Despite the fact that I write for a blog all about frugal living, I have a confession: Being frugal doesn't always come easily for me. My husband re-uses plastic bags, turns down thermostats, drinks water, calculates gas mileage, delays purchases, takes quick showers, and wears his shoes until they are literally falling apart. Pinching pennies is second nature to him. Me? Not so much. Sure, I like to dig in the dirt and bake my own bread and paint my own walls. But I also like good Americanos and REI catalogs and hot showers. Because I love my husband and hate debt, I made the decision to embrace the frugal lifestyle over 10 years ago. I'm Keep Reading
Carrot cake baked oatmeal (gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal Because I know you need something exciting, today we're talking about carrots and oatmeal! Buckle up. Now, I'm not a licensed counselor or anything, but I think there's something to be said for being stuck in a rut. I mean, I wouldn't recommend it for one's career or relationships. But breakfast? I live in Rutsville, where the local diner serves eggs + toast or yogurt + granola every single morning. And I really like it that way. If something unexpected like French Toast happens, I'll eat my standard breakfast for lunch. If the whole family wants muffins, we do muffins, but the whole time I feel like I'm skipping out Keep Reading
Monster Cookie recipe (Peanut butter, chocolate, and oatmeal)
Monster Cookie Recipe I love this recipe. It combines the three amigos: oats, chocolate, and peanut butter. Monster Cookies! I have no idea why they are called Monster Cookies, so feel free to slap a more festive title on them before delivering a plate to your neighbors. This recipe doesn't contain any flour so the ingredients mix together quickly to create a thick, chewy cookie. If you are on a gluten-free diet, use GF oats and you are good to go! The trademark of Monster Cookies are M & M's. I use them around holidays for a fun, colorful treat, but the rest of the year I just use (and actually prefer) chocolate chips. Seriously, I Keep Reading
Mini Burger Cookies (great recipe for kids!)
Mini Burger Cookies Some of you walk into a craft store and feel a surge of inspiration. You can transform beads or yarn or fabric into these crazy, incredible creations. Me? Not so much. On the rare occasion that I set foot in a craft store, gripping a 40% off coupon in my sweaty hand, I just feel overwhelmed. I usually buy a glue stick and get out of there as fast as I can. So, sadly my children will grow up with a mom who is unable to turn pipe cleaners into zoo animals. Paint and glitter? Forget it. But playing with food? Sign me up. I love having my daughter sitting on the countertop while I make bread or standing on a chair next to me Keep Reading
How to plan a (successful) strawberry picking trip with kids
I can't even tell you how much I love this time of year in the Pacific Northwest. Warm days. Cool nights. And the berries. Oh, the berries... After much practice, my friends and I have somewhat perfected the art of berry picking with small kids. In fact, five years ago, we hauled our two toddlers and one newborn out to Sleight's Farm in Mulino to pick strawberries. At worst, this may sound like a recipe for disaster. At best, this may sound like lots of kid chasing and very little berry picking. The kids did great, though, and we managed to pick around 25 pounds each. The kids raced up and down the rows, filling their bellies with berries and Keep Reading
Blueberry French Toast Bake (perfect for fresh blueberries!)
Blueberry French Toast Bake I hit the blueberry fields again this morning, walking away with five hot, tired kids (It's okay. They were ours.) and four bowls of fresh, sweet blueberries. I decided that some of today's blueberries would be tomorrow's French toast. Only I couldn't wait until tomorrow. So we ate this French toast for dinner tonight. It was delicious and would make a great addition to any brunch or breakfast... or dinner menu. This recipe comes from our church cookbook, submitted by two great cooks in our congregation (I made a few minor changes). It quickly became a favorite, making regular appearances at many brunches & potlucks. Keep Reading
Loaded baked potato salad with bacon (recipe + the best way to cook potatoes)
Loaded Potato Salad with Bacon I swear, camping trips with friends is the only way to go. You split meal making and fire starting and kid wrangling. Someone remembers all the things you forgot. Someone else is ready with a pot of coffee when you haven't slept. Kids keep each other busy, and adults keep each other laughing. Conclusion: camping solo is for the birds. We eat meals in a wandering sort of way. Breakfast at one site, dinner at another. Snacks tossed out whenever kids are hungry (which is always). One of my favorite little memories of a recent trip is sitting around eating this potato salad with the adults while our kids rode bikes in Keep Reading
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