the raw and the cooked: Recent Episodes

Dara Boxer

raw and honest book reviews and simple kitchen and cooking tips for the busy family

This week on The Raw and the Cooked, I'm sharing my completely accidental Lily King reading binge.

After walking past Heart the Lover at the library for over a year, I finally picked it up—assuming it was a light rom-com (I was very, very wrong). Less than 24 hours later, I had finished it, given it five stars, and immediately downloaded Writers & Lovers. A few days later, I picked up Five Tuesdays in Winter... and suddenly I'd read three Lily King books in a single week.

In this episode, I share what made these stories so captivating, why Heart the Lover has become one of my favorite reads of the year, my thoughts on Writers & Lovers and Five Tuesdays in Winter, and why discovering a new favorite author is one of the greatest joys of being a reader.

If you've been looking for your next literary fiction read, this one's for you.

Books mentioned:

Heart the Lover by Lily King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writers & Lovers by Lily King ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Our fourth baby turns two very soon, and I can finally come up for air, now that the dust has settled in the transition from three to four children. So I figured, today I'd share the sequel to the episode I recorded, back when I only had three children: Episode #82: Going from 1 to 2 to 3 and More | What the Transition Was Like After Each Baby.

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Summer can easily become a season of chaos, so I’ve been focusing on small systems and simple changes that make our home run more smoothly. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 things simplifying my summer — from a bread slicer and better food storage systems to homemade pizza lunches, high-protein yogurt breakfasts, a kitchen reorganization, a simplified wardrobe, slower mornings, and our weekly library hauls.

These are the little rhythms, routines, and tools that are helping our family create a summer that feels lighter, calmer, and more enjoyable:

Bread Slicer
Plastic Wicker Baskets + Wax Paper
Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

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Looking for the perfect summer read? ☀️📚 In this episode, I'm sharing why Abby Jimenez has become my go-to romance author. After finishing Say You'll Remember Me, I realized I've loved every one of her novels I've picked up—a rare feat these days. I compare her books with two other authors I've loved, Emily Henry and Katherine Center, and talk about what happens when a favorite author's formula starts to feel a little too familiar.

We chat about Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, Happy Place, Funny Story, Great Big Beautiful Life, Things You Save in a Fire, How to Walk Away, The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Part of Your World, Yours Truly, Just for the Summer, and Say You'll Remember Me. Plus, I share the surprising fact I learned about Abby Jimenez after finishing her latest novel and why I think her books continue to stand out in a crowded rom-com genre. If you're looking for your next beach read—or just love talking books—I think you'll enjoy this one.

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One of my favorite rhythms we've added to our summer is a weekly trip to the library.

In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've borrowed over the past few weeks—from books I absolutely loved to the ones I returned after only a few chapters. That's the beauty of the library: when the books are free, it's so much easier to take risks on new authors and genres.

Not every book was a winner, but each one taught me something about my reading tastes.

Books Mentioned:

Returned Early

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
A Better World by Sarah Langan
Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Worth Borrowing (But Not Buying)

The Names by Florence Knapp
Exiles by Jane Harper
The Float Test by Lynn Steger Strong
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovitz
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Not for Me

Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

Mentioned in This Episode

Episode #224: Camp Mommy

I'd love to hear from you! Have you read any of these books? What should I borrow from the library next? Come join the conversation on Instagram or leave a comment on the blog.

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Ann Patchett has done it again. In this episode, I'm sharing my spoiler-free thoughts on Whistler, why I think it's one of her strongest novels to date, and the surprising ways it echoes my all-time favorite, Commonwealth.

Then, after a clear spoiler warning, I dive into the themes, family dynamics, and character parallels that had me immediately listening to Commonwealth for the third time. If you're an Ann Patchett fan—or wondering where to start with her work—I think you'll enjoy this conversation.

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This week I'm sharing the non-fiction books I'm exploring in 2026 and what they reveal about the season I'm currently in. From marriage and communication books like Fight Right and You're Not Listening, to health and healing titles such as Good Energy, The Body Keeps the Score, and Healing Trauma, my reading list is centered around healing the body, mind, relationships, and nervous system.

I'm also diving deeper into Torah study through my 5786 Parsha Project, reading works by Dennis Prager, Rabbi Abraham Twerski, Gedale Fenster, Ruchi Koval, Nahum Sarna, D'Vorah Miller, and others, while revisiting favorites like The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Join me as I discuss the books shaping my year, the somatic therapy conference that changed my perspective on healing, and my desire to grow closer to God through wisdom, study, and intentional living.

Several of these books have made such an impact on me that I've recorded entire episodes about them. If one catches your attention, you may enjoy these deeper dives:

66 You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy
197 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
206 Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means

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In a culture that constantly encourages us to upgrade, replace, and start over, there is something deeply countercultural about slowing down long enough to ask: Can this be repaired?

From fixing a stand mixer and restoring outdoor lighting to learning basic sewing and tackling first-time DIY projects, this episode examines how stewardship is about more than saving money. It is about developing skills, building confidence, and discovering that many things—and many people—are far more capable than they first appear. Sometimes the most meaningful things in life become valuable precisely because someone stayed long enough to maintain them. 💛

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This week I'm sharing my thoughts on The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan. We talk about audiobook narrators, friendship, reinvention, second chances, and why I kept inventing household chores just to listen to one more chapter.

Plus, my one major frustration with the story—and why I still ended up loving it.

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Summer is here — and this year, we’re embracing a slower, simpler rhythm. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how I plan our “camp mommy” summers with four little kids: creating gentle structure without overscheduling ourselves, organizing outings, simplifying meals, planning around swim lessons and library trips, and preparing our home for a calmer season. If you’re hoping for a cozy, manageable summer at home with your kids, this episode is for you. 🌾☀️🧺

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This week, I’m talking about something that’s been quietly changing the way I read: slowing down.

For years, I chased ambitious reading goals and measured my reading life by numbers — how many books I finished, how quickly I moved onto the next one, how much I could “keep up.” But lately, I’ve started asking a different question: what’s the point of rushing through books if none of them actually stay with me?

In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on reading slower, highlighting more, abandoning books guilt-free, my complicated relationship with “popcorn thrillers,” and why I’m no longer interested in turning reading into a productivity contest.

Maybe reading isn’t meant to be completed. Maybe it’s meant to be experienced. 📚

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A book shows up in the mailbox and suddenly I’m reading a format I normally avoid. That’s how The Correspondent by Virginia Evans landed in my hands, and it’s why this review turns into something bigger than a thumbs up or thumbs down. When a trusted friend mails you her copy, you can’t help but listen a little closer and I’m glad I did.

We talk through what makes this epistolary novel so readable, even if you think “books written in letters aren’t for me.” The letters feel simple, elegant, and surprisingly gripping, and the structure makes it easy to read in small bursts. At the same time, the story can be painful and intense, with messy relationship dynamics and moments that crack your heart open. I also share what didn’t work for me, including frustrations with Sybil’s choices and a few plot threads that didn’t fully land.

Then we zoom out to the real takeaway: letter writing as a lost art worth reviving. I share my own weekly outgoing mail rhythm, why receiving a handwritten note still feels uniquely human, and how one small habit can cut through the noise of a digital world. If you love book reviews, slow living routines, and practical ways to build connection, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves reading, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show.

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In this episode, I walk through what I call the 2 p.m. reset—those moments in the afternoon when the day starts to feel like it’s slipping away. I paint a realistic picture of that mid-day overwhelm: a messy kitchen, kids needing constant attention, dinner still unplanned, and a growing sense that nothing has really been accomplished yet. I talk about why this time of day feels so hard, not because we’re failing, but because of decision fatigue, energy dips, and the weight of everything still ahead. Then I share a simple, flexible reset I use in real life: choosing one small admin task, one household task, and one thing that helps my future self at dinner time or tomorrow. It’s not about catching up or fixing the whole day—it’s about re-entering the afternoon with a little more clarity, calm, and intention so the rest of the day feels steadier instead of chaotic.

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This week I’m sharing how I actually use AI in my real life as a stay-at-home mom of four—without understanding anything technical. From building flexible routines that actually work, to planning holidays, breaking down home projects, writing emails, meal planning, and even figuring out “clean” products, ChatGPT has quietly become one of the most helpful tools in my home. If you’ve been curious about AI but feel intimidated or behind, this episode is a simple, honest look at how you can start using it in ways that genuinely make your life easier.

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I went into George Saunders’ Vigil with the kind of excitement you only get when an author has already given you a personal classic. Lincoln In The Bardo is still one of my favorite audiobook experiences, the kind that feels less like “listening to a book” and more like being pulled into a full cast performance. So when I saw Vigil drop, I skipped the description, hit purchase, and hoped for that same strange, powerful spark.

What I got instead was something that never emotionally clicked, even with Judy Greer delivering a genuinely great narration. I talk through the moment it dawned on me that the central engine feels uncomfortably familiar: another story built around a liminal space where the living and the dying blur together. Vigil shifts the frame to modern times and a smaller set of characters, but the structural DNA still felt like a repeat rather than a reinvention. And when the story leans into a deathbed-rich-guy vibe mixed with climate change commentary, I found myself asking what the book was trying to be and who it was trying to move.

That doesn’t mean the writing is “bad” at all. Saunders can still drop a sentence that stops you cold, and there are flashes of beauty that remind you why his work gets so much love. But for me, those moments weren’t enough to anchor the experience, and I left feeling more tired than changed. If you’re searching for an honest Vigil review, curious about the Vigil audiobook, or wondering whether Saunders’ new book is worth your time, this conversation will help you decide where you might land.

Subscribe for weekly simple-home routines and raw book reviews, share this with a Saunders fan, and leave a rating or review. Have you read Vigil yet, and did it work for you?

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In this episode, I’m sharing a Q1 budget recap as part of our “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without” year. I walk through what worked over the past three months, including areas where we saved money, lowered recurring expenses, and leaned into a thrift-first mindset for clothing, home items, and kids’ needs.

I also talk about where real life didn’t line up with the budget—things like higher utility bills, car expenses, and annual costs that I didn’t plan for. Some categories weren’t overspending issues, just reality, and it was helpful to see that distinction more clearly.

Finally, I share a few simple shifts I’m making for Q2, including adding sinking funds, adjusting categories, and continuing habits that are already working well. If you’ve been wanting to check in on your own spending without feeling overwhelmed, this is a great place to start.

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Today, I'm sharing three recent favorites I can’t stop thinking about, then unpack one widely loved novel that surprised me in the wrong way.

How To Read A Book by Monica Wood, a prison book club - fun!
What Kind Of Paradise by Janelle Brown as a lingering, introspective audiobook. Set in the late 90's with tech on the horizon and the tension between protection and control
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen as sharp, funny, uncomfortable family drama + why a 500-plus page novel can feel fast when the writing is masterful
An unpopular opinion on Buckeye by Patrick Ryan and what didn’t work for me

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We tie a bow on the rhythmic home series by zooming out to seasonal flow and the small resets that keep our routines working as life changes. We share how we review what’s working, adjust what’s not, and stay grounded as people so our home supports us instead of controlling us.
• zooming out from microhabits and weekly flow to seasonal rhythms
• asking what’s working, what feels chaotic, and what this season needs
• using last year’s photos and notes to plan without reinventing
• doing a light seasonal reset with closets, toy rotation, and budget check-in
• swapping gear for the weather and making seasonal supplies easy to reach
• setting a home goal, personal goal, and relational goal each season
• choosing stewardship over productivity to build a calm, sustainable home
• giving yourself grace when one closet still overwhelms you

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In this episode, we continue the Rhythmic Home series by exploring the layer that often gets overlooked: what’s actually inside your home. Because even with strong habits and a well-planned weekly flow, your home can still feel overwhelming if the volume of what you own is working against you.

We talk through the difference between daily tasks, weekly rhythms, and ongoing projects—and why keeping a running project list can immediately calm mental clutter. From there, we get into a gentle, sustainable approach to decluttering, and finally, the real root of the issue: consumption. This episode will help you shift from constantly managing your home… to thoughtfully curating what enters and stays in it.

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In this second episode of the series on building a rhythmic home, we move from micro-habits into structure — specifically, how to create a daily and weekly flow that actually supports your life. Because the truth is, even the best systems won’t work if your days feel reactive and scattered. This episode walks through how to organize your week in a way that feels calm, flexible, and realistic for motherhood.

We’ll talk about creating one “source of truth” for your tasks, how to sit down and plan your week in just 15 minutes, and the three daily reset anchors that keep a home running smoothly. This episode builds directly on the ideas from Atomic Habits by James Clear — because ultimately, your systems only work if your behaviors support them. And when those two things come together, that’s when a home starts to feel truly sustainable.

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This episode kicks off a special four-part series about what it really takes to run a peaceful, sustainable home. Before we talk about planners, weekly rhythms, and seasonal resets, we have to start somewhere much smaller: our habits. Because the truth is, a calm home isn’t built on heroic cleaning days or perfect organizational systems. It’s built on tiny decisions we make throughout the day.

In this episode, I’m sharing twenty motherhood micro-habits that quietly keep a home running — things like never leaving a room empty-handed, doing quick five-minute resets, and using simple habit stacking to make routines easier. These small behaviors compound over time and create the kind of environment that supports your family rather than overwhelms you.

Much of this episode is inspired by the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, which beautifully explains why tiny actions repeated consistently lead to massive results over time. Before we design systems for our homes, we have to look at behavior — because systems plus behavior equals a sustainable home.

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In Part 9 of What We Ate This Week, I’m sharing a very full February week — what we ate, how I prepped, and what we spent as a family of six after returning from travel.

This week includes:

A full fridge reset after vacation
Two Trader Joe’s runs + one Costco trip
Scratch cooking (as always)
Frozen cookie dough confessions 🍪
Homemade tortillas 🌮
Shabbat rhythms ✨
And how I manage leftovers so I don’t cook on Saturdays

Total grocery spend: $309
Dining out (besides airport): $0

What I Prepped This Week 🥣

Hard-boiled eggs
Sourdough pancakes
Homemade sandwich bread
One loaf sourdough
Blueberry scones
Frozen cookie dough balls
Sourdough tortillas
Roasted chickpeas
Challah for Shabbat
Pre-packed school lunches
Washed + chopped snack vegetables & fruit

Meals Mentioned 🍽️

Chicken noodle soup
Lentil soup (freezer stash win)
Meatloaf + mashed potatoes + Brussels sprouts
Slow cooker chicken taco bowls
Sheet pan salmon + frozen vegetable mix
Steak + salad + challah (Shabbat dinner)

Systems That Are Working ✔️

Bulk mashed potatoes for future meals
Frozen cookie dough for emergency dessert
Large after-school snack platter
Homemade bread rotation
Leftover-only Saturdays

Budget Notes 💸

Goal: Keep groceries under $1,200/month
Reality this week: Higher than average due to post-trip restock
Win: Zero restaurant spending (minus unavoidable airport food)

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This year, I’m treating 2026 like a stewardship reset.

In this episode, I walk through the discretionary spending categories I’m tracking — groceries, household sundries, kids’ gear, memberships, family outings, clothing, and more — and how I’m identifying the “slow bleeds” that quietly add up. I also share why I’m prioritizing second-hand purchases, repairing before replacing, and using what we already have (yes, even the unopened lipsticks).

We simply have enough. And this year, I want to live like it.

Previous Episodes on Budgets:

31: Fluid Budgeting and a Spending Freeze Part I
32: Sinking Funds, Budgeting Part II
105: 2024 Budgeting for a Smooth Year
188: Raw Monthly Budget | What My Family of Six Actually Spends

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This week, I’m talking about the Ten Commandments, and why I believe they are still a blueprint for human flourishing today. I share my thoughts on integrity, faith, and choosing what is right in a world that often celebrates the opposite.

If you’ve been feeling unsettled by what you see in the culture, this episode is an invitation to choose light, truth, and moral clarity — imperfectly, but sincerely.

Other Shabbat Episodes:

193: The Radical Gift of Sabbath
96: How and Why the Sabbath Balances Out Your Weekly Flow

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February can feel endless—especially when you’re home with little kids, battling cold temps, cabin fever, and low energy. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest, gentle “survival guide” for making it through winter without burning out. From at-home lattes and simple meals to lowering the bar, leaning on community, and finding small things to look forward to, this is a reminder that you don’t have to thrive right now—you just have to get through. If you’re feeling tired, foggy, overstimulated, or lonely, this episode is for you.

Psst. The grout renewal I found!

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In this week’s episode, I’m sharing how I actually live a “good energy” life with four kids under seven—without biohacking or perfection. From sleep hacks, gentle daily movement, and mindful alcohol habits to whole-food meals, slow cooking, and simple personal care swaps, I walk through the small changes that make a real difference in day-to-day energy and long-term health.

No judgment, no impossible routines—just honest, relatable ways to feel more awake, grounded, and energized as a busy parent. If you’ve ever wondered how self-care and wellness fit into a full household with little kids, this episode is for you.

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I’m sharing a no-holds-barred reading roundup: four books I couldn’t put down (even when I didn’t love them), and four that just didn’t stick. From edge-of-your-seat thrillers to impulsive library grabs that pleasantly surprised me, we dive into what made these pages fly—or flop. Spoiler: “page-turner” doesn’t always mean “masterpiece,” and sometimes the books you think you’ll love… you just can’t finish.

If you’re hunting for your next read—or avoiding a disappointment—this episode’s got you covered. I’ll spill what kept me up past bedtime, what made me gasp, and what made me slam the book shut. Plus, my thoughts are unapologetically subjective, so don’t take it personally if your favorite shows up on my DNF (Did Not Finish) list. Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s talk books.

Books Discussed:
Must-Reads / Couldn’t Put Down:

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Prom Mom by Laura Lippman
Cabin Fever by Alex Dahl
You Deserve to Know by Aggie Blum Thompson

Did Not Finish / Overrated for Me:
5. You're Safe Here by Leslie Stevens

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
I Don’t Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson
November 9 by Colleen Hoover

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What if fatigue, brain fog, cravings, and mood swings weren’t random—but signals from your cells asking for help?

In this episode, we break down Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means and translate metabolic health into real life. We explain the five key markers that act like a dashboard for how well your body makes and uses energy—and why so many “normal” symptoms are early warning signs, not destiny.

We connect modern life to mitochondrial stress: ultra-processed food, poor sleep, blue light at night, sedentary days, constant temperature comfort, and chronic stress. We explore insulin resistance, inflammation, why the brain often suffers first, and why kids and teens are especially vulnerable.

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a simple playbook you can start today: better sleep, morning light, real food, shorter eating windows, daily movement, and tracking what actually matters. Small changes compound—and your cells respond faster than you think.

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In Judaism, we sometimes call God ‘Hashem,’ which means ‘The Name.’ I love this word — it feels close and loving. In today’s episode, I’m sharing something a little softer and more reflective. Lately I’ve been feeling deeply aligned and blessed in this season of life — not because everything is perfect (it never is), but because I’m becoming more aware of Hashem’s presence in the day-to-day moments of motherhood, home life, and growth.

This episode is about contentment, trust, alignment, and learning to receive the life we already have — with gratitude and humility. I talk about noticing blessings, softening into faith, and how grounding routines and rhythms help me stay centered when things feel chaotic.

If you’re also craving peace, meaning, or spiritual rootedness in the middle of a full life with little ones — this one’s for you. 💛

Thanks for being here.

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✨ Happy 2026! We made it through the holidays and now get that beautiful fresh-start energy that January brings. I am so here for it.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing my very favorite baby and toddler books — the ones we reach for again and again with our 16-month-old and our preschoolers, and honestly the ones our older kids still love, too.

Rather than focusing on a specific age, these are simply the books that:

have a great rhythm or rhyme
are fun to read aloud (over and over again!)
have engaging illustrations
and bring joy to our home library

Because you know that feeling when your child hands you a book… and the cadence is clunky, the story drags, or the pictures just don’t land? (Looking at you, Harold and the Purple Crayon — I know it’s a classic, but it’s just not my favorite 🫣)

So today, I’m sharing the opposite of that — the books that are genuinely delightful.

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Today, I'm sharing the impulse buys that shaped a year at home with four kids, from sleep-regression gear that flopped to kitchen tools, kid storage, and one antique desk that changed everything. Honest wins, painful misses, and the small upgrades that make family life smoother.

Kitchen:

Apple Slicer
Sour Dough Bread Knife
USA Loaf Pans
Silicone Tipped Metal Straws
Martha Stewart Cake Stand with Glass Dome

Home

Moss Poles for Plants
Fine Mist Continuous Spray Bottles
Rosemary and Ginger Handsoap
Puzzle Glue
Sharpie Pastel Highlighters
Mesh Laundry Bags
Small Bluetooth Speaker
Automatic Pet Feeder

Baby

Corolla Mini Baby Doll
Tripod Clip Fan
Slumber Pod
Baby Gate
Infant Stanley Cup

Big Kids

Bubble Machine
Bug Boys Graphic Novels
Hot Wheels Displays
Lego Organizer
Initial Fanny Pack

Clothing, etc.

Steamer for Clothes +

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Bug Boys: (A Graphic Novel)

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I’m sharing my favorite books of 2025 — the ones that stayed with me, challenged me, comforted me, or simply pulled me through a heavy season.

This year, I read 55 books (and counting), and today I’m narrowing it down to the 13 books I loved the most. These picks span fiction and nonfiction, parenting, faith, health, and pure escapism — a true snapshot of my reading life this year.

December feels heavy. The sun sets early. Everything feels like effort. And yet, there is nothing like a really good book. This episode is for anyone craving depth, distraction, or nourishment through reading.

Books Mentioned in This Episode (in no particular order):

God of the Woods by Liz Moore
The Wedding People by AlisonEspach
Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Bright Years by Sarah Damnoff
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
The Rational Bible by Dennis Prager
Good Energy by Casey Means
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens
What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

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Today I'm sharing Winter Dinners that will save your sanity. One-pot and one-sheet-pan meals for busy, cold nights that'll make winter cooking easier.

Recipes & Meals Mentioned:

Slow Cooker Sunday
• Simple slow-cooker chicken
• Honey Butter Chicken (Naptime Kitchen–inspired)

Ground Beef Monday
• Meatloaf
• Chili
• Meatballs

Asian Tuesday
• Coconut milk chicken with kale
• Korean tacos
• Fishbird Chicken
• Butter Chicken Meatballs

Salmon Wednesday
• Sheet-pan salmon + roasted vegetable

Thursday Simple Night
• Grilled cheese + tomato soup
• Minestrone
• Carrot ginger soup
• Turkey sandwiches

Friday One-Pot Chicken
• Chicken pot pie
• Butternut squash–chicken–rice bake
• Quinoa–sweet potato–chicken sausage bake
• Marry Me Chicken

Bonus Meals
• Sheet-pan chicken thighs, potatoes & Brussels sprouts
• Extra batch rice & mashed potatoes prep

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We celebrate 200 episodes by tracing the path from a 2015 blog to a no-ads show, then unpack the five listener favorites that keep you coming back. Books lead the way, followed by kids’ reads, cleanup systems, family routines, and flexible budgeting.

Top Book Review Episodes:

25 Paper Palace
104 Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
109 The Collected Regrets of Clover
179 The Wedding People
159 Here One Moment
99 Remarkably Bright Creatures

And Other Top 10 Listener Favorites:

46 Toddler Books We Currently Love
140 Systematically Cleaning Up the Kitchen After a Meal
178 Bedtime Routines with Four Kids Under Six
31 Fluid Budgeting, and a Spending Freeze

Please leave me a review on Spotify or on Apple Podcast!

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Today, I dive into Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan, a memoir that ties parenting to the Bible's rhythm, and how I used it to build a curated list of 92 children’s books for our family library. I share what resonated, what I skipped, and how I turned the list into holiday gifts you can copy.

The 92 Children's Book Recommendations.

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Laundry doesn’t have to be overwhelming, even in a big family. In this episode, I walk you through the system that works for us:

Why one small load every morning is the backbone of my laundry routine
How I fit switching loads into our natural daily flow (even with preschool drop-offs and activities)
My simple rhythm for sheets, towels, and diapers — and why bi-weekly is plenty in our house
The trick to keeping laundry folded and put away (without it piling up)
Why doing smaller, steady loads beats saving it all for one exhausting laundry day

This isn’t about doing laundry perfectly — it’s about finding a rhythm that fits into real family life, accidents, messes, and all.

If you’ve ever felt buried under laundry, I hope this episode gives you permission to keep it simple and manageable.

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In this week’s episode, I’m diving into one of my all-time favorite books, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer — a gentle but radical call to slow down and live with more peace, purpose, and presence. 🌿 I share how this book has shaped my family’s rhythm, deepened our Shabbat practice, and reminded me that we’re allowed to live differently — unhurried, intentional, and grounded in what really matters.

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Fall settles in as we map a full week of family dinners, pack smarter school lunches, and share the exact grocery spend that made it work. From soup and meatloaf to salmon and chili, we show how one plan and a few batch tricks stretch flavor, time, and budget.

• soup Sundays with tomato soup and sourdough grilled cheese
• meatloaf Monday with buttery mashed potatoes and a green
• quick Asian Tuesday chicken with coconut milk over rice
• hot sheet-pan salmon, rosemary mushroom cream, and leftovers strategy
• chili Friday and an easy family rotisserie Saturday
• three dozen hard-boiled eggs for snacks and gym mornings
• DIY lemon ginger shots to replace store-bought wellness shots
• Bento lunch system to pack eight lunches in two sessions
• nut-free lunch ideas and cleaner snack swaps for kids
• full grocery tally at $210 and $61 dining out
• small wins and mishaps, from missing milk to better ketchup

We’ll post the chicken with coconut milk recipe in the show notes.

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I'm sharing ten simple shifts that made our home calmer, kinder, and more joyful, from fall break routines and kid chores to one-pot dinners and paper cycle tracking. The theme of this episode is gratitude!

Long fall break without school rush
Kids stepping up with dishes, sweeping, resets, laundry
Monochrome gym uniforms to cut decisions
- Favorite cropped tee
- Plum quarter zip
- Navy quarter zip
Building a small real-clothes capsule
Early mornings with Scripture and prayer
One-pot curries, rice on repeat, frozen ginger cubes
Habit stacking coffee maker and feeding sourdough starter
Boxed pumpkin bread as a seasonal shortcut
Page-turner thrillers to restart reading joy
Paper cycle tracking with daily body cues

44: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part I, #115: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part II, #131: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part III

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Our first sukkah, a broken foot, and a reminder that curveballs aren’t rejections — they’re invitations. This week taught me about slowing down, showing up anyway, and finding joy in the middle of the mess. 🕊️

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This week I’m sharing about one of my favorite rhythms in our family life: Sabbath. Why we keep it, how it shapes our week, and why rest is good for everyone — body, soul, family, and culture.

I’ll talk about our own Sabbath table, the prep that makes it possible, and some wisdom from Genesis and beyond that has helped me see rest as not just a pause, but a gift.

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Today's episode is a Part II of breaking free from cell phone addiction by turning smartphones into "dumb phones." Reclaiming our attention through intentional boundaries, mainly by living like it's 1995 again.

• Deleting apps like banking, email, shopping, and browsers forces intentional computer-based usage
• Setting boundaries like no phone before 7am and designated check-in times reduces compulsive checking
• Switching to paper grocery lists and physical tracking systems eliminates constant phone dependency
• Leaving the phone in the car during errands creates freedom from constant digital connection
• Using an actual camera instead of phone camera brings back nostalgic imperfection in photography
• Placing the phone in one location at home (like an old house phone) prevents room-to-room carrying
• Weekly 25-hour "phone Sabbath" provides complete digital detox from Friday to Saturday night

If this journey inspires you to make changes in your own phone habits, I'd love to hear about your experience!

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I share my journey through 14 books read this summer - ten adult fiction and four children's books - reviewing the highlights, disappointments, and unexpected emotional moments along the way.

• My standout favorite was "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach, likely to be in my top five books of the year
• "Ask for Andrea" by Noelle Wehe captivated me with its unique perspective from murder victims in the afterlife
• Some highly-rated books like "The Grace Year" and "Don't Forget to Write" fell completely flat for me
• "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo made me ugly cry twice while reading it to my children
• Children's book "Pax" by Sarah Penny Packer dealt with themes too heavy for young children despite my initial excitement
• Some unexpected additions to my summer reading included Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Atmosphere" and Dr. Becky Kennedy's parenting guide
• Books that receive universal acclaim online can still be disappointing to individual readers
• The most satisfying reads often come from unexpected places

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Digital clutter may not take up physical space, but it consumes valuable mental bandwidth and creates background anxiety we often ignore. This episode provides a comprehensive September reset for five key digital areas.

• Phone usage is examined through the lens of "pickups" rather than screen time—revealing how we check phones every 8 minutes on average
• Simple strategies for breaking phone addiction include app deletion, grayscale display, and designated check-in times
• Computer organization focuses on desktop cleanup, download folder purging, and refreshing wallpapers
• Email management tips include separate addresses for different purposes (personal, kids' activities, shopping)
• Photo organization works best with timed 10-minute sessions, starting with older photos where emotional attachment is lower
• Color-coded family calendars serve as the "single source of truth" with different colors for each family member and activity type
• Breaking digital decluttering into small, manageable 10-minute sessions makes the process less overwhelming

Join me in this digital reset journey—I've already reduced my phone pickups from 90 to 37 per day and feel mentally lighter. I'd love to hear your thoughts on phone usage and digital decluttering strategies!

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"The Bright Years" by Sarah Damnoff is a debut novel that explores addiction's devastating impact across three generations of a family. This powerful story unfolds over three decades through alternating perspectives, weaving together themes of alcoholism, adoption, redemption, and the resilience of imperfect love.

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Ever wonder what a real family budget looks like? This week I’m opening up our June 2025 numbers — every dollar we spent on groceries, clothes, dining out, birdseed (yes), birthday parties, and last-minute ice cream runs.

I’m sharing where the impulse spending sneaks in, what makes it worth it, and how I think about money not just as math but as a living record of our values, chaos, and care.

Come peek behind the budget curtain. I hope it inspires you to look at your own spending with a little more honesty — and a lot more grace.

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September has a way of rushing in with new routines, school schedules, and endless lists, leaving us feeling like we’re already behind. But what if this month didn’t have to feel so overwhelming?

In this episode, I’m sharing how I’m experimenting with a gentler rhythm for fall — including my idea of a “fall dashboard” to keep things simple — and how we can give ourselves permission to focus on what matters now, instead of everything at once.

Full Post Here.

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This week on the podcast, I’m sharing exactly what our family of six ate over the course of a full summer week—plus what we spent on groceries and dining out. With my dad visiting, it was a lively, food-filled few days of sourdough baking, summer dinners, and simple breakfasts. Tune in for a peek at our real-life meal rhythm, how I balance homemade with easy wins, and the total cost of feeding our crew this July.

Mentioned Recipes:

Sourdough Brownies 🍫
Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies 🍪
Sourdough Tortillas 🌮
Greek Chicken Marinade 🍋

Full Post Here.

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In this episode of The Raw and the Cooked, I’m taking you inside a typical summer weekday morning in our house—with four kids under six, it’s as wild and sweet as you’d imagine. From the early wake-up call (courtesy of the cat) to swim lessons, snack prep, and that sacred solo coffee shop hour, I’m sharing the rhythms that help keep things (mostly) running. If you’re deep in the trenches too, I hope this one makes you feel a little less alone.

Full Post Here.

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The magic of audiobooks lies in the unique relationship between listener and narrator. Just as our parents became our first storytellers, reading bedtime stories with dramatic voices and engaging inflections, today's professional narrators transform words on a page into immersive experiences. The right narrator can elevate a good story into something extraordinary—think of George Saunders' "Lincoln in the Bardo" with its hundred-voice cast, or the perfect pacing in "Daisy Jones and the Six" that brings its interview format to vibrant life.

Mentioned Audiobooks:

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Bye, Baby by Caroline Lovering
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Ask for Andrea by Noelle Ihli

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This replay dives into the magic of pan sauces — how they work, when to make them, and why they’re a shortcut to flavor and elegance. You’ll hear tips for building sauces from the bits left in the pan, plus my go-to combos that save dinner again and again.

The Wooden Spoon

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Stop cooking every night, especially in the thick of summer time. Today, we're going to discuss stretching three meals into seven nights with the help of batch cooking.

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Today, I'm sharing five simple strategies to transform your kitchen into a stress-free space where you'll actually enjoy cooking, focusing on manageable daily actions that create long-term impact.

• Clean up completely after every meal, including a "three-minute sweep" to remove non-kitchen items that accumulate on countertops
• Gradually declutter cabinets and drawers while putting away clean dishes, removing broken items and duplicates you never use
• Reorganize kitchen storage based on frequency of use, putting regularly used items in accessible spots
• Implement regular meal planning to reduce food waste, save money, and eliminate mealtime stress
• Decant pantry staples into clear containers for easy visual inventory and declutter specialty ingredients you rarely use

Take these changes slowly and steadily—even implementing just the meal planning will give you a sense of calm and clarity in your kitchen.

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Meal planning doesn't need to be complicated or time-consuming to be effective. We break down a simple four-step system that will transform your weeknight dinner routine and eliminate the daily stress of deciding what to cook.

• Determine exactly how many nights you'll be cooking each week
• Create a list of 3-5 "staple meals" that you enjoy making and your family enjoys eating
• Check your fridge and pantry for ingredients that need to be used up
• Fill in your calendar with specific meals, drawing from your staples
• Keep meals simple with the protein-starch-vegetable formula
• Maintain just a handful of starches in your pantry to simplify planning
• Prep vegetables in advance by roasting them with simple seasonings
• Create your grocery list based on your meal plan
• Include an "everything must go" night to reduce food waste
• Remember that most families prefer a rotation of favorite meals rather than constant variety

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I'm completely swept away by "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach, a book that surprised me with its raw honesty and emotional depth. This winner of the 2024 Goodreads Favorite Fiction award deserves every bit of its 4.1-star rating and half-million reviews.

• Audiobook narrator Helen Lazor delivers an exceptional performance, bringing characters to life with distinct voices
• The premise follows Phoebe, who checks into a hotel to end her life, and accidentally connects with bride-to-be Lila
• Their unlikely friendship forms the heart of the story, creating genuine humor amid serious themes
• The book handles the topic of suicide with remarkable grace and sensitivity
• Character arcs feel authentic and earned, with transformations that emerge naturally
• All characters feel fully developed, even those we aren't meant to particularly like
• The ending provides satisfaction while avoiding predictability
• This ranks as my top read of 2025 so far, a book that lingers long after the final page

If you've read "The Wedding People," I'd love to hear your thoughts! If you haven't picked it up yet, I highly recommend giving it a chance.

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Managing evening routines with four kids under six presents daily challenges that require flexibility, patience, and a consistent framework. Parenthood transforms us into versions of ourselves we never imagined possible, handling the beautiful chaos of young family life.

• Striking a balance between consistent bedtime routines and summer flexibility
• Reset the entire house after dinner with a family "power tidy" system
• Divide evening responsibilities between partners without rigid role assignments
• Implement age-appropriate chores for children as young as four years old
• Coordinate multiple bedtime routines simultaneously while maintaining sanity
• Find small moments of personal time even within chaotic evenings
• Recognize that the intensity of parenting multiple young children is temporary
• Acknowledge both the exhaustion and the deep pride of raising young children

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This episode is part confession, part therapy, for any mom drowning under a sea of plastic toys, overzealous grandparents, and the guilt that keeps you from tossing it all in a donation bin. I’m sharing what our kids bedrooms really looks like (hint: 5 baskets of stuffed animals, and that’s just the start), the infamous Belle doll incident that broke me, and how I’m learning to set boundaries, release guilt, and reclaim our space. We’ll talk systems, scripts, and why you are allowed to say, “This doesn’t belong here.” It’s not about the stuff—it’s about protecting your peace, your kids’ imaginations, and your home’s heartbeat. If you need permission to do a ruthless toy purge, this is it.

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In honor of our late cousin Tim, I wanted to carry his birthday card legacy alive and well —armed with a spreadsheet, stamps, and a stack of Trader Joe’s finest $1 cards. In this episode, I share the surprisingly simple system that keeps me organized, why the little act of sending a card matters more than you think, and how you can keep the kindness ripple going in your own mailbox. Because maybe we all need a little less scrolling and a little more postage stamps.

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We're talking all about starting solids with sanity for babies around six to twelve months, sharing raw and honest approaches without losing your mind during this beautiful yet messy period of development.

• Most nutrition from birth to 12 months comes from milk/formula - solid foods are just a bonus
• Starting with simple whole foods like blueberries, bananas, and avocados requires minimal prep
• Balance both baby-led weaning for independence and purees for added nutrition
• Constipation challenges are normal - pears, prunes and peaches help get things moving
• Sanity-saving supplies: silicone bibs with catchers, easy-clean high chairs, and freezing homemade purees
• Feed babies in just a diaper to avoid constant outfit changes
• The "decoy spoon" trick: give baby a spoon to hold while using another to feed them
• Expose babies to family meals when possible but have backup options ready
• Give yourself grace - some days will be homemade purees, some days will be Cheerios

Just remember this challenging phase is temporary but meaningful - we're teaching our children that food is colorful, fun and nourishing.

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In this episode, I’m sharing my top picks for summer reading in 2025, from literary fiction and psychological thrillers to gripping dystopian tales. I also have a special selection for children ages 4-7, if you're planning on taking any family roadtrips, these would make excellent audiobooks!

Read along with me this summer! Summer 2025 List:

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
The Quiet Tenant by Clemance Michallon
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

Four Children's Books (ages ~4 to 7 years old)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

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After a week of sickness, missed routines, and general chaos, getting back on track can feel overwhelming. In this gentle, honest episode, I share what it looks like to reset slowly—without pressure or perfection. From freezer meals and fresh bedsheets to spiritual grounding and small acts of beauty, this is an invitation to begin again with compassion. Whether you’re coming off a lost week or just craving a softer reentry into daily life, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to bounce back all at once.

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Welcome to Installment #6 of What We Ate This Week, how I prepped and what I spent! This was a lovely and smooth week filled with simple meals, lots of grilling, and zero food waste. The grand total for the 6 of us was $250+ for two Trader Joes trips and a super quick Costco run.

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This week, we're diving into God of the Woods, a gripping literary mystery set in the Adirondacks. With shifting timelines, vivid imagery, and rich character work, Liz Moore weaves a haunting story of family secrets and long-buried truths. Stay tuned through the end for a spoiler segment and one big lingering question.

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If you flinch every time someone asks “What’s for dinner?”—you’re not alone. In this episode, we unpack why that one simple question feels so loaded, especially for moms juggling the mental load. I share real talk on meal planning stress, emotional exhaustion, and why the timing of that question makes it feel like a personal attack. Plus, I offer practical tips (and a little humor) to make dinner planning just a little easier.

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I’ve really noticed a difference in how much less overwhelmed I feel. The best part? I’m not trying to keep everything in my head anymore. If you’re anything like me, that mental load can get heavy. But having this simple, month-by-month reference has made it so much easier to keep everything on track.

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Baby #1 Birth Story — Episode #41
Baby #2 Birth Story — Episode #42
Baby #3 Birth Story — Episode #92
Baby #4 Birth Story — Episode #146

Practical Resources:

The Mama Natural by Genevieve Howland
Ina Mya's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Pro Tips:

Ask for Natera's self-pay option - $250
Fresh Test for alternative glucose screenings (non-GMO, gluten free, artificial flavoring free, dye free, BPA free and preservative free)

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Five Overrated Books I've Read Recently:

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
The Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

PS. The new to us children’s book we loved: Truman by Jean Reidy

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Outdoor Spring Activities with Kids

Nature Walks: Around the neighborhood, a new to you trail, or park
Staring a Simple Gardening
Picnics, try one in your own backyard!
Exploring New-to-You Playgrounds / Parks / Trails
Biking + Walking + Scootering around the neighborhood
Outdoor Art Projects (using chalk, grass, flowers, rocks, & sticks)
Bird Watching -- so fun!

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So much to love with this novel, however the ending was terrible that made so little sense.

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Mindfulness Practices Motherhood This Spring:

Evening cup of tea
Daily gratitude journaling
Moment of mindfulness in the mornings
Phone-free time challenge
Mindful listening

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I tracked all my 20204 impulse purchases on Amazon and Target. Here are the things I loved, and worked out super well, in addition to all the things I deeply regret.

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Peaks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work for You by Spencer Johnson

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Oh boy, this book left me very underwhelmed, which was a bit disappointing from a Liane Moriarty book! Here's why...

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Starting the day with an empty dishwasher. This typically happens the night before, it’s the last thing my husband does before coming up stairs for bed.
The daily load of laundry, ideally started first thing in the morning
A shower. Doesn’t happen everyday, at this point
10-15 minutes of weights and or a 30+ minute stroller walk
One small home task, like vacuuming a room, or wiping down the bathroom, organizing a drawer, etc.
A clean kitchen after breakfast + a home reset before leaving the house
Dinner prep while my kids eat lunch
Reseting the coffee maker for the next day
Another home reset during post-lunch nap / quiet time
Rest in bed while kids are napping / doing quiet time.
Putting together a snack plate for my kids before my daughter gets home from school
Resetting school backpacks
Putting away the load of laundry from the morning
Getting a healthy and delicious home cooked meal on the table
Durning down the home for the night by shutting blinds, taking out the trash, starting the dishwasher

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Welcome to Installment #5 of WWATW, how I prepped and what I spent! This was an unusual week for us, as we had two epic snowstorms, so grocery shopping and meal planning were very much fly by night. We did manage to get groceries mid-week and the grand total for the 6 of us was $228 at Trader Joes.

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A very daunting, but totally doable task! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you tackle this beast in bite sized chunks:

Upload and sort all photos from your phone, digital camera, USBs, etc. to an external hard drive (I have this one 1T External Hard Drive). Go slowly, month by month, year by year.
From there, delete excess from your phone, digital camera, USBs, etc.
Pick out favorites from each event / year — Upload to DropBox, Google Drive, Amazon Photos as a 3rd back-up choice
Print physical copies of favorite photos (mPix is a great place!), and update photo frames around house
Order photo boxes for each child, and fill them as the years by by
Finally order 2024 Book -- Episode #49 How to Curate a Family Yearbook
Another item I've been negligent on are baby books, so that's getting added to this projects list!

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Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black

Each of these were quite enjoyable!

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

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The most important piece of the puzzle for 2 Under 2 is grace and patience for yourself. You're doing great, this is a very challenging season of life! Second, here are a few past episodes that will help get your home squared away, because life is hard enough:

45: A Simple Laundry Routine
37: A Simple Cleaning Schedule Throughout the Week
36: Simple Meal Prepping Throughout the Week
113: Simple Everyday Habits for the SAHM
98: 10 Rules for Getting Things Done in Busy Seasons
72: Finding Time to Exercise Surrounded by Little Screaming People
74: A Consistent Bedtime Routine for Moms

Book resource: How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7

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How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 (The How To Talk Series)

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A survival guide to life with children ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Motel
The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Shefali Tsabary
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by Comer, John Mark *
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Tolle, Eckhart
You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Murphy, Kate *
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay Gibson
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

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Some ideas for planning out 2025 during this slower week, the last week of the year:

Digital Declutter
- phone
- email
- laptop
- photos
Closet Cleanout
Unsubscribing to Junkmail
Writing out Goals for 2025
Moving into new 2025 planner
Reviewing finances from this past year
A new plant!

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The PLAN by Kendra Adachi is a NO for me. The feminist rage was just off the chart here, in addition to the inception of acronym and list within acronyms and lists, it was just so much here, yet nothing at all. I guess that's what happens when you try to market a book to everyone?

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Our fourth trimester is coming to a rapid end soon, and I wanted to share the experience and what it was like the fourth time around. What was easier, what was harder, and all the beautiful messy things in between. And what life is like with four kids under six years old.

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TLDR; preparation and a fresh perspective!

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Our fourth baby is here! We delivered her at a birth center at 40+1 weeks. It was an uncomplicated delivery up until the tail end, overall a very positive experience.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
The Survivors by Jane Harper
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
Wayward by Emilia Hart
Funny Story by Emily Henry

Other books I read this summer:

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
How to Walk into a Room by Emily Freeman
Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Friends with Secrets by Christine Gunderson
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano
The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

Welcome to another episode of WWATW (What We Ate This Week), How I Prepped and What I Spent (hint: it was a lot $$$)!

Don't let this episode stress you out. These are all gentle suggestions of things to maybe think through if you're in your second or third trimester. Even if you do nothing, you and your baby will survive!

Just 38 weeks pregnant, and super hormonal, reflecting on what a blessing it is to raise little children, that's all.

Today, I'm reviewing three popular 2024 summer romance novels (spoiler: I strongly disliked two of them):

Funny Story by Emily Henry
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Just for the Summer by Abby Jiminez

These are the cleared zipper pouches I use.

And here is the Tote Savvy Bag.

Starting a 75 Hard / 75 Soft / 75 Mom / 75 Pregnancy Challenge is the perfect way to focus your mind, body, and spirit. And that's exactly what I'm looking forward to during these last few weeks of my fourth pregnancy. Here's my super adapted version of the 75 Pregnancy Challenge:

Drink a gallon of water every day (128-ounces = 1 gallon) — this will include a mix of water and coconut water for the electrolytes.
Exercise 2-3 times per week for 45 minutes -- this will include an upper and lower body workout + a walk
Read 10 pages of a book everyday
No screens past 9pm — this is for my mental health more than anything. It’s so easy to find myself scrolling on X until 10 / 1030 / 11pm when the best thing to do is to unplug, and not have the last thing I look at be a blue screen.
Gratitude journal — because the days are long and hard with three kids, and it just keeps a healthy spirit.
Take a picture everyday, I like this idea, mainly because I’ve gotten really terrible with taking photos. I hardly take them anymore, yet I know I’ll be thrilled to have them. Especially during this sweet time as a family of 5 for just a few more weeks.

And continuing on in the Toddler Books We Currently Love Series, today we have installment number 4. My three children are 5 and under, and that's the target audience for most of these books:

Piranahas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey
Eat Pete by Michael Rex
Snail Crossing by Corey Tabor
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Alice ’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol
Ten in a Hurry by Lo Cole
Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson
Don’t Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello by Barbara Garriel
999 Frogs and a Little Brother by Ken Kimura
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen
The Dinos on the Bus by Peter Millett
Spot Goes to the Farm by Eric Hill
Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet by Kelly DiPucchio
Bad Dog by Mike Boldt

Also, be sure to listen to Parts 1-3!

Episode #13: Toddler Books We Currently Love, Part 1
Episode #46: Toddler Books We Currently Love, Part 2
Episode #81: Toddler Books We Currently Love, Part 3

Welcome back to another episode of What We Ate This Week, How I Prepped, & What I Spent in a Week as a family of 5!

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Pasta Bolognese
Lemon-Berry Crumb Cake

And the beloved cherry pitter!

Using paper plates on Friday nights and when we host our family & friends has simplified my life so much.

And here other ways I've made my life easier as a SAHM to 3 kids 5 and under:

In busy parking lots, having my kids all get in and out of the car through the same door
Making an afternoon snack plate
Rotisserie chicken for dinner, and hot dogs for lunch on Costco Run days
Dedicate one day for running errands, or batch them with appointments or other commitments (episode #106)
Small load of laundry every morning (episode #45)
Scheduling my workouts and sticking with it
Keeping approved snacks on a shelf where my kids can reach
Having a weekly meal plan (episode #36)
A simple and do-able cleaning schedule (episode #37)
Different to-go pouches for throwing together a bag (future episode to come!)

PS. the set of disposable party plates we use

Today, we’re going to talk about keeping the playroom clean, tidy, and organized for a more peaceful home.

As for the clean and tidy portion of our episode, I wanted to say again how much I really loved the book How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis, the best thing I took from her book is the 5 Step Cleaning method. The basics of the method is that there are only ever 5 kinds of items found in any cluttered or messy room:

trash
dishes
laundry
things out of place and
things that DON'T have a place (yet)....

Today, we’re going to discuss the ten books I plan to read this summer and I’m hoping you’ll join me, so we can discuss and have a large and in charge book club episode at the end of summer:

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
The Survivors by Jane Harper
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
Wayward by Emilia Hart
Funny Story by Emily Henry
*The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren * (bonus read!)

Dear Contemporary Fiction Authors, please stop including Covid in your novels, Sincerely a Lover of Contemporary Fiction.

As with everything, there are constant changes. Especially with growing children. On today's episode, I'm sharing an updated list of the 10 things that are simplifying my life right now with a 5, 3, and 1 year old at home.

We only have 18 summers with them.

Now is a great time to evaluate what your average week will look like come summer, with all the appointments, and activities, and summer camps, and commitments, and cleaning, and meal prep, and laundry, and really stopping to evaluate if you have margin in your schedule to start tackling additional items on your to-do list. Is there a project you’ve been putting off? Is there a goal on your annual list you’ve been ignoring? Or is your schedule so jam packed this summer that the thought of adding anything on is hurting your brain?

Salad dressings
Mayonnaise & BBQ Sauce & Ketchup
Taco Seasoning & Fajita Seasoning
Sour dough & homemade breads & challahs
Tomato sauce
Breadcrumbs
Chicken stock — next time you roast a whole chicken or purchase a rotisserie chicken, save the bones and skin. Freezes beautifully.
Coffee! Still have to buy the beans and milk, but brewed at home rather than $6 at a coffee shop
New to us, but nut milks. Almond milk, cashew milk, etc.
Trail mix

Today I'm reviewing the five latest mystery / thriller novels I recently read:

Murder Road by Simone St. James
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Salthouse Place by Jamie Lee Sogn

Taking your home cooking to the next level with a few tools that make a huge difference!

Lemon Juicer
Microplane Grater
Variety of Wooden Spoons
Garlic Press
Good Quality Kitchen Sheers
Bench Scraper
Handheld Mandolin
Potato Masher
Y-shaped Vegetable Peeler
Norpro Silicone Mixing Bowls
A Kitchen Scale
Silicone Ice Cube Molds
Immersion Blender
Nested Prep Bowls
Dutch Oven

Sometimes, taking a good hard look at our schedules and how we're spending our time can help us better manage our day to day. Are we drinking enough water? Getting enough sleep? Moving our body? Spending too much time on our phones?

It's never too soon or too late to get our children involved in household chores. Here's what we do and expect from our three children, five and under.

How & why we should start paying attention to where we are in our menstrual cycle, and how it affects our energy levels, & what to do to honor that.

With a serious closet clean-up of anything that screams fall / winter, plus anything that would normally work with spring weather, but won't accommodate a growing bump... here are the five types of outfits I'm repeating all spring for my second trimester:

1. Flowy maxi dress for the gorgeous spring days
2. Oversized sweatshirt & leggings for the blustery 'WHY ISN'T WINTER OVER' days
3. Leggings & athletic top & pull-over for mornings at the gym
4. Maternity jeans & oversized top (flowy or button down) or oversized tee shirt for the occasional change up
5. A fitted dresses for the night out with my husband or friends

Here is the breakdown of what we ate for each meal, where we shopped, where we dined out, and how much we spent for our family of 5 in a one week period.

Minestrone Soup Recipe

Some big fun life updates around here!

The kitchen is a tricky spot to stay on top of, because we're in it so often, and so much comes in and out. However, it's also a fantastic place to declutter and organize BECAUSE we're in it so often. We can take our time. Declutter & organize one cabinet, one drawer, one section of the countertop at a time.

Part of Your World (Loved) and Yours Truly (Disappointed) by Abby Jimenez and
The Dead Romantics (Loved) and The Seven Year Slip (Disappointed)by Ashley Poston
The Push (Loved) and The Whispers (Disappointed) by Ashely Audrain
Little Secrets (Loved) and Jar of Hearts (Disappointed) by Jennifer Hillier
Good Neighbors (Loved) and It All Comes Down to This (Disappointed)by Therese Anne Fowler
Ask Again, Yes (Loved) and The Half Moon (Disappointed) by Mary Beth Keane
The Silent Patient (Loved), The Maidens (Disappointed), and The Fury (Disappointed) by Alex Michaelides

And 3 Recommendations

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
How to Keep House While Growing: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis

We love Asian flavors around here, and we also love easy one skillet recipes. Well, here you have it! One Skillet Dinners: Asian Style Chicken 3 Ways:

Thai Style Chicken & Vegetables in Red Curry
Chinese Style Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
Chinese Chicken with Bok Choy & Rice

quick dry nail polish
bracelet key ring on car keychain
a weekly pill organizer for daily vitamins
white vinegar & baking soda & dawn dish detergent
homemade fresh bread
a room by room declutter
gorilla glue
clear zipper pouches
instant hot water dispenser
target pickups

Four overrated books back to back for me! Two were DNF's.

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
Land of Milk and Honey by Pam C. Zhang
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
It All Comes Down to This by Ann Therese Fowler

Loved loved loved The Blessings of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Model. It was the parenting book I've been searching for!

Here are the small and simple habits I do daily to be the best version of myself for my children, my husband, and for myself:

Wake up before your kids
A small load of laundry
Move your body
One small cleaning task
Have designated home resets / pick-ups
Daily clutter audits
Turn down your home at night
Loosely outline your day
Meal plan!

I don’t necessarily believe that it’s how much stuff you have, but more so how you manage what you have, and your daily habits for keeping the mess at bay. So here are 5 overall rules, that I find are most helpful for keeping your home well-organized:

Give Everything a Home That Actually Makes Sense
Regular Home Resets: Put Things Away Regularly
Daily Decluttering Audits
Mindful Gatekeeping
Letting Go of Perfectionism

Here are the 75 items you can throw away right now and please join me for a 10 Week Home Organization Challenge:

Week #01 Bathrooms & Laundry Room
Week #02 Coat Closet & Entryway
Week #03 Kitchen & Dining Room
Week #04 Primary Bedroom
Week #05 Kids Bedrooms
Week #06 Closets & Dressers
Week #07 Family Room
Week #08 Playroom
Week #09 Office & Paperwork
Week #10 Garage

Of the 72 books I finished this year, here are my top 23 in 2023:

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrel
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Thank you for Listening by Julie Whalen
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
The Dry by Jane Harper
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Yellowface by RF Kuang
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Farenheight 451 by Ray Bradbury
Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikkii Bremmer

There’s a lot to think about when reading The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer, though in no way is it macabre. It’s more poignant and sweet, and introspective, and really makes you appreciate every single day, and the people you surround yourself with.

If you were to die today, what would be your biggest regret?

Family Command Center: the unofficial, official term for a spot where all the action happens. It’s strategically placed in a spot where you and your kids enter and exist the home, as a way to organize the dreaded drop-zone and keep the home chaos at bay.

So, when was the last time you gave up on a book? How long did read for before you couldn’t go any further?

Batching is a great tool any homemake should have in their back pocket. It teaches you to effectively group together all-like tasks that need to get done without having to switch over your brain to something new. Because switching from one task to another makes it difficult to tune out distractions and can actually slow you down. It also takes the mental load and decision fatigue away from figuring out WHEN to batch specific items.

Today we're discussing some ideas for 2024 budgeting, including two important goals.

Today we're discussing our November Book Club Pick, Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

Moving is one of the most stressful occurrences and disruptions in a persons life, but it’s also the only other time you’ll have the opportunity to touch literally everything you own, twice. When you pack and unpack it. So you get at least two opportunities to toss or donate items. Sometimes you don’t really know if you want to keep something until you see it in the new space.

Questions for Self-Reflection

Today I'm sharing my top tip for plowing through lengthy novels, and also I'm sharing twenty three book recommendations, that are all 450 pages or more, listed in order of length:

The Real Anthony Fauci by RFK Jr. — 934 pages
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt — 864 pages
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara — 720 pages
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz — 608 pages
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter — 592 pages
Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag — 592 pages
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne — 590 pages
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towels - 576 pages
The Secret History by Donna Tartt — 559 pages
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo — 532 pages
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr — 531 pages
Middlesex by Jeff Eugenides — 529 pages
The Circle by Dave Eggers– 504 pages
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee — 490 pages
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz — 477 pages
Americanah by Chimananada Ngoziii Adichie — 477 pages
The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia — 471 pages
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah — 464 pages
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles — 462 pages
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty — 460 pages
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn — 456 pages
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger — 450 pages
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab — 448 pages

Today's episode is to help you come up with your tools for your tool box, to be able to say, you know what? Today was hard, but I’m a wonderful mother, and I’m doing my very best. And fall back upon the 3 Pillars to become a poised and confident mother:

Defining a Successful Day
Pursuing Your Purpose
Connection In Your Own Way

From cover to cover, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was a very enjoyable read, and I definitely agree with the current Goodreads average rating (4.4 stars with over 300,000 reviews — as of October 2023).

Shifting our perspective
Knowing you're in a season, setting an end date
Keep up with your body: keeping well nourished, daily water intake, sleep, and daily bodily movement
Taking a big brain dump
Breaking it all down into manageable steps and action items, putting them in their proper place (month by month)
Finding pockets of time in your schedule to tackle these items
Seeing what you can offload, outsource, of just push to the back burner for now
Building in rest when you can
Finding your flow and honoring your energy levels within your cycle
Ensuring your home rhythms have a solid system that work when things aren’t so crazy

The Most Common Baking Mistakes:

Using ingredients that aren’t at the right temperature
Not rotating baked goods in the oven at least once during the baking process, to ensure an even bake
Checking items too frequently
Not chilling dough before baking
Not reading the recipe all the way through before getting started
Not measuring nor prepping all ingredients beforehand
Not properly measuring ingredients
Not creaming butter and sugar for at least 8-10 minutes -- when they light and fluffy, they mean it.

“You are not a machine. You are a human being. You have a soul. You were not made to go and go and go. You were not made to work 24/7. You were made to live into this rhythm that is embedded in creation itself. Rest refills your emotional, mental, spiritual, even physical reservoirs. It refills you with creativity, with wisdom, with a sharp mind, with optimism, with clarity, with a sense of peace about you. Rest is life giving. Why? Because God blessed the sabbath day.” —John Mark Comer

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkaii
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson
Faithful Place by Tana French
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelen
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeny

creamy cauliflower
carrot & ginger soup
roasted pumpkin soup
roasted butternut squash soup
split pea soup
bacon & corn chowder
potato-leek soup
classic tomato soup (which I like to serve with grilled cheese sandwiches)
hearty vegetable soup
classic minestrone
white bean & kale soup
classic tortilla soup
lemon chicken & orzo
chicken noodle soup
chicken & wild rice

‘Who is Maud Dixon’ by Alexandra Andrews is a a fun and fresh premise with lots of mild twists and turns, some obvious, others not so much. I can’t really share the plot with you without spoiling anything, but that’s also what’s fun about this novel -- I had no idea where it was going.

Today, we're going to walk through three fantastic one skillet chicken thigh recipes that can be done, start to finish, in 45 minutes or less:

lemon pepper chicken thighs with orzo and feta
better than grandmas chicken noodle soup
lemon chicken with artichokes and rice

It’s been said before that you need to set your house in perfect order before criticizing the world. So today's we're going to focus on mastering our home in the following aspects:

Laundry Routine
Cleaning Schedule
Meal Planning
Morning & Evening Routines
Drop-zone areas and Paper Clutter

And finally, having a smooth weekly flow to tie everything in together!

Also: unsubscribe and stop the inflow of junk mail: catalogchoice.org and / or optoutprescreen.com

At home photography tips:

Clean your lens
Get down to their level
Capture candid moments
Play with camera settings on your phone
Experiment with indoor & outdoor lighting
Focus the camera
Hold steady & level
Print your photos

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang is so sharp and so electrifying, and such an honest and fantastic look behind the curtain into the world of book publishing. Kuang threaded the needle so well with topics about race, plagiarism, and internet trolls alike. It was so fun to read, especially if you love a good satire. The dark humor dripping from every page was hilarious, so raw, so honest, and so entertaining. Pair all that up with a writing style that felt like reading someones angry diary entry, it was basically impossible to put it down at night.

There is SO MUCH to say on this topic, especially if you’re in the thick of it with babies, toddlers, and little kids. Because again, it’s not just their toys. It’s their sporting equipment, outdoor gear, their individual and unique hobbies that all bring in various items, books, stuffed animals, little art projects, collections of XYZ, it’s a lot to keep organized and manage.

Though right now, as we head into back to school season is a wonderful time, and a natural rhythm, to go through your home and do what you have to do. Today, we're going to focus on indoor play spaces in your home by discussing:

Setting Boundaries
Mixing and Matching Sets
Questioning Large Items (like train tables, dollhouses, etc.)
Focus on Toys that are Open-Ended
Up-Cylcing
Toy & Book Rotation
Reclocation

Meatloaf Night
Pasta Bolognese
Stuffed Peppers
Simple Meatsauce to pair with either Pasta or Lasagna
Meatballs & Spaghetti / Asian Meatballs (ground beef, sesame oil, panko, ground ginger, eggs, garlic, green onions) baked then served with a sauce (hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil) and over a bed of rice

Three sizzling hot summer books to get you through the rest of your summer reading:

The Dry by Jane Harper
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Happy Place by Emily Henry

Today, we’re going to discuss all the various ways I use a timer, and why I think they’re an underutilized secret weapon that everyone with little kids should use.

The Time Timer: https://www.timetimer.com/pages/the-time-timer-plus-family

Transitioning from Naps to Quiet Time - Episode 53

My goodness I really did not enjoy July's Book Club pick! I should probably note that I’m likely to be an unpopular opinion here, because as of July 2023, Every Summer After holds 4.26 on Goodreads with 365K reviews.

We grew our family quickly, having three kids in under four years. Today I wanted to share my experience for what each transition was like for me and my family.

Books Our 3 and 4 Year Olds Currently Love Reading:
Leo Lionni books: Fish is Fish, Swimmy, Cornelius, and A Color of His Own
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
Wendle and The Robots by Chris Riddell
Big Bird’s Sesame Street Dictionary an 8 Volume Set
Construction Site Farming All Year Long by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
George and Martha by James Marshall
The Best Lowly Worm Book Ever by Richard Scarry
The Stray Dog by Marc Simont
The Usborne Illustrated Stories from the Greek Myths
How Do Flowers Grow by Katie Daynes
The Usborne Musical Series - Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, and other classical musical books
Dragons Love Tacos 2 by Adam Rubin
The Grumpy Monkey Series by Suzanne Lang
The Three Little Javelina’s by Susan Lowell
The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett

Also, Baby Books We Love the 3rd Time Around:
The Raffi collection: Wheels on the Bus, Baby Beluga, Five Little Ducks, and Down by the Bay
Brown Bear Brown Bear & Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Dear Zoo by Rod Campell The Little Owl Series by Divya Srinivasan

Part 1 and Part 2 of Toddler Books We Currently Love:

Toddler Books We Currently Love, Part 1 - Episode 13
Toddler Books We Currently Love, Part 2 - Episode 46

Today, we're going to focus on planning a simple family weekend roadtrip with toddlers and babies. Everything from picking a destination, to packing up the car, to figuring out meals ahead of time, and finally the budgeting piece!

A Visit from the Goon Squad is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that was released in 2010, and it’s sequel, entitled The Candy House was released recently in 2022. You don’t have to read these in order, but I promise you'll want to read them both. SO GOOD!

Character Map for A Visit From the Goon Squad

Today I’m going to walk you through what my family of 5 eats for breakfasts, lunches, and the food we snack on throughout the week. And most importantly, what, when, and how I prep everything we need for a smooth flowing week (at least as far as food is concerned).

PS. the Popsicle Molds

So dark, so disturbing, so freaking good. Read along with me and let me know what you think!

the raw and the cooked | 2023 Book Club Picks

This topic was in desperate need of a Part II, especially since I’ve learned even more as we added another little screaming human to our lives. So today, you’re in for a treat, as a mom of 3 shares tips and tricks for staying on top of baby and kids clothing.

Pssst: find a textile recycling spot near you!

Somehow, and this is still so bizarre and baffling to me, this author dou has climbed their way onto the New York Times best selling authors list. In addition, they are also 4peat authors on Book of Month Club, which is how I first discovered them.

Their books in order of being published:

The Wife Between Us
An Anonymous Girl
You are Not Alone
The Golden Couple

Tidy up the house. If you barely can muster the energy, set a timer for 10 minutes. You’d be surprised by how much you’re able to accomplish in just 10 minutes.
Take time to look over tomorrows schedule + the weather
Gather the things you’ll need for tomorrow and put them in an obvious spot
What can you do to make the morning run smoother? Setting the coffee maker, packing kids lunches, pulling meat out of the freezer for tomorrows dinner?
Switch to herbal tea or water by 9PM
Lower or dim the lights, shut the blinds
Invest in PJ’s and put them on well before bedtime, it’ll help reset your brain and let it know it can wind down now.
Don’t allow your phone to sleep on your nightstand, find a new spot to charge it, invest in an actual alarm clock if that’s your excuse. And put your phone in said spot at least 30 minutes before your bedtime.
Treat yourself to something luxurious: dessert, a bath. A candle. Meditate, listen to music, yoga, journal, essential oils, a diffuser?
Figure out a reasonable bedtime

How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer

As a stay at home mom, it can be really hard to find 30 consecutive minutes in the day for myself, as naps rarely align and someone seems to always need something. Probably a snack. So a daily stroller walk is a creative and very easy way to check off a ton of boxes at once.

Our favorite audiobook narrator scores a homer with her latest novel, Thank You for Listening

Giving summer a bit of structure is a really good thing, we all need consistency and structure to thrive.

So today, I’m sharing my method for planning out a fun, adventure filled summer break, with plenty of room for rest and relaxation in between.

We’ve all been there. It’s 5pm, your kids are tired, cranky, and hungry, and ask you the age old question, “mom, what’s for dinner.” The after-school / before dinner window can be such a challenging time, so being able to fashion together a delicious homemade meal for your family in under 30 minutes is a real game changer.

I love a good contemporary romance, and here are the 3 most recent ones I've read and enjoyed:

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

If you have a child over the age of two, there’s a strong chance you are flooded with art work that they create. Here's what I do:

Hang and display ~20 pieces at a time
1. rotate as new pieces come in
  1. save the very special pieces in a box, to later turn into a coffee table book
  2. toss the rest
Mail artwork to friends and family
Give to local neighbors and friends (you'd be surprised how many people love toddler artwork!)

"If everything is special, nothing is special

This is a really well researched book, and it’s very well presented, easy to grasp, very approachable. Most of it boils down to the significance of listening, and why it’s so important and crucial to our relationships to be a better listener.

5-stars for Kate Murphay's You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters

Mailing your loved ones a handwritten birthday card is such a small and simple act of kindness that makes a strong impact.

of the three thrillers i read last month, i have one recommendation, one to avoid, and one i found overrated:

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

simple and easy swaps you can implant to save money:

powdered laundry detergent
making your own all purpose spray
dryer balls
generic brands at the grocery store
dried beans vs canned
blocks of cheese vs. sliced / shredded
brewing your own iced coffee
(16-ounce) tub of demi-glaze
bar soap for the shower
bar serum / moisterizer
refillable soap dispensers
cloth napkins and cloth rags

tried and true baby products I’ve used for all three kids, specifically focusing from birth through the first six months:

solly wrap
ergo 360 baby carrier
doona carseat / stroller
haaka silicon breast pump (aeroflow)
skip-hop activity center
baby bjorn bouncer
bumbo
stokke highchair
copper pearl bibs
burts bees, hanna anderson, and little sleepies zip-up, footie PJ’s
kindred bravely nursing bras
kindred bravely bamboo shorts
a nice bathrobe
mom frida peri bottle
thinx period panties

Taylor Jenkins Reid's Top Five Novels

Daisy Jones & The Six
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Malibu Rising
Carrie Soto is Back
One True Loves

Also, listen to episode 18 - all about Liane Moriarty!

these six tricks have been so helpful lately!

rotisserie chicken!
healthy grab & go snacks
batch dry ingredients while baking (your future self will thank you!)
meal prepping throughout the day
thursdays = soup day
bribing my children with treats to clean up their toys

Spending Freeze 101:

Lay out your own rules and expectations ahead of time
Pick a length of time, mark your calender
Write down your WHY
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Maybe you also go on a social media break as well, those ads are incredibly well targeted, and oh so tempting!

This is the most beautiful blessing, the gift of staying at home with our children. Here are some quick tips to thrive:

Your mindset
Run your home like a business, automate as many routines as you can
Let your kids be bored
Make your bed everyday
Get dressed everyday
Do something small for yourself, everyday
Join a community
Give yourself grace and kindness
You are doing enough, you are doing your best
Know that this time is incredibly fleeting, #18summers

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz
Finlay Donovan is Killing it by Elle Cosimano
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

The HOW's and WHY's of beginning a Quiet Time routine:

Schedule quiet time in the same spot as your previous nap time
Go over ground rules and expectations with your child
Incentivize with treats / rewards
Work your way up to 60 minutes slowly
Set your child up in the same manner as you previously would for a nap
Provide them with quiet activities
Set a timer (The Time Timer and / or Hatch Rest)
Stay patient!

Eating seasonally in winter looks like:

fennel
kale
mushrooms
brussel sprouts
endives
radishes
parsnips
carrots
potatoes
sweet potatoes
quinoa
lentils

SAMPLE WINTER MEAL PLANNING MENU

Monday — Steak with Quinoa over my beloved Winter Salad

Tuesday — Rosemary & Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Root Vegetables

Wednesday — Meatloaf with Sweet Potato Mash and Brussel Sprouts

Thursday —Hearty Soup of the Week with Bread

Friday — Roasted Salmon with Mushroom Cream Sauce, Lentils, and Kale

Saturday — Take Out

Sunday — Leftover Night

Tool of the Week: Handheld Mandolin

Two novels that are binge worthy and wonderful:

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier, the thriller
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan, the romance

As new mothers, we need to take care of ourselves, at the most basic level:

We need to drink as much water as we can, especially if we’re nursing.
We need to continue to nourish our bodies with healthy foods, especially if we’re nursing.
We need to continue to take supplements, especially if we’re nursing.

Let's accomplish those three items (plus keeping your baby fed, dry and happy) every day, and let's build from there...

Creating and printing a physical family yearbook is something I do every single year, and it is 100% worth the time and effort it takes. Happy Curating!

Friendly reminder, setting a daily timer will be your saving grace.

The six things I do every Sunday to ensure my week flows as smoothly as possible:

Fridge and Pantry Sweep
Meal Planning
Set-Up the Calendar
Zero’d Out Inbox
The To-Do List
Wash Bed Sheets and Bath Towels

Wholesale Clubs are excellent investments in today's climate. Especially when it comes to gas, groceries, and household items. Purchase products and brands that you and your family already use, love, and know will be consumed on a regular basis. Set up a Wholesale Club overflow space in your home -- ideally your pantry, or a dedicated closet -- organize with wire shelves to keep it flowing and regularly rotated. Always remember to check the CPU, because not every item will necessarily be cheaper just because it's purchased in bulk.

And yes, there is an annual membership fee, however the gas savings alone will more than pay for itself. Wholesale Club gas stations are typically $0.50-$0.70 less expensive than your local gas station!

Here are shelf-stable items I typically purchase from Costco:

Xanders Panda Party by Linda Sue Park
The Good Egg; Smart Cookie; Bad Seed; Cool Bean; Goodnight, Already; Giraffe Problems; and All My Friends Are Dead — all by Jory John
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Bedtime for Little Bulldozer by Elise Broach
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
The Madeline Series by Ludwig Bemelmans
Lola Dutch by Kenneth Wright
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
The Donut Chef by Bob Staake
Soup Day by Melissa Iwai
Color Monster by Anna Llenas
Ready Set…Baby! by Elizabeth Rusch
My First Brain Quest: 350 Questions to Build Your Toddlers Word Skills by Christopher Welles Feder

Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent Recipe:

2 cups washing soda
2 cups borax power
2 cups baking soda
1 bar of Dr. Bronners (any scent!), finely shaved / grated

Mix all together, store in an air tight container. Use 1 tablespoon per small load, 2-3 tablespoons for larger or heavy soiled loads

Playing & Relaxing on the Deck
Midday Showers
Enjoying Meals Outdoors
Outdoor Plates
A Simple & Flexible Weekly Summer Schedule
Iced Everything: Iced Tea, Iced Chai Lattes, & Iced Coffee
Metal Water Bottles Filled with Ice
Cotton Summer Dresses
Birkenstock Sandals
Light Summer Reading

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Sometimes, it’s all about identifying your barriers and obstacles. Today, we're going to explore a new system that'll help you stay organized and confident, if you too are overwhelmed by your current tax paperwork system.

What we used for the 2021 tax season: 3-pocket wall file kit

Having a go-bag for each errand and every activity your kid is enrolled in makes a huge difference on your morning routine, and getting out the door. Soccer, ballet, music lessons. Whatever your kid needs for that particular activity, ensure you have a separate bag for each kid, and each activity. Have the bag packed ahead of time, and if possible, keep it by the door.

PS. the diaper bag insert I use

There’s something really nice knowing that if I spent 10-15 minutes daily, that I don’t have to dedicate hours and hours to cleaning on a Sunday. I like to keep my cleaning routine extremely simple, and do one or two tasks daily. In conjunction with keeping up with toy clutter, laundry, and dishes, our house always has the air for feeling put together and organized. Not always, but for the most part.

PS. the book I'm currently reading

With just 15 minutes here and 20 minutes there, you're able to successfully meal prep for the week, ensuring you have healthy, wholesome meals and snacks to grab and go. You do NOT have to devote an entire Sunday afternoon to achieve this!

PS. a pyrex food storage set, perfect for meal prepping, plus reusable silicon bags

Mixing and matching various grains, vegetables, legumes, and sauces is such an easy and wonderful way to eat more vegetables and plants! It's extremelly easy to prep throughout the week. It's simple, and it's surprisingly more filling and delicious than you think!

PS. A seasonal food guide, state by state

It's incredible how quickly kids grow out of clothing sizes, especially if you live in an area with all 4 seasons.

Rule #1: Be very selective about the items you save
Rule #2: Sort by size and sex, rather than season. Though, don't be too specific (i.e. 18 month and 2T can be stored together)
Rule #3: LABEL BINS!

So, I totally didn’t mean to, but somehow a majority of my reading this month happened to be self-improvement / personal development books. Some were better than others...!

A sinking fund is a sum of money set aside, and completely separate from your regular savings account and emergency funds. A sinking fund can be used for anything, most commonly for home repairs, new car, vacation, or medical bills.

Asking the universe what you want is so incredibly powerful. The process of writing items down, pen to paper, is a way to manifest our goals and all that we set out to accomplish!

Whether we want it or not, our children are going to receive gifts over the holidays. Best to declutter ahead of time, so you're not completely overwhelmed with toys, books, stuffed animals, and clothing. Double down afterwards with a toy rotation, and you have yourself a neat little system that'll feel totally manageable.

An honest review on the most recent Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, plus a handful of others that I actually loved / found very binge worthy.

my transparent overview on cloth diapering, how much I've spent, why we love them, what sucks about them, and the type of cloth diapers I prefer.

Taking us back to the basics by sharing my top kitchen tips with you. If you’re newish to home cooking, or are trying to get more into it, these tips are great places to start!

Mise en place, "everything in it’s place."
Ensure your pan is HOT before you begin sautéing
Use an instant-read thermometer (the one I love)
Select the proper sized pan (my go-to is a 12" stainless steel All-Clad)
Keep your knives sharp
Salt meat, then let it rest
Salt as you go!
Use unsalted butter, always
Recipes are a suggestion, experiment and have fun!

2022 is only nine weeks away, why wait until the start of the New Year to start incorporating stronger and more successful habits? Start now, start today. "A year from now, you'll be glad you started today."

Nine magical book recommendations, in the hopes that you’re looking for some spooky and supernatural to read to get you in the Halloween spirit!

small and simple tasks to implement in order to keep your space organized and your day running smoothly, they honestly make a huge difference in your daily flow.

stop the inflow of junk mail: optoutprescreen.com/ and catalogchoice.org

How can three meals can be stretched into a whole weeks worth of dinners plus a few lunches? Batch cooking. It’s a beautiful and incredibly simple concept.

By bulking up your meals, you'll find yourself cooking only three nights per week, and simply reheating the remainder of the week.

Recipe Ideas:

Pan Seared Chicken with Pan Sauce + Brown Rice + Roasted Broccoli
Rosemary-Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin + Roasted Potatoes + Roasted Green Beans (use the same sheet pan for an even easier clean-up)
Vodka Sauce with Meatballs + Mixed Green Salad

What I love the most about Liane Moriarty novels is how gripping they are, mainly through excellent pacing, rich three-dimensional characters, and wonderful story telling. It’s the perfect medley for a novel that you can’t and don’t want to put down. I also think that many women feel connected to Moriarty’s writing. She has this special way of digging deep and exploring all female relationships. Whether it’s between a husband-wife, mother-child, siblings, friendships / acquaintances, etc. She always seems to hit the nail on the head.

The Push by Ashely Audrain is a slow burn about the mother-daughter relationship that absolutely destroyed me. It haunted me. It consumed every fiber of my being. And I want to share this incredible story with you!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52476830-the-push

they’re the most efficient and easiest possible way to feed yourself or your family a well-balanced meal

since MOST of the cooking happens in one place, mainly your sheet pan, you’ll find that the flavors of the vegetables and proteins compliment each other in delicious ways

Recipes are easy to bulk up, which means… left overs! say hello to tonights dinner and tomorrows lunch

Hardly any clean up involved, other than tossing out your baking sheet line

oven-roasted teriyaki salmon with bok choy and mushrooms served over a bed of rice
sheet pan crispy-roasted lemon-thyme chicken with crispy potatoes and tomatoes and zucchini
spicy mexican bowl with honey-chipotle chicken & sweet potatoes with cauliflower rice, yellow peppers, black beans, & avocado
bonus! an excellent cookie recipe, baked on a...sheet pan too!

We are thrilled to join the 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge. At 1 and 2, my kids are so little but I’m a strong advocate for exposing kids to nature and allowing them to have outdoor free play at every age. 1000 hours breaks down to roughly 2.7 hours outside per day. Which yes, sounds like a lot, but it's totally doable! On today's episode, I'm sharing our daily flow with you and how we make it happen, what our summer days look like around here.

The 1000 Hours Outside Challenge.

Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word, none of this is a surprise. Here is a list of our tried and true favorites!

Julia Donaldson: The Grufflo and Room on the Broom
Eric Carle: Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See and The Very Hungry Caterpillar
William Stieg: Shrek, Dr. De Soto, and Amos & Boris
Corduroy
Little Gorilla
Dinner at the Panda Palace
Clap Your Hands
Just Like My Brother
Road builders
Play with me
Cordroy’s Shapes
Squeak
Where is your nose?
Shhh Bears Sleeping
The Rabbit Listened
Red house tree house little bitty brown mouse
There’s a hole in the log on the bottom of the lake
One Leaf, Two Leaves Count with Me
Let’s count Arizona
Scotland 123
Monsters Love Underpants
Under the Sea Search and Find
The Gas We Pass
Good Night Cowboy
Good Night Moon
Good Night St. Louis
Good Night, Buenas Noches
Good morning Yoga
The Good Egg
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If you Give a Cat a Cupcake
The Frog and Toad Series
Oscar Otter
Side by Side and Dad by My Side
Dr. Suess: Green Eggs & Ham, the Cat in the Hat, 10 Apples Up on Top, Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb, and Go Dog Go
Richard Scary’s Best Word Book Ever and Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
Big Franks Fire Truck
Lift the Flap Books we love include: Dear Zoo, Where’s Spot, 100 First Words, and Where’s the Unicorn
Our Sandra Boynton Collection: Doggies, Blue Hat Green Hat, A to Z, Spookie Pookie, and The Going to Bed Book
Baby Duck (Finger Puppet Book)
I Love Classical Music
The entire Raffi collection, including: Baby Beluga, Five Little Ducks, Down by the Bay, Shake My Sillies Out, and Wheels on the Bus
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Thomas the Engines A crack in the track
The I Spy Series
The Quiet Book
Happiness is a Warm Puppy
Most of the Little Owl Collection, including: Little Owl’s Night, Little Owl’s Day, Little Owl’s Numbers, and Little Owls Colors
I Spy on the Farm
Bats at the Beach
Who Moved My Gooey Butter Cake?
The Curious George Series
And lastly, this isn’t a book you can buy but rather a book you can make, a family photo album. My toddler loves flipping through it! I use Mixbook

Also...our new beloved Quiet Time Timer
And of course, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, an excellent parent resource for babies and toddlers!

Yes, a minimized kitchen utensil collection and good cooking can co-exisit together. You really don’t need ALL THE THINGS to make excellent home cooked meals.

So, I have a homework assignment for you, it'll only take 10 minutes: collect ALL your tools and gadgets, go through them and seriously consider how often you use something before deciding to keep it and put it back in your drawer, or wherever it lives.

It’s pretty rare you’ll ever be in a meal prep situation where you need more than two sets of anything (tongs, whisks, spatulas, etc.) As for all these duplicates I know we all have… you have two options: 1. If it’s broken, trash it immediately, and 2. If it’s still functional and in decent condition, donate it.

I want you to only keep the tools you actually use. Group and organize them in whatever way works and makes sense for you and your flow. Everyone’s kitchen is set up differently, so really think about how you prep, where you prep, and is there a space you move and shift things around so it flows better?

The cost of being a bookworm can add up very, very quickly, especially if you’re flying through four, five, or even six books per month — $18 here, $25 there, and next thing you know you’ve spent several hundred dollars in a mere few months, this lifestyle is expensive!

Here are some cost-effective ways to help you save money:

BOOK-SWAP

I’m starting off with my favorite method of saving money: book-swapping! This works beautifully with friends, family, and co-workers. Even if you don’t have exactly the same taste in books, it’ll broaden your horizons to read outside your comfort zone.

THE LIBRARY / OVERDRIVE / LIBBY

This may be super obvious, but the library is a resource that a lot of people don’t take advantage of. Libraries have everything you could ever ask for, and yes, that includes new releases and NYT best-sellers.

NETGALLEY

NetGalley is also a free resource for newer books that generally haven’t been released to the public yet. It’s sort of a testing ground for authors.

PAPERBACK SWAP

This is an online book swap and the coolest concept ever. It’s also pretty easy. You create an account, list books you’d like to swap with another member. Once someone requests it, you mail it to them. In return you get a ‘credit’ which you can use for any of their 1+ million available books. You do have to pay for postage for books you mail — but hey, that’s less than $4!

BUY PREOWNED

I almost exclusively go for this option when I buy from Amazon. It can save you anywhere from $10-$15 and honestly, why not? You can also find tons of secondhand book stores near you. Or Half Price Books is a great online option!

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Alright, so this is totally, totally, totally hit or miss but I’ve found some little nuggets of gold in these Little Free Library’s before!

GOODREADS DEAL OF THE DAY

Almost daily GR offers daily eBook deals. I don’t search it often, but every now and again I’ll come across books that are on my To-Read list, and it’s a major HECK YES! Books are listed for as low as $1.99!

OTHER FREE EBOOKS

Did you know that Amazon and Barnes & Noble both have free eBook collections? I’m not saying this is the worlds best collection of books, but hey, if you’re super bored — maybe give it a go?

Having an efficiently run and organized refrigerator makes meal planning, generating grocery lists, and daily life function much smoother. Ensuring your fridge is stocked with the essentials (listed below) will allow you to whip up almost anything with no notice whatsoever. Buy what works for you and your family. Here's my list of key ingredients to always have on hand in the fridge:

unsalted butter
tomato paste
garlic
a jar of capers
vegetable (and / or chicken) broth
fresh herbs (such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, basil, etc.)
whole milk
heavy cream
white cooking wine
lemons & limes
ginger
avocados
onions
shallots
eggs
parmesan cheese
carrots
celery
maple syrup
greek yogurt
tahini
mayonaise
dijion mustard
kalamata olives

I hope today's episode gives you a sense of how I meal plan, prep, and rotate throughout the week. I also encourage you to go back and listen to episode two, which is all about creating a sustainable meal plan, if you haven’t already listened.

It's definitely a thing. Loving an authors debut novel, and then picking up a copy of their newest release thinking it’ll have the same magic, and getting extremely disappointed by said second book. And it doesn’t have to be an authors second book per se, but rather the subsequent book that follow a really, really successful one.

Making your own tomato sauce is much easier than you think. All you need is a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, a yellow onion small diced, and a few cloves of garlic run through a garlic press. And a bay leaf, if you want to get cute. You can jazz it up from there, adding in whatever additional spices you want — thyme, oregano, basil. Whatever! Bring your sauce to a boil and allow it to simmer for 15-20 minutes and boom! Homemade tomato sauce with only a handful of ingredients no added sugar, no added preservatives, the perfect amount of salt.

That’s the basic foundation of a homemade tomato sauce. The three sauces I’m teaching my students this week are building off of that, more or less.

spaghetti allaa putenesca
better than your grandmas bolognese
pops vodka sauce

It all started back in 1990, when the term Beach Read was coined. It was created as a marketing tool for publishers, referring to blockbusters published in the summer. And it stuck. Thirty plus years later, it’s impossible to not see the term Beach Read on every website and magazine. Welp, here are my Beach Read recommendations for you and your summer travels:

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Beach Read by Emily Henry
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin
Friends and Strangers by Courtney J. Sulivan
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy
A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James
Verity by Colleen Hoover
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

And the two kindle books I packed with me for my weekend trip:

One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston
The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Verdict is still out on both of them -- review soon!

Pan sauces are seriously the best thing ever. They’re made with just a handful of ingredients, can be completed in less than 10 minutes, and it gives your meat life. Also, the variety and combinations are limitless. You just need fat, aromatics, herbs, acid, and another liquid -- all can be swapped out to whatever you'd like!

Here are my top three favorites pan sauces to jazz up my meat:

1. Rosemary mushroom cream sauce.
Butter, quartered mushrooms, shallots, garlic, 1 part broth, 1 part heavy cream, minced rosemary, fresh from the sprig. It's earthy, nutty, creamy perfect.

2. Piccata sauce.
Oil, shallots, garlic. 1 part fresh lemon juice, 3 part broth, capers, reduced, and off heat butter is added, so much butter, fresh parsley minced and stirred in at the very end.

3. Tomato-thyme sauce.
Oil, shallots, garlic, tomato paste, 1 part broth 1 part white wine, or balsamic — depends on whats in my fridge. Sometimes I throw in cherry tomatoes, sometimes its mushrooms. Always a sprig or two of thyme. Once reduced, and off heat I add in lemon juice, butter, sprigs of thyme removed and add in fresh minced parsley.

America's Test Kitchen: Wooden Spoon Review and the wooden spoon winner!

FAAY 13.5" Corner Spoon, RIGHT Hand Scraper, Wooden Spoons for Cooking Handcraft from High Moist Resistance Golden Teak Wood | Durable, Healthy, Ergonomic Handle for Non Stick Cookware

This year, I challenged myself to read 60 books. We're officially halfway through the year, and I seem to be on track, I’ve finished 31 books! So, I'm recapping the top 10 so far, and of course, plan to tear into the books I couldn’t stand — only seven of those

FAVORITE 10 of 2021 (so far)

White Ivy by Susie Yang
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousins
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russel
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowtiz
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrel
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

THE DISAPPOINTING 7 of 2021 (so far)

The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O’Neal
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
There, There by Tommy Orange
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Salt to the Sea Ruta Sepetys

How are you doing on your annual reading challenge?

four little things you can do that'll have a big impact for boosting joy and will make you actually want to cook dinner. because a smoothly run kitchen is KEY for success.

the clean up after every single meal
1. mainly the dishes, but also any food / tools / equipment that needs to get put away
2. the sweep! anything that doesn't belong in your kitchen needs to get out of the kitchen. our kitchen counters are magnets for clutter, stay on top of it after every meal.
kitchen drawers and cabinets
1. declutter! get rid of anything that is broken, missing parts, you never use, a duplicate, or isn't as functional as you'd like.
2. reorganization! once your drawers and cabinets are decluttered (pace yourself with this!) begin rearranging and moving things around so you have a good flow. items that are rarely used shouldn't sit in a prime spot. items that are used daily should be easy to access!
have a MEAL PLAN! oh my god this will make your life so much easier. refer back to episode 2 if you don't know where to start ;-)
the pantry
1. declutter! get rid of anything you don't like, use, or is expired
2. simplify and organize! take note what you use regularly and bulk up. i also suggest decanting items in clear containers.

working on these four steps will provide you with a beautifully organized and smoothly run kitchen, which will hopefully keep the chaos at bay. I'm a big believer that before any actual cooking can get done, your kitchen needs to be functional.

find your local food bank: feeding america and loaves and fishes (local to STL)

Audiobooks are the best, especially since listening gives you the freedom to pair up with other tasks like cleaning, cooking, and walking. And having a wonderful narrator can truly turn listening to a book into somewhat of a magical experience.

Some audiobooks that I love and recommend, mainly because of the amazing narration:

Nicola Yoon's The Sun is Also a Star and Everything, Everything
Pachinko by Min Jin-Lee
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Ried
A Good Neighborhood by Anne Therese Fowler
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Friends and Strangers by Courtney J Sullivan
Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

By far, my favorite audiobook narrator is Julia Whelen, she is AMAZING!

Weekly meal planning doesn't have to be a headache, especially if you keep things simple. Below is an easy 4-step guide to help you get started!

Open up your calendar. Figure out exactly how many nights you need to shop, plan, and cook for.
Are there any ingredients leftover from last week that you can incorporate into this weeks upcoming menu, or perhaps give you some inspiration?
Fill in your meal planning calendar, using your staple meals. Supplement the other nights with your wheel meals or plan for leftovers.
Writing up your grocery list, be mindful of quantities if you'd like to incorporate leftovers for lunches or another dinner.

And for the love of god, stay off Pinterest, you'll get completely overwhelmed!

Hello and welcome to The Raw and The Cooked's very first episode! Today I'm reviewing each of the six books that I read last month, May 2021.

1984 by George Orwell - 8/10
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - 9.5/10
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 9/10
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center 8/10
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Chirsty Lefteri 6/10
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 6.5/10