Beef and Barley is such a classic soup recipe, I’m surprised I haven’t shared it on my blog before.
It’s one of our favorite soups/stews — perfect for cold weather (especially with the extra “heat” from the spices!)
Blog
Know What You Don’t Want (A Story of How Our Family Almost Had a TV Show!)
A few years ago, I was contacted by a TV network who apparently wanted to feature our family in an upcoming TV show… believe it or not, I told them “no thanks”.
Today I’m sharing why I said “no”… as well as why I feel it’s so important to know what we DON’T want for our lives, our families, our schedules, etc.
How We Make Space For Our Kids’ “Treasures”
Even before having children of my own, I was adamant that I could have BOTH a large(ish) family AND a clean home without spending hours every day picking up after people.
So far, I’ve been able to keep our house neat and organized enough for my standards with minimal effort, while letting my children display, collect, save, cherish, and sometimes “hoard” their most favorite trinkets and treasures!
Encouragement: When Your Goals Seem So Far Away
Since I write from the perspective of “this is what works for me…” I usually don’t share anything online until I know it’s successful. I quickly summarize the process, neatly outline the various steps, show a handful of pictures, answer questions in the comments, and then move on to the next day’s post.
In this process, one thing that doesn’t always get spotlighted is the fact that most of the projects, ideas, recipes, tips, tools, skills, goals, etc. I write about are YEARS in the making! I’m sharing more on this today…
A Different Perspective on ALL Our Stuff
Consider how you might feel with less stuff to store, less stuff to organize, less stuff to clean around, less stuff to buy, and less stuff to think/worry about. Then consider how much of your stuff you truly NEED.
Today I’m sharing a different perspective on all our STUFF… I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Yes, You Can Learn To Be More Productive!
For as much of my life as I can remember, I have been highly motivated by productivity — I think I was just born this way! That said, even if you weren’t born with super “productive powers”, I believe you can LEARN to be more productive IF you’re willing to invest a little time and effort.
If you’re ready to jump-start your productivity, eliminate wasted time, and stop procrastinating, I have the perfect resource for you!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
Today’s recipe for Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos is one of those yummy meals that tastes just as good for leftovers as it does fresh-from-the-oven, which is probably why I make it at least once or twice a month!
It is a vegetarian dish — but you could easily add cooked ground beef or cooked shredded chicken if you want some meat. However, with the black beans and mushrooms (and cheese), our family doesn’t even miss the meat.
Non-Book Library Loans: It’s Amazing Everything Libraries Offer!
Our family visits the library at least once a week — often checking out 30-50 books at a time! However, we also use our library card for so many other things besides books — and yes, they are all free!
Today, I’m sharing an incomplete list of NON-BOOK items we can check out from our library at no cost!
How To Use Vertical Space to Maximize Storage
9 Tips for Working Parents to Make the Most of Their Time at Home
While I know my own life experience doesn’t qualify me as an “expert” on today’s topic, I have worked with enough busy families and working parents to come up with a fairly long list of tips, ideas, and suggestions.
If you work outside the home and struggle to find enough hours in your day to keep your home (and life) in order, I hope today’s post will help!
How We Celebrate Valentine’s Day: Frugal, Festive, Family Fun!
We love celebrating special days and holidays… but we most definitely do NOT spend crazy amounts of time, energy, or money on decorations, fancy food, or elaborate gifts.
If you share my love of celebrating special days without too much excess hoopla, I think the simple ideas, tips, and recipes in this post will help make your entire week a bit more festive!
Goals and Dreams: 2 Decades in the Making!
How I Store, Prep, and Serve All Our Fresh Produce
Yesterday, I shared how I stretch our grocery shopping to every 2-3 weeks — today I’m sharing a how I store, prep, and serve the huge variety of fresh produce I buy every 2-3 weeks so it doesn’t get wasted and so my family can enjoy it at every single meal.
My hope is that this post gives you as much detail as possible regarding our fresh produce consumption… just short of actually inviting you all into my kitchen (wouldn’t that be fun though!)
A Few Of My Favorite Things {February 2019}
Homemade Oatmeal: An Easy Way to Eat Whole Grains
This “recipe” is so ridiculously simple… however, since my goal is to cook, bake, and consume whole grains every day this year, I couldn’t resist the chance to share one of the easiest ways I’ve found to eat more whole grains!
If you’re looking for a super simple, super frugal, hearty whole-grain breakfast, try your hand at homemade oatmeal.
A Peek Into Our Week
How To Get Started On Any Project
I know what it feels like to be “too busy”, to have more to-do list than time, and to procrastinate on various projects because they feel too overwhelming.
Fortunately, I have a super simple (yet very effective) motivator that seems to work almost every time I feel procrastination setting in. I’m sharing more in today’s post!
Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad
Yes… the main ingredient of this tasty salad is shredded Brussels Sprouts! Don’t click away just yet though…
If you’re looking for another super easy, make-ahead salad or side dish, give this recipe for Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad a try!
Even if you think you hate Brussels Sprouts, I have a feeling you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the flavor, crunch, and tang of this delicious “salad”!