Y’all. It’s too hot out here. It’s the type of heat where the thought of turning on my oven or sweating in front of the stove makes me behave irrationally. For the sake of my family, and possibly yours, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite no-heat meals. They’ll keep you feeling cool and fresh through the rest of summer! Pitas These pitas are topped with hummus, green leaf lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, chickpeas, feta cheese, and Greek salad dressing. For extra flavor, I season the chickpeas with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried parsley. Berry Salad Am I the only o ..read more

To me, being organized does not mean remembering everything. It means having systems in place to ensure that our lives run smoothly. I don’t have space in my brain to store all of our schedules and lists so I rely on different devices and strategies to keep track of what’s important.  One of the biggest organizational tools we use in our home is our color-coded calendar. Between school, dance classes, family events, and various appointments, our schedule has the potential to become very chaotic. Our color-coded calendar is a visual that lets us easily communicate where everyone needs to ..read more

From the time my kids were born until very recently, I did the meal planning practically by myself. This was mainly to make sure they were introduced to a variety of foods and were eating a balanced diet. Earlier this year, though, they started making requests about what was on the dinner table. I looked at it as an opportunity to involve them in the planning process and so the 4-week dinner menu was born! Click this link for a printable version: 4-Week Family Dinner Menu There are similarities to the 5-week meal plan I shared last year, but this method involves more input from my ki ..read more

When my kids went on winter break in mid-December, I told myself that I was going to take a pause from posting on social media for a couple of weeks. I just wanted to slow down and be present with them while they were home. Well, weeks turned into months and before I knew it, more than half the year had passed without any new content from me. This is the longest I’ve gone without social media since I got on Myspace in 2005. I’m the worst millennial! So where have I been? Just living life. I’ve been so preoccupied with myself and my family that I haven’t felt the impulse to create content until ..read more

If you want a quick recipe for a festive treat, it doesn’t get easier than these fluffy red velvet cake mix cookies! All you need is a box of cake mix, a stick of butter, and a couple of eggs to bake up a batch of deliciousness. I also add in white chocolate chips and green M&M’s to make them really scream, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” Is red velvet not your thing? Don’t despair! You can use this exact same recipe with any flavor of cake mix and any combination of add-ins. I really love butter pecan cake mix topped with toasted pecans and chocolate cake mix with mini peanut butter cups. Mmm, so many ..read more

Pesto bean soup is an excellent cold weather meal to keep in your back pocket! With a mix of fresh produce, canned beans, and jarred pesto, it’s simply delicious, and instantly warms your tummy! I’ve said it a million times before, but the secret to my cozy, flavorful recipes is a Dutch oven. I’ve tried this pesto bean soup in my stock pot and Instant Pot, and there is no comparison. The Dutch oven gets the job done better every time! If you don’t have one, I highly recommend adding it to your wishlist! If you like a thicker, creamier soup, I also suggest letting this simmer for as long ..read more

Hey friends! I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Desirae from the Minimal-ish Podcast about simple ideas to make the holidays magical for my kids while living intentionally. There is so much pressure this time of year, specifically for those us unofficially tasked as the providers of special memories, so I touched on how I mindfully navigate the busyness. We talked about I how take the emphasis off gifts and spending, and instead focus on creating an environment of joy, gratitude, and love. I shared specific traditions we’ve started in our home, many surrounding food, and what m ..read more

Earlier this year, my husband’s aunt was in town and she cooked the most incredible pasta I had ever tasted! It was rich and smooth with just a hint of spiciness. I asked her for the recipe, which she recited from memory, and was thrilled to learn that it was easier to make than I thought. While I didn’t jot down every step she listed, I’ve spent the last few months improving my own version and I’m finally ready to share my one pot creamy pasta! Like all of the meals I make, this pasta is simple and convenient. Instead of boiling the pasta in water, it soaks up extra flavor as it cooks in a s ..read more

Earlier this year, my husband’s aunt was in town and she cooked the most incredible pasta I had ever tasted! It was rich and smooth with just a hint of spiciness. I asked her for the recipe, which she recited from memory, and was thrilled to learn that it was easier to make than I thought. While I didn’t jot down every step she listed, I’ve spent the last few months improving my own version and I’m finally ready to share my one pot creamy pasta! Like all of the meals I make, this pasta is simple and convenient. Instead of boiling the pasta in water, it soaks up extra flavor as it cooks in a s ..read more

Whether or not your family eats meat, everyone in your home will devour these deliciously simple vegetarian stuffed bell peppers! About three years ago I shared my original Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe, which included Italian sausage. The next year, my family switched to a vegetarian diet and I’ve been perfecting this version ever since. The essence of this meal is the same (still cheesy and satisfying), but it’s a yummy alternative if you’re trying to cut back on meat. Here are a few more easy, mouthwatering vegetarian recipes I love making: Instant Pot Cheesy Potatoes, Loaded Nach ..read more