January was pretty uneventful for us. We continued doing school, learning about our new community, and trying to form new routines. One unexpected and fun thing that did happen was a rare snowfall! We don’t see snow that often here, so my girls were thrilled to be able to play in it. We don’t have any special plans for this month. I may … [Read more...] about February 2024 Dinner Menu
Keeping the Home
Solutions for Stinky Shoes
I’m starting this year by literally airing some dirty laundry. In recent months, my family has had quite the problem with stinky shoes. My kids’ shoes, my husband’s shoes, and my shoes—all are victims of bromodosis (the scientific term for smelly feet). I’ve tried several approaches for removing the odor. After numerous attempts, I … [Read more...] about Solutions for Stinky Shoes
January 2024 Dinner Menu
I typically write a “year in review” post that I share at the end of December, but I simply didn’t have time for that during this past week! I feel like most of our year was spent preparing to move and then actually moving, so it might have been a little redundant anyway. We had a nice, relatively low-key Christmas. Now—ready or … [Read more...] about January 2024 Dinner Menu
Christmas Light Safety Tips
The glow of Christmas lights is one of the many enjoyable aspects of the Christmas season. Unfortunately, for many families, the tradition of Christmas lights quickly turns to tragedy. In the U.S., nearly 15,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments each year because of injuries related to holiday decorating (source). … [Read more...] about Christmas Light Safety Tips
December 2023 Dinner Menu
December is here! We have chilly weather outside and warm foods inside. The Christmas season is always special, but it is especially wonderful when you have kids. Just the other day I saw my oldest daughter staring at the Christmas tree. She turned to me after a bit and told me how pretty it was. I love how magical the season is for … [Read more...] about December 2023 Dinner Menu
Apple Cider Cookies
There are so many fall flavors to enjoy! Though I do enjoy the wildly popular flavor of pumpkin spice, my favorite fall flavor is apple. I love apple pie, caramel apples, apple cobbler (like my Snickerdoodle Apple Cobbler), and apple cider. When I saw a recipe for Apple Cider Cookies, I knew I needed to try them. They did not … [Read more...] about Apple Cider Cookies
Simple Ways to Streamline Thanksgiving Dinner Preparation
For many families, the focal point of Thanksgiving Day is a table laden with delicious food. As nice as it is to dive into these foods, getting them to the table often requires a lot of work and can be stressful. Last year, for example, we spent the entire day before Thanksgiving preparing various dishes. Then I was up and cooking again … [Read more...] about Simple Ways to Streamline Thanksgiving Dinner Preparation
November 2023 Dinner Menu
As I noted last week, we are busy unpacking in our new home. After a month filled with takeout and meals that were thrown together from convenience foods, we’re ready for a normal menu! Thankfully, our weather has cooled, so we are also ready for fall favorites such as casseroles and soups. Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is later this … [Read more...] about November 2023 Dinner Menu