As we wind down from the chaos that was Christmas 2017, my thoughts have begun to turn to the new year. What would I like to accomplish in 2018? How can I simplify things and try to savor the time I have with my kids (instead of flipping out about the tornado that hit our great room–for the fourth time this week)? What can we do to budget better in order to enable our family to do more of the things we dream of doing together? How can we give more and take less? How can I be better at managing paper? (I never imagined the mass quantity of paper that would enter my house on a daily basis–help!) How can we meal plan and prep in order to eat healthy, while not spending too much time in the kitchen on weeknights? I am positive and hopeful about what this year will hold. What are your hopes and resolutions for 2018?
Easy, Tasty, Filling Breakfast Freeze-Ahead: Cottage Cheese Pancakes
by home-admin | May 28, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments
As we're spending so much time at home, we are depleting our stores of frozen meals. It was time to get back to replenishing some of the freezer stock. It was my turn to make a meal. When I contemplate what to make, I consider what will come in most handy during that...
Consider a CSA
by home-admin | April 27, 2020 | Healthy Eating | 0 Comments
A friend recently expressed concern about the lack of stock of quality produce at one of our local stores. I, too, have noted this, as well as limited choices when it comes to fruits and veggies. That same day, my husband alerted me to a story on NPR about farmers who...
The Cultivator
by home-admin | April 17, 2020 | Family Life | 0 Comments
A little over a week ago, we lost my mother-in-law. She had been diagnosed with melanoma last June. Shortly after her diagnosis, we sat on her idyllic patio, the sun bathing us in its warmth, and cried. We cried for a life that would be cut too short. We cried for the...
I Hadn’t Considered…A Pandemic
by home-admin | March 25, 2020 | Family Life | 2 Comments
A few weeks ago I drafted a post about the massive amount of paper that flows into my home each day and how overwhelming it can be. Well, that topic swiftly became obsolete! In a matter of days, we've entered a Brave New World of sorts on the homefront. We're learning...
Weeknight Meal Idea: Stir Fry
by home-admin | January 16, 2020 | Weeknight Meals | 0 Comments
While I post a lot about cooking ahead and freezing meals, I do not use pre-frozen meals every night of the week. When we're meal planning, I look at our schedule and determine which nights will afford me some (emphasis on some!) time to cook. I do have quite a few...
I Hadn’t Considered…Socks
by home-admin | January 8, 2020 | Family Life | 0 Comments
I often think about situations I hadn't considered prior to having 5 children. This is not to say I would reconsider having them--they are my everything! But, goodness, sometimes it's a lot! My first consideration in this theme are socks. Yes,...
Batch cooking…reboot
by home-admin | January 2, 2020 | Bulk Meal Prep/Freezer Meals | 0 Comments
You have all likely read about our family's Cook-a-palooza weekends. While we love these endeavors, and reaping the benefits of a freezer full of home cooked meals, we have taken a slightly different approach to our freezer meal prep. We had planned on a...
Bailey
by home-admin | February 25, 2019 | Family Life | 1 Comment
I grew up a "cat person." When I was around 5 or 6, I began asking (begging) our mom if we could get a dog. She seemed reluctant, but said, "Maybe." To my astonishment, shortly after, she told my brother, sister, and me that we were in for a surprise. She drove us...
Baking in the Vortex
by home-admin | February 5, 2019 | Family Life | 0 Comments
We experienced unprecedented cold temperatures in Chicagoland last week, which meant no school for the kids! They had 3 days off--yikes! Needless to say, it threw us a little off kilter. We did our best to keep entertained, be civil to each other, and not spend too...