Tomato Cucumber Salad

 With the end of the summer season coming to a close, it's about the time of year where I figure out how to use the remaining tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden. One of the quick and easy recipes I've come up with the last two years is a tomato and cucumber salad. It's a delicious and healthy way to incorporate a few vegetables, especially if you're needing to use several at once that could possibly go bad before using them for individual dishes. The best part of having a garden in your own backyard is being able to walk outside and get whatever you need for a certain dish. 

This year's garden we grew tomatoes (cherry, Roma, and beefsteak), cucumbers, nasturtium, pumpkins, zucchini, yellow squash, onion (red and yellow), watermelon, butter lettuce, cabbage, and peas. We had good results from a few crops, but others not-so-much. We have come to the conclusion that they aren't getting enough sun each summer. So, we are going to move some things around next growing season. 

Our tomatoes and cucumbers did well and with that overabundance, I created this summery dish. Here's how it's made.

• Four to five medium to large tomatoes (any kind), diced into bite-sized pieces
• Four to five small to medium cucumbers, sliced and then cut in half
• Black olives, whole, cut in half
• Three to four pickles, diced small
• Four to five tablespoons olive oil
• Splash of vinegar, to taste
• Two tablespoons Italian seasoning
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Add everything to a large dish and toss. Refrigerate for up to 30 minutes before serving. Eat right away, or store for up to three days in an air-tight container. It's delicious the following day, too!

Sometimes Wants (Summer '23)

 These are the summer time, "Sometimes Wants," that have caught my eye lately.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

1. Lately I've taken to seeing a lot of spice racks change their jars out for ones that are more uniform and minimal. Although we purchase organic spices, and all of them come in glass containers anyway, it would be nice to have some that look cohesive in the cabinet. I have had my eye on these lately, because they have bamboo lids and come with labels. I am also liking these from KonMari, as well. The black bamboo lids look sharp.
2. You can never have enough good quality cotton t-shirts and these are so soft and comfortable. They come in three colors, but the company makes a lot of great cotton items to add to your wardrobe and clothing rotation. I've replaced a lot of my lesser quality cotton shirts with these and I love all three colors and sizes from XXS to 6XL. FYI: They are perfect for yoga sessions and working out, and if you size up about three sizes, they are great for sleeping in and lounging around, too.
3. This was a pricier purchase for me this season, but one that I will be making again. These are some of the best lip balms I've ever used. They are smooth, classy, and feel great on the lips. They are just under $50, and are 16 ounces each. I've been using them now for about two months and I love them a lot. The colors I have are the Clear, Translucent Garnet, and Sheer Rose, but will be purchasing the Clear, Peony, and Tomato soon. The Clear along is a great lip balm to just have on hand, too.
4. I have been using these pot brushes for everything lately. We've been cleaning up areas on the bus and these have come in handy to get into small cracks and crevices to really get the grime out of them. We recently finished placing insulation is the wall areas and these little pot brushes came in super handy to be able to clean the small areas before putting in the insulation sheets. I've also been using these around the house to clean and scrub appliances, floors, and even walls.
5. Been rethinking how I ship things lately and the amount of waste that goes into packaging items to ship through the mail. I recently found these biodegradable shipping bags. They come in a 50 count package and are perfect for smaller items being shipped. They are compostable poly mailers with eco-friendly packaging that break down over a short period of time. The company also makes other biodegradable packaging and other items that make me feel just a bit better about doing my part of the environment.
6. Looking at light puffers lately and I fell in love with this longer puffer from Everlane. It's a nice color for fall and can be worn clear into June here in the Willamette Valley. It's comfortable and does a nice job of keeping even my legs warm on road trips. Comes in black, as well and is made from 100% recycled polyester material. Easily packs up and can be worn alone or in layers, I just love it. It comes in XXS to XL and tends to run a bit larger.
7. Along with going more eco-friendly in our house, I have found better ways to help the environment, while not compromising my cleaning habits. We have been using better sponge options lately and these are great. They are all natural, biodegradable, made with hemp/sisal plant, non-scratch, chemical-free, and odor free. With a bit of elbow grease, they really get the job done. I use one for about three weeks with my regular daily cleaning routine and toss them in our compost bin. They work for household cleaning, as well as dishes, and countertops.
8. We are still loving our Daxlena Safeparty Firepit Mat and when Summer Solstice hits we always know it's time to break it out for the season. With having the school bus now when we go camping, it has definitely come in handy no matter where we end up. We loved ours so much we ordered two more to use in different locations. We use it under anything hot to save the surface of what's underneath. We also use it in the sand and on our lawn when needed, as well. It's a great addition to your camping box, or just to use every day at your own home. Check out my blog post on the Safeparty Fire Pit Mat here.
9. These notebooks were a random find while working with some Amazon affiliate companies recently and they are perfect for what I needed at the time. We are planning a big trip here soon and I'm hoping we can document the trip in our own words in a notebook. These pastel colored notebooks will be just the right thing for that. I can't wait to be able to get back and read what all of us put in our notebooks about our trip. These come in the pastel colors pictured, more bold colors, and vintage colors and are 16 to a pack.
10. We've taken to coffee scrubs lately and not to discredit the companies that make quality coffee scrubs, but some are way overpriced. We found a good recipe, after some trial and error, that works for us and have been making it now for about three months. It's a simple recipe that has ethically-sourced ground coffee in it, coconut oil, sugar, and a bit of essential oils. The essential oils we change out depending on the season and whether we want to mix it up for a more uplifting scent. We create about a pound at a time and separate it into 20 ounce containers. We keep one of the 20 ounce containers in the shower and use it at least three times a week. The coffee we use is from Ethical Bean Coffee and we love that their coffee is better for the environment and the farmers that grow and harvest it. They carry whole beans and ground. If you're a coffee drinker, this a great brand to add to your morning brew.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Bacon Jalapeño Poppers

This recipe has pretty much become a go-to for holiday snacks in our house. We sometimes make them before we take off to go camping, or before the weekend begins. They can be made up ahead of time and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator and popped into the microwave, air fryer, or oven for a short time to warm them back up, because they are best served hot.

• 20-30 jalapeño peppers (seeded and cut lengthwise in half) **use gloves for this**
• 3-4 (8oz) blocks of cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 tablespoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of pepper
• 1 teaspoon of salt (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon of jalapeno juice (this adds some additional spice to the mix)
• 10-12 jalapeno seeds (more or less to your own spice tolerance)
• Cooked bacon (entire package)

Mix cream cheese, onion powder, pepper, salt, and seeds together in a bowl and fill each jalapeño shell with mixture. Be sure to overfill to your desired amount. Cut bacon into small diced pieces and sprinkle on top of cream cheese mixture. 

Place on baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until the tops are browned and bacon becomes crispy.

Enjoy!

Nuts and Seeds Banana Bread

• 1/2 cup melted salted butter
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, or more to taste
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground or grated nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (not imitation)
• 4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup, or more of seeds and nuts (peanuts, pumpkin, flax, sunflower, almond, cashew, chia)

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter a loaf pan.

In a mixing bowl, mix together the ripe bananas and melted butter. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Then add in sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour last.

Pour the batter into greased loaf pan and sprinkle 1/2 of the nuts on top. Halfway through baking, sprinkle the remaining nuts on top and finish baking.

Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before slicing.

This recipe is customizable in so many ways. Instead of bananas, try canned pumpkin, zucchini, even watermelon. Instead of nuts, add raisins, cranberries, currants, blueberries, or even strawberries. The possibilities are endless. We have tried all different ways to incorporate foods into this recipe. It should be called, "Everything in the Cabinet Bread."☺ I hope you enjoy it, because it's a huge favorite in our house! If you give it a try, let me know by tagging me on social media. I would love to know what you think of it, or if you added something fun.

Sometimes Wants (Spring '23)

These are the spring time, "Sometimes Wants," that have caught my eye lately.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

1. BunchaFarmers Stain Stick. I have been on a mission to completely overhaul my cleaning routine and this has been added to my arsenal. It's all natural and 100% biodegradable. The outer packaging is recyclable and is completely environmentally friendly. The best part, it actually works for a wide range of stains, even ones on furniture and car upholstery.
2. QALO/Pela Women's Rubber Silicone Ring. Such a great ring that you can feel good about wearing. It's breathable, durable, and comes in a wide range of colors. It's compostable, made from plants, sustainable, and affordable.
3. CBD Pain Relief Stick (Sport). This CBD stick has been my go-to for over a year now. I am actually wearing some on my right shoulder as I type this out. ☺ I absolutely can not say enough about it. The CBD helps with mild pain relief, while the cooling camphor and menthol bring much needed aid to the area asap. It's non-gmo and vegan, and works great for period cramps and migraines, as well. 
4. MountainHares Organic Cotton Body Pouf. This pouf, as well as this shop are a self-care lovers dream. If you've been looking for some items to add to your Self-Care Sunday routine, this is it. This body pouf is a good start. It's 100% organic cotton and comes with a crocheted loop to hang dry. It feels more like a smooth pouf than an exfoliating one, but it is a nice "hug" in the shower while using.
5. Hugs Blanket (Minky Couture). I can't do weighted blankets, but this is a great alternative to that. It is so soft and comforting. It comes in a wide range of colors and sizes from (infant (30in x 30in) to (grande 60in x 84in).
6. NARS Audacious Lipstick. These lipstick colors have been a new change for me. Some days I feel upbeat enough to wear *Scarlet* and other days I want to disappear, so I wear *Pink Beige* to kind of "blend in." The texture of the lipstick is a nice smooth feel on the lips and doesn't rub off onto glass rims. It's paraben free and well worth the price. I may venture out and try other shades, too.
7. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore. I've been using this lipid restore since my breast surgery in 2020 and I will say that it has definitely made a difference. It's a bit pricier than other brands, but it's well worth it. It has drastically reduced the appearance of my surgery scars and also helped in softening and the stretch marks I gained from before my surgery from the size of my breasts previous. I highly recommend it. I like it so well that I sometimes cheat and use it on other areas of my body, as well. ☺
8. Your Super Life: 100+ Delicious, Plant-Based Recipes Made with Nature's Most Powerful Superfoods By Michael Kuech, Kristel de Groot. I love their powders, so of course I preordered my book. Excited to see how to incorporate my mixes in everyday recipes. 
9. Monster Away Spray. This is such a cute and relaxing way to help children with their "scaries" at night. It is made with cedarwood, chamomile, vetiver, orange, and ho wood essential oils. I already use a spray similar here, but this one I would definitely try just to see how relaxing and mind calming it is for adults. But, if you have a child with nighttime worries about monsters under the bed or in a closet, definitely give it a go.
10. The Self-Care Planner. For anyone that knows me, like really knows me well, will tell you I have to have a routine and I am very OCD about that routine. One missed moment in my routine and it sets me up for a lot of mental health issues later in the day, or even in the week. It seems to be something that helps keep me from falling apart, honestly and this self-care planner has helped a great deal with me staying on track and focused. Through the last several years I've even gotten better at telling people, "NO!" Just to be able to stay the course and on my routine. The best part of it all, though, is the ability to change up a few things if I wanted to do that for myself. Say I have a dentist appointment one day, I can move and shuffle my routine around that fits best for me to be able to fit that appointment into my own personal schedule. I do suggest this planner if this sounds like you, too. You'll love it!

Happy Spring Equinox!

Five Simple Things (March 10)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Weather.

The above pictures all happened on March 8. We got a large amount of sleet early in the morning and it sleeted off and on until around noon, to which a rainbow appeared shortly after and the sun stayed out for another few hours. It was unusual, but it seems to be the norm in this area now. After the March 8 weather, on March 10, which is below, we had a little bit of snow in the morning and then the rest of the day we got a large amount of snow that fell in a short bursts throughout the day. 

 

 

Skylar and I love to always see the snow coming down. We are like the delightful little kids running out to play without a care in the world when the snow starts to fall. It was not only a beautiful sight, it was also neat to see it falling at random times throughout the night.

2. This Moment.

My humidifier created some ambiance against my vintage lamp one night this week and I just loved how it looked. I love old history, and this moment sort of made me feel like I had gone back in time for a brief moment.

3. This Kitty.

She's always up to something that makes us laugh. If it's not her laying on the television area, to sleeping, to exploring her grass/water station, she's always doing something to make us smile. We just love her so much. With having Meia gone, we are glad to have another great cat helping fill that void from time to time. Meia's absence, as well as Milo's, is always felt, but Eleven makes that hole just a bit less painful with her personality.

4. This Box.

Another great hit from Kiwi Eco Box this month. Love these colored pencils, candle, and Eco Hero Handbook. Looking forward to utilizing everything in this month's box! You can sign up for the April box here and get $5 off.

5. These Washes.

Loving these Necessaire body washes. Skylar and I absolutely love the eucalyptus scent, and the bergamot is a close second, for sure. Definitely recommend these products. Necessaire also sells body lotions with the same scents, and unscented, and they are top notch! You can try the Eucalyptus here and the Bergamot here. You'll love them!

One last thing:

Lately we have not been feeling 100%, so this week a made a homemade immunity shot and we drank one ounce of it a day all this week and we are feeling a lot better. This is something I am going to start making each Sunday, so we have a shot every day for a week, especially when the weather turns colder and more people seem to be getting sick. This season, knock on wood, we haven't had any sickness pass through us, but it's always better to be prepared. Here's how it's made.

Turmeric Immunity Shot:

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons ginger (chopped)
• 1 orange (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 lemons (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon turmeric

Pulse everything for 20-30 seconds in a food processor, or blender. I use a blender with a metal drive and it works great to grind everything up. Strain through cheese cloth and pour into individual two ounce bottles.(I use these) Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Drink an ounce to two ounces a day, which is about a shot glass size. If you don't use the one ounce containers you can store all of it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and just pour a shot glass size every day instead. 

 

Positive affirmations this week:

Unfortunately, when you start to get better, you're also going to get really sad. The hard truth of getting better means revisiting things we aren't comfortable with. During my therapy sessions there's many times I had to stop to reposition my mind in order to be able to talk about the hard things. One incident in particular took me almost three months to completely get my feelings, trauma, and emotional state out, because it was hard for me to get past the sadness. Overall, it's something that has to happen and it's the worst part of therapy. A positive with it is that once we get past the sadness you start to get better. It's true and it's such a wonderful feeling getting past that sadness. You can do this! You can get better! You are going to be okay! We are broken for a moment, but then repaired for a lifetime. Remember, you aren't your trauma. It happened to you, it doesn't define you and you are strong! ♥

Have a nice weekend.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Five Ways

Nothing is more comforting in our house than a warm chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven. I have about 20 different ways to make chocolate chip cookies, but these five are our most loved. 

#1 •Coconut-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2/3 cup butter, room temperature

2/3 cup coconut oil, solid

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

Cream together until light in color and "fluffy"

2 eggs (add one at a time)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix until well combined

In a separate bowl:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups rolled oats

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

Add dry to wet

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes

(Makes three dozen)

***

#2 Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies:

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cubes butter

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup cocoa

2 tbs. honey

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 cups rolled oats

2 cups vanilla chips

Cream sugar, honey, butter, eggs, and

vanilla together until light in color.

Sift dry ingredients together until combined.

Add vanilla chips and drop by tablespoonfuls.

Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

(Makes three dozen)

***

#3 Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2 cups butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

5 eggs

5 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 package chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

Add vanilla and eggs. Beat well.

Add dry ingredients together and add to 

butter mixture. Add chocolate chips and mix 

to incorporate. Drop by teaspoonfuls and 

bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Of course, all of these recipes are a bit different, but give the same result of a chocolate chip cookie. Bake all of them at random times and find out which one is your favorite. The quality of ingredients are important here with these recipes. Keep in mind, when you use lesser quality ingredients you will get a lesser quality cookie. We eat only organic in our household, and your tastes are geared towards what you eat on a regular basis. If you are not completely organic, change one ingredients in your recipes at a time when you cook or bake and eventually you'll be using all organic for certain recipes. Try on of these chocolate chip cookie recipes with all organic and see how you like it.

#4 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two baking 

sheets with parchment paper.

Cream butter until smooth and add peanut butter,

and both sugars, beat well until combined.

Add eggs and beat well. Mix dry ingredients together.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually until combined.

Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Scoop small portions onto sheet.

Bake 15 minutes until just firm around edges. Don't overbake.

(Makes two dozen)

***

#5 Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies:

3 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 sticks melted and cooled butter

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 tbsp. vanilla

2 cups chocolate disks

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy.

Add eggs, and egg yolks. Combine after each addition, but do not

over mix. Add vanilla. Combine all dry ingredients until combined and 

add dry to wet mix and mix well. Add in chocolate disks by hand.

Bake about 10 minutes until edges are just golden in color.

And lastly, since we can all admit that we eat some of the cookie dough before it reaches the oven, here's a better version of cookie dough that won't have the potential to possibly make you sick.

Edible Cookie Dough:

1/2 cup melted butter, cooled

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cups water

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

2 1/2 cups (heat-treated flour)*

1-2 cups chocolate chips (depending on taste)

Combine melted butter, vanilla, water, and 

sugar until smooth. Add salt and flour to mix.

Mix thoroughly before adding chocolate chips.

Eat right away, or refrigerate for up to three

days. Try freezing into balls and dip in

melted chocolate.

*How to make heat-treated flour:

Heat by one cup at a time in microwave.

30 minutes at a time, stirring between,

Make sure the flour reaches 165-170 degrees

before removing. Or, place in oven at 300 degrees.

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake for about

five minutes. Check the flour in several places

to make sure it has reached 165 degrees.

Picnic-Style Potato Salad

 One thing is certain in our house and that's the fact that everyone in this house loves potato salad. But not just any potato salad, it has to be made right. There's a lot of different versions out there, but this version is by far, our favorite. And it's easy to make, which is a plus. I hate cooking, baking, all of it. I can't stand being in the kitchen longer than 10 minutes making anything to eat. So, the easier the recipe, the better. You're going to love this potato salad, and the best part is, you can add anything to it that your own family loves. Here's how it's made.

Ingredients:

• 5 red potatoes (this recipe can be double, or tripled, just work in single recipe batches)
• 2 hard-boiled eggs
• 1/4 cup dill pickles
• 1 green onion
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons green onion dip mix
• 2 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar (or less to taste)
• 3/4 cup minced parsley
• 3/4 cup mustard (or less to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 

Boil potatoes for about 10-15 minutes. Drain and cool to at least room temperature. Chop into medium to small chunks, size depends on your preference. Chop hard-boiled eggs, pickles, and green onions. Rough chop the eggs, dice the pickles into small pieces, and chop the green onions into smaller pieces. Combine pickles, onions, mayonnaise, dip mix, vinegar, parsley, mustard, salt, and pepper together into a large bowl. If making a double batch, or triple batch, mix everything in separate bowls for each recipe. Add chopped potatoes to mixture and toss, then add eggs last. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Enjoy!

 

Five Simple Things (March 3)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Snow.

The Willamette Valley got another light dusting of snowfall this week and the little feet prints across the lawn were just too cute not to share. From tiny Chickadee feet to large Quappy Duck feet, I just love it!

2. This Sandwich.

Shout-out to our local food co-op (First Alternative) for making the absolute best sandwiches. Nothing beats them!

3. This Before/After.

We recently downsized our main closet and ended up giving it a complete overhaul. This house is over 80 years old and a lot of the original built-ins and hardware still remain. We've tried our best to seek out period lighting, metals, and items that would have been put into homes back in that time. Unfortunately this house caught fire in the 80s, so we aren't sure exactly what was replaced during that time, but going back to when we "think" what would have been in the house during the 1930s has been a lot of fun. 

The first task was to remove everything from the closet and give it a good wash. Dust collects in this house quite easily, because the seals around the house need to be redone, but we do our best to keep the dust at bay by doing a weekly and thorough cleaning. It's become part of our weekly routine now. While cleaning out the closet, even though there's a lot of light in the area, Skylar put on a headlamp to really get into the dark corners of the closet.☺

Once everything was out and the closet was thoroughly cleaned, we began patching up holes and using plaster for other areas that haven't seen love in a very long time.

When we finished the patching and plastering, we then brainstormed what to do next. We decided to pull up the linoleum someone had laid at one point on the bottom of the closet and replace that area with clean plywood and sand it down to fit the bottom of the closet floor. We also scraped and sanded the back of the closet where the lower shelf meets the back of the closet wall. At one point someone had taken spray foam and sealed that area up. We scraped all of that away and replaced it with a bead of caulking, plaster, and a coat of primer.

We went with two different paint colors. For the back walls and the shelves we used Scandinavian Minimalist Line at Lowe's in the color of Morning Fog. For the trim, border, and surrounding walls we used the Industrial Refresh Line at Lowe's in the color of Greek Villa. We loved how it turned out and we have even incorporated the Morning Fog color, which I immediately fell in love with, throughout the rest of the house. We painted the open squares on the door leading to the room with the build-in closet, and are working on painting all the frames of the doorways with the same color. There is also a nook near the staircase that will get a fresh coat of Morning Fog, as well.

4. This Kitty.

When I lay down in the evenings and get situated, I can always count on Eleven to come and seek me out to lay down with me. She has become really attached to me since my surgery in 2020. It's odd how she didn't have much to do with me until she knew I was hurting and "sick." I love how she's opened up to me and shows her affection now. We really bonded over the almost six months it took me to recover. Now she follows me around and watches me to make sure I'm okay.

5. These Shipments.

These two shipments came this week and I always love getting mail, even as an adult. First was the Might Fix for this month. This little Fruit Buddy goes over fruits to help protect them from moisture and to help them last longer. It's the cutest thing over an avocado in the refrigerator. You can try Mighty Nest for free here. It's a great addition each month to help you switch your home to be more sustainable. 

The next box that came was our shipment from Misfits Market. We love this grocery subscription. When we are pressed for time and can't fit in a trip to the grocery store for pantry staples, it's a great way to help us out in a pinch. This month as be hectic and this week alone has been extremely busy, so this shipment has really come in handy. They have organic options that we love since going completely organic in our home. As you can see from the picture above, this haul was a good one! You can sign up here and get 10% off your first order from us.

One last thing:

With all the snow falling lately it's important to know how to make the perfect snowball, right? Per the instructions below, and the help of Elf, it's good information to have on hand. It's also the time of year where snow skiing picks up and ski etiquette is a good lesson to learn, as well. Both of these illustrations are from the ever so informative site The Art of Manliness. It's not just for men anymore. 

Positive affirmations this week:

Just a reminder, it's always better to check on someone than not. This is your reminder to give someone a call, or text that needs to be check up on. Always reach out to those that can't reach out for themselves. If you yourself are struggling, please reach out for help. My email address is in the "About" section on my blog. I am here, too. Let's keep each other afloat.♥

Have a nice weekend.