Lately I've been feeling kind of...dumpy. It seems like my hair is in a ponytail 6 days a week and I've worn sweatpants all day more often than I care to admit. It got so bad that last Friday I painted my fingernails, which may not seem like a big deal to most of you,…
You probably don't need to chase down the garbage man or go dumpster diving to cook dinner, but in a country where the average person wastes $600 of food every year, I can think of a few reasons you might want to figure out how to eat garbage. A good start to reducing food waste…
This month's Eat Well, Spend Less topic is summer produce! From making the most of a CSA share to preserving your zucchini harvest, we're covering a variety of topics. I thought about preparing my garden for most of the spring and early summer, but in the end, we decided it was just "one more thing"…
I try to make my gift-giving heartfelt. This means that my gifts are often also edible and homemade, and I try to stay away from the obvious chocolates, flowers and a card. I want my gift to really tell my mom or my mother-in-law or the new mom down the street that I took…
Spring is a great season for brunches. Whether you host one for Easter, a bridal shower for a glowing June bride, or for Mother's Day, brunch has the ability to be just late enough so you can sleep in and just early enough in the day that you can host and still enjoy the sunshine…
Dr. Seuss' birthday comes again this year on March 2nd, marking Read Across America and reminding me of the singsong voice that is a cornerstone of many childhood reading lessons. His inspirational quotes are found here, there, and everywhere (including my Christmas cards this year). It's the perfect reason to have a bit of fun…
At the beginning of the 101 Days of Christmas series, I shared one of my favorite homemade treats -- chocolate covered pretzels and chips. Really, how can you go wrong with chocolate-covered anything? (Although I draw the line at things that move!) Here are 9 creative chocolate-covered treats to add to your last-minute holiday baking…
This month's Eat Well Spend Less topic is all things holiday! For the past few years, I've been preparing breakfast casseroles on Christmas Eve and bake them on Christmas morning for a yummy, home-cooked breakfast without the stress. We love to all sit down and eat together -- the girls, Sean and I, and my…
One of my favorite fall traditions is apple picking with my family. We're actually supposed to go tomorrow with some friends, but my girls are fighting a virus -- they're not actually sick but seem to be teetering on the edge with sniffly noses and intermittent low-grade fevers -- so we'll have to see. In…
A few months ago, I came across a picture of an apple crate shelf, and I was instantly hooked. I love the rustic look of apple crates in home decor, especially when combined with modern elements, and I would use them throughout my whole house if I could! Apple crates can be used in so…