In my pursuit of a simpler life, I decluttered my home from top to bottom. But with the satisfaction of living with less came the realization that my life was cluttered in other, less obvious ways.I wrote in the conclusion of Your Simple Home Handbook that "a simple home is the doorway to a simpler life all around!" and sure enough, I found that I could live more intentionally if I simplified my approach to nearly every aspect of life.One of these aspects was food, a subject I'm very fond of. As a closet Francophile, I've read a number of books on how the French "do" life, and because food is a passion for the French, all of these ... Continue Reading
Easy Homemade Refried Beans
Homemade refried beans are freezer-friendly and much healthier than canned refried beans. Plus, they're cheaper! Serve refried beans on homemade tacos or burritos, with chips, or as a side dish.Beans are a pantry staple for us, and one of the main ways we stretch meals. My husband and I both like the taste of them, so we don't mind eating them a few times per week to keep our food budget low.While our go-to is regular beans and rice, sometimes I like to add a little variety by cooking beans in a different way, like putting them in soup or chili, or using refried beans for homemade burritos. We've done our best to ditch canned ... Continue Reading
5 Ways I Use Coconut Oil in My Home
A few years ago, I had never even heard of coconut oil. Now? I use it almost daily!Chances are, you've heard of coconut oil, too, since it's been getting a lot of press lately. If you've wondered what to actually do with it, let me share with you the main uses I've found for coconut oil.Although you'll find coconut oil in the health food store--and even in many local grocery stores now--it's usually just sold in small jars and it's on the pricey side. If you want coconut oil to become a staple in your pantry, buy a jar in a larger size, online. I currently get mine from Amazon. The prices for different brands of coconut oil change, so ... Continue Reading
Greatest Hits: Top 10 Posts of 2015
What a beautiful year was 2015! We welcomed our son into the world on April 2nd. (Here's his birth story!) That was the best part. I also said what I wanted to say about simplifying in my new book, Your Simple Home Handbook, which was released on March 13. (Yeah, I was cutting it close to Little Dude's birth day there!!)In the fall, we said goodbye to our cabin and moved down the driveway to rent my parents' basement! It's been a good change for us, as this new apartment has space for Little Dude to crawl and was much easier to baby-proof.As we continue our second year of living in Alabama, we're thankful for deepening friendships, ... Continue Reading
Best Breads and Baked Goods (A Baker’s Dozen!)
For me, the oven is a treasure chest. I emphatically love baked goods, and it warms my soul to open that oven door and see a pan of hot muffins or biscuits, lightly golden on top and gently risen. Whenever I bake I collect a toll: one fresh-off-the-pan cookie or biscuit, eaten with a glass of milk or a pat of butter, depending on what the baked item is. I close my eyes when I eat it, of course, because in that moment I don't want to be distracted by anything else.Today I'd like to share with you a "baker's dozen" of treasures that I found around the blogosphere. Some are biscuits or muffins you can enjoy with soup on a cold day, others ... Continue Reading
Homemade Golden Gingerbread Latte
Like most people on the planet, I love a good hot drink when the weather turns cold.Although I do usually order a Starbucks eggnog latte at some point in the season, I really enjoy experimenting with homemade hot drinks.This mocha is my go-to “special” beverage when I want something besides regular coffee.Spiced vanilla milk is the easy choice if it’s nearing bedtime and I want to skip the caffeine.And when I’m feeling under the weather? Nothing beats a hot toddy!For a slightly unusual drink, the following recipe for a Golden Gingerbread Latte is surprisingly tasty, with a bit of a spicy kick from the ginger and rich, ... Continue Reading
A Simple Approach to Starting Solids (Plus the Best Highchair for the Job!)
When you hear people say that "babies grow up so fast!" listen to them. It's a fact!For some reason, it didn't really register in my mind that Little Dude would go through so many stages in just the first year outside the womb. The newborn stage melted away before my (tired) eyes, and all of the sudden this squishy-faced, jerky-limbed baby is turning into a little boy with teeth who's doing his best to walk by Christmas. He's only eight months old!Thankfully, the wise God that created my little boy designed it so that each stage of Little Dude's life brings new things to look forward to. Each month he's cuter than he was before (how ... Continue Reading
Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Muffins
These pumpkin spice doughnut muffins are comfort food to the max! I took my grandmother's recipe for doughnut muffins and added pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice for a fall twist!Today I'm sharing my great-grandmother's recipe for doughnut muffins. Lucky you!These are one of my favourite muffins of all time and space. I can't even tell you how many warm, cinnamon sugar memories these muffins conjure up. So you'll just have to imagine...or start making your own with this sure-to-be-a-keeper recipe.The original recipe does not call for pumpkin puree, but with this cool weather I want to taste fall! I swapped out the milk for ... Continue Reading
Avoid These 10 Ingredients (your body will thank you!)
Ingredient labels used to be a complete mystery to me. I knew there were certain ingredients I probably shouldn't be eating, but I had no idea what they were or what alternatives to look for. A few years ago, as I developed my approach to healthy eating, I gradually learned what many of the strange-sounding ingredients were and what they do in our bodies.Today I'm sharing a list with you of the top 10 ingredients I try to minimize in my diet. These are ingredients that are used by the food industry to make products look tastier, last longer, and be more flavorful. Unfortunately, they're also linked to serious health problems.To be ... Continue Reading
Peach Almond Smoothie
Make this peach almond smoothie with fresh or frozen fruit! Use raw honey for the sweetener and add yogurt or kefir for probiotics and extra creaminess.I'd forgotten what it tastes like to bite into a fresh peach. And then, a couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of remembering.It took all of three seconds to fall in love with peaches yet again.Three seconds. One...seeing the fruit pulling the branches down to the grass. Two...the lightest touch, and one soft, heavy peach fell into my hand. Three...my lips brushed the soft skin and suddenly sweet liquid was flowing over my tongue and filling my mouth with an explosion of ... Continue Reading
