Reading Time: 5 minutes Children don’t need over the top celebrations … they just need to feel loved. Parents will appreciate these simple ways to celebrate a birthday. Guest post by Rachel of day2dayjoys.com Birthdays come once a year, per family member, but for me, I often feel all rushed and hurried like it snuck up on me. Some might call […]
Archives for July 2015
Crock Pot Baked Potato Bar
Reading Time: 4 minutes A baked potato bar is a simple, healthy, and satisfying dinner that can be ready within minutes of walking in the door. by Dena Norton, Contributing Writer Need some simple, healthy summer dinner ideas? I’m dishing on my favorites today, starting with this fast and easy Crock Pot Baked Potato Bar! Speaking of summer…after five years of […]
Do You Still Need a Landline?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Do you still need a landline phone? Check out these pros and cons that come with cancelling your landline phone service. By Sarah Mueller, Contributing Writer When we moved into our dream home, we decided we didn’t need a landline phone. We’d just use our cell phones. Now, 2 years later, this decision has saved us at […]
5 Habits That Keep Real Moms Happy
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s time for real moms to get happy. Here are five habits that will help! Guest Post by Kathy Helgemo and Melinda Means of Mothering From Scratch Once upon a time, we had cheerful, compliant children. Our homes were clean, organized and perpetually peaceful. We were moms who set impossible goals and always achieved them. The above scenario […]
5 Reasons I Altered My Expectations for My Kids
Reading Time: 6 minutes Each child is different, but if I have positive expectations for my kids, they will more than likely find a way to make it happen. By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!) As parents, we always want the best for our kids, but as a parent, I don’t always know how to make that happen. […]
5 Tips to Making Lifestyle Choices without Creating Division
Reading Time: 5 minutes Because women generally take what we do and the lifestyle choices we make so seriously, simple choices can cause division between women. Here are 5 tips on making lifestyle choices without creating division. Guest post by Angie Tolpin Women are bombarded with an incredible amount of choices to make with regard to parenting, education, eating, health, […]
A Frugal, Non-toxic, One Ingredient Skincare Routine
Reading Time: 4 minutes Try this frugal, non-toxic, one ingredient skincare routine for summer skin that glows! By Sarah Nichols, Contributing Writer I used to be one of those people who spent a lot of money on different beauty products. I had face washes, toners, makeup removers, moisturizers, eye creams, spot treatments, and more. As I slowly transitioned to a more […]
4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Posting on Social Media
Reading Time: 5 minutes When it comes to posting on social media, we have a choice to make. I encourage you to ask yourself these 4 questions before posting on social media. By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!) Social media – be it Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, blogs, or other numerous platforms – is a powerful medium in our culture. […]
10+ Things We’ve Learned in 10 Years of Marriage
Reading Time: 7 minutes Here are ten things we’ve learned in 10 years of marriage. We hope you will be encouraged by this post! By Erin and Will Odom Today, in a tiny village in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Costa Rica, we celebrate our 10th anniversary. These 10 years have not come without a fight. We’ve had to fight hard for our marriage. In fact, […]
42 Healthy Too-Hot-to-Cook Recipes: Keep Your Kitchen Cool in the Summer!
Reading Time: 4 minutes Hot summer evenings have a wonderful way of making us slow down, relax…and want nothing whatsoever to do with cooking dinner in a hot kitchen! Picking up take out can be so tempting on these casual summer nights, but that can be hard on the grocery budget and healthy eating. Instead, try these 42 Healthy Too-Hot-to-Cook Recipes […]
Traveling with Food Sensitivities
Reading Time: 5 minutes Traveling with food sensitivities can be a challenge, but, most of the time, it’s not impossible! It can sometimes be difficult to navigate day-to-day life with food sensitivities, and traveling with food sensitivities can prove to be an even greater challenge. Our entire family is sensitive to gluten and dairy, and our firstborn is sensitive […]
Torrential Downpours, Dreaming of Bugs, Costa Rican Friends + More {July 11, 2015 Weekend Reads}
Reading Time: 7 minutes If you want to keep up with the reads that give me pause all week long, follow my Reads and Recipes board on Pinterest. If you want to follow along with my personal life, you can follow me on Instagram. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss a post! Costa Rica Trip Update #3 I can’t […]
5 Ways to Prepare for Parenthood
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s never too early to prepare for being a mother or father! Check out these 5 ways to prepare for parenthood! It’s hard to believe that it’s been over seven years since my husband and I became parents. There are still many days when we feel like we absolutely have no idea what we […]
Easy, MakeÂ-Ahead Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal (THM XO)
Reading Time: 4 minutes Looking for a quick breakast idea? Try this easy, make-ahead Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal (THM XO)! Co-written by Erin Odom, site owner, and Dena Norton, Contributing Writer Oats are a staple in our home. We love them in every form – from crispy baked granola to delicious and healthy breakfast cookies to a simple bowl of raw oat “cereal” […]
9 Foods to Make Instead of Buy
Reading Time: 12 minutes By making food from scratch on a regular basis and making sure to use them up in a monthly meal plan, you can save money and feed your family healthy whole foods. Choose these 9 foods to make instead of buy! By Tiffany, Contributing Writer One of the easiest ways to save money on groceries is to cook food from scratch. […]