Though we didn’t have an elaborate party to celebrate our baby girl’s first birthday, we did take some fabulous photos to help preserve our memories of the occasion. We own an excellent, easy-to-use DSLR camera (Cannon EOS Rebel T5), so we decided to take our own photos of our daughter’s first encounter with cake instead of hiring a … [Read more...] about DIY Cake Smash Photo Shoot
10 Ways Traditions and Rituals Benefit Families
It was during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons of the years before I met my husband that I was most keenly aware of my single state; I longed to share holiday traditions and rituals with a husband and children of my own. I was so interested in sharing traditions because I remembered enjoying a number of these when I was growing … [Read more...] about 10 Ways Traditions and Rituals Benefit Families
Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins
I’ve never been a fan of pumpkin pie, but I do often enjoy other baked goods that contain pumpkin. I think it is because I enjoy a hint of pumpkin flavor, but not the in-your-face pumpkin flavor that characterizes pumpkin pie. This fall I’m enjoying subtle pumpkin flavor in these Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups flour (I … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins
12 Outdoor Activities for Babies to Enjoy During the Fall
Autumn has arrived and ushered in some cooler temperatures. This means that we can be a little more comfortable as my little one explores outdoors. Here are 12 age-appropriate outdoor activities that we hope to try in the coming weeks. Outdoor fall activities for infants Go for a walk and look at the bright fall foliage. Rake … [Read more...] about 12 Outdoor Activities for Babies to Enjoy During the Fall
Baked Chicken “Fried” Steak
Chicken fried steak is an incredibly tasty comfort food. Unfortunately, it’s not particularly healthy. Tasty and healthy don’t have to be mutually exclusive, so I tried a recipe for a baked version. The result was so good that I’ve added the recipe to my collection of favorites! Ingredients (Adapted from this recipe.) 6 beef eye of … [Read more...] about Baked Chicken “Fried” Steak
14 Gratitude Activities for the Whole Family
Though I do try to be grateful throughout the year, I really appreciate the general air of gratitude that pervades the month of November. I want to take advantage of this to boost my family’s focus on thankfulness. One easy way to do this is to engage in gratitude activities. These take many forms, so there’s bound to be one or more … [Read more...] about 14 Gratitude Activities for the Whole Family
5 Incredibly Easy Ways to Serve Your Community
When I think about serving my community, I often conceptualize it as another activity that I need to add to my already busy schedule. Thankfully, there are actually many easy ways that we can serve our communities. Consider these five approaches that are practically effortless. 5 easy ways to serve our communities Pick up litter. … [Read more...] about 5 Incredibly Easy Ways to Serve Your Community
Penne Festival
It has been years since I’ve eaten at a Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant, but I recall there being a number of incredibly tasty items on the menu. I’ve recreated a few of these at home, including the Grilled Chicken Bowtie Festival. As you’ll see here, I use penne pasta instead of bowtie pasta, but the taste is still … [Read more...] about Penne Festival
