Five years ago, I made my first-ever Lilac Cordial. I read about the recipe in an old Victorian cookbook ( a wildly fun find at a flea market). At that time, we had just relocated our family back to the foothills of California to be close to the trees, soil, and bedrock I knew in…
Meet Megan Parks of Parks Elevated Design, a former middle school teacher passionate about homemaking, crafting DIY bath and body products, and discovering new ways to make a house a home. Megan and I met online, and she offers her journey of learning the lost skills of self-sufficiency: baking bread, canning foods, cooking on cast…
Mother’s Day is almost here, and if you’re still wondering what to gift to the special mother figure in your life, don’t sweat it; we’ve got you covered. This year, we are gifting our mothers beautiful bouquets of tulips. We’ve arranged the tulips into thrifted vases and adorned them with our new free printable Mother’s…
Spring is here, and a great way to celebrate the season is by making lilac flower-infused honey. Yes, lilacs are edible flowers (Syringa vulgaris) and safe for humans to consume, as they are part of the olive family Oleaceae. Infusing spring blossoms into honey captures their aroma and preserves their compelling sweetness long after the…
Do you wish you could start homesteading and live a more simple and natural life, but you have no idea where to start? Then you’ll love our conversation with Brittany Gibson of The Homestead Challenge. In our 50+ minute discussion, Brittany and I explore her journey from mega mainstream consumer to crunchy mama. In our…
When our family received our celiac diagnosis, it wasn’t bread that we all cried about. It was pie. Delicious fruit pie, chicken pot pie, quiche, and all the tasty dishes that require pie crusts. What’s Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie or Independence Day without Grandma’s cream pie? Fortunately, the goal with most pie crusts is to…
Springtime means an abundance of eggs here on the farm. One way we enjoy having fun with eggs is when we make Huevos Hamanidos, or slow-cooked eggs. I hope you will explore that simple and delicious recipe that puts leftover onion skins to use, creating onion flavor-infused eggs that are tasty and gorgeous. However, our…
Seasonal changes bring temperature fluctuations, which can negatively affect our hair health. Using heat tools too often, over-washing, and indoor heating can damage, create excess frizz, fade colored hair, or cause dry hair or dry scalp irritation. Fortunately, you don’t need to run out and buy another beauty product or pay for an expensive hair…
A Free Peter Rabbit Seed Packets Printable is a simple and fun way to welcome the new season with a touch of whimsy. Beatrix Potter’s A Tale of Peter Rabbit is one of our favorite springtime reads. The story is set in the English countryside, and among the quaint charm of Mr. Mcgregor’s garden, this story…
Summer flowers are meant to be shared, so don’t let not having the right vase deter you from spreading joy! With a little creativity and simple supplies from your recycling bin, you can craft a rustic country vase in less than five minutes. Then, simply add your favorite cut flowers from your garden for a…
Spring has arrived and it’s time to keep an eye out for all the beautiful flowers to forage, including the common dandelion! Dandelions (taraxacum officinale) have yellow flower petals that are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Although the whole plant can be consumed, this dandelion jelly recipe uses just the dandelion flower heads. Sarah Barron…
Do you love the Danish concept of Hygge (comfy & cozy), herbs, and books? Then you’re going to love meeting Anna Reisz of The Herbology Faerie. In our 50+ minute discussion, Anna and I explore her journey into herbalism and how she connected her passions of books, libraries, accessible learning, and a deep affection for…
No matter where you are in your natural living journey, listening to podcasts is a great way to gain knowledge, expand your skills, and get to know the experts in the field. Natural living covers a wide range of topics, including slow living, minimalism, sustainability, mindfulness, mental health, and even homesteading skills such as cooking…
Every time my family wakes up with a tickle in their throats, I know it’s the start of a cold or flu. If you don’t act fast, the tickle will quickly turn into something more severe, especially during cold and flu season. Long before I knew anything about plants or herbs, I learned to make…
Our family adores this simple lemon juice and fresh garlic vinaigrette and it’s one of our favorite recipes. It uses just a few ingredients including fresh garlic, fresh lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil, which are easy to keep on hand or pick up at your local grocery store; making this a great last-minute…
One of the first DIY natural makeup products I ever made was a DIY Cacao Face powder from simple ingredients found in my kitchen. At the time, I had such sensitive skin that I couldn’t use store-bought makeup powders without risking painful breakouts or skin irritation lasting for weeks. Once I discovered how easy it…