December 2014

What Worked In 2014

This week my friend Ann over at Modern Mrs. Darcy posted a list of several things that worked for her in 2014, and it inspired me to come up with my own list. Since 2014 seemed challenging, especially with the frantic pace we were sometimes running at, I have really tried to be more optimistic […]

21 Day Cleanse Meal Plan & Shopping List

The meal plan for this cleanse looks a lot different than last time, primarily because it’s a whole new season. When I went through this in late Summer, the focus was on grilled fishes and chicken, and lots and lots of salads. This time though, we are in the midst of Winter, and our diet […]

Restart in 2015 With a 21 Day Cleanse

I’m not too sad about seeing 2014 come to a close. As I sit here with a hacking cough, the second cold I’ve caught in December, I look forward to starting all over in 2015, with a new found respect for what it means to be healthy, and a new mission to try and make […]

Last Minute Doily Gift Topper

Every holiday season I try and come up with some new and creative gift toppers for holiday gifts. In fact, my family has started to look forward to these crazy gift toppers every year. It’s kind of fun because the gift topper becomes like a little gift itself. This year I have been particularly swamped […]

One Pot Chicken Root Vegetable Stew

One pot meals are always my favorite kind. With the busyness of the holidays all around us, I’ve been relying on simple meals to get us through. And really, I think simple meals are the best way to go most of the time anyway – holidays or not. I’ve also really been making an effort […]

Great Cookbooks to Give and Receive

In my imaginary dream kitchen, I have a bookshelf just to hold my cookbooks. Like many people, I love collecting cookbooks, and I won’t stop, can’t stop. Cookbooks keep me excited about cooking, and they’re there for me when I’m feeling in a cooking slump, quickly offering mew new-found inspiration and gusto to pick up […]

Good Deals To Be Had

In case you’re still only half way done with your Christmas shopping, or you need to offer some suggestions of things you’d like to see under the tree, here are a few of my favorite things which I’m personally adding to my wish list, and they all happen to be on sale. A girl can […]

Knott’s NYE Celebration Plus a Giveaway

As a Southern California native, I’ve enjoyed going to Knott’s Berry Farm for as long as I can remember. My parents always took us here at least once or twice a year, since it was so close and so affordable, and it’s been fun to see the changes and evolution the park has gone through. […]

2014 Family Photos

I don’t believe I have a single staged family photo from my childhood, not even one of those awkward family photos from the Sears portrait studio. I think I’ve seen an intermittent photo of just myself as a baby, sitting in Santa’s lap or atop a pony, maybe even on a carpeted backdrop from KMart, […]

Week In Review – So Much Good Stuff

I stayed up late ordering Christmas cards and making photo books for each of the kids this week, which left plenty of time online for my twitter and facebook feed to fill me in on some excellent reads. Some of my favorites are below, quotes from each article italicized. By the way, I had asked […]