should be used and whether or not they even work. To be honest, I was skeptic towards the entire realm of essential oils and blatantly ignored them for a long time. They sat in my cabinet - untouched, ... Continue Reading
8 Real Foods You Can Make For Free + 6 More for Under $1
If you haven't noticed, I've kinda been on a "make something for nothing" kick lately. First, it was ketchup from our backyard plants that just.keep.going. Then it was apple cider vinegar from the cores and peels of apples. Most recently, it was roasted pumpkin seeds (perfectly, I might add), from the baking pumpkin I roasted and turned into homemade pumpkin puree. All this coking-for-free stuff got ... Continue Reading