Wrapping Up Christmas and a Few Book Reviews

This is crazy, but true.Ā  I love wrapping up the holiday season as much as I like preparing for it.Ā  As in I take down everything Christmas on Christmas Day.Ā  Wrapping up Christmas is like presenting a fresh slate for me to take into the New Year. Oh, and I owe a few book reviews […]

My Top Tips for Winter Hiking

Summer necessitates high-country hikes in my part of the world, but winter opens up all new possibilities.Ā  Here are a few of my top tips for winter hiking.Ā  Winter hiking in low-altitude locations with very little shade or on urban trails are all calling my name. A perfect way to blend fitness with nature. With […]

Five Favorite Crockpot Meals

No matter what your busy holiday season may look like, you may still want a hot home-cooked meal with little fuss and healthful ingredients.Ā  So Iā€™m sharing my five favorite crockpot meals and hope to inspire you treat yourself well. My kitchen countertops are often sporting a crockpot full of something.  Itā€™s probably my number […]

Holiday Potpourri

ā€œSimpleā€ is my holiday mantra and enjoying holiday potpourri is about as simple as you can get and still satisfy the senses.  A tiny crockpot means the stove doesnā€™t even have to go on and I can set it and forget it. Remember the dried orange slices I made a couple of weeks ago?  I […]

Air Fried Pork Chops

Any sort of pork is not on our normal menu around here.Ā  Except for.Ā  Umm.Ā  Bacon.Ā  Should that really be classified as pork? But this week air fried pork chops made it into the rotation. The occasional babyback ribs or pork loin will show up, but not really pork chops.  Hub likes them way more […]

Dried Orange Slices

Dried orange slices at Christmas time are so beautiful as natural tree ornaments, garland embellishments, and drink garnishes. I am blessed in life to have friends and family who are beautiful and talented and smart and funny.  All very important traits.  And most of them are creative and artistic.  Thatā€™s where they leave me in […]

My Top Tips for Staying Zen During Christmas

Okay, so maybe Zen and Christmas donā€™t really go in the same sentence, but as much as everyone wants to enjoy the holidays, I think we all want a little peace too.  So here are my top tips for staying Zen during this Christmas season. Tip #1 ā€“ Stop! šŸ›‘ If youā€™re doing something that […]

Very Minimal Christmas Decorating

Letā€™s get this weekend started, shall we?  Saying I need some downtime is a gross understatement.  Iā€™ll share my less-than-wonderful-week with you shortly.  But on the positive side Iā€™m going to share my very minimal Christmas decorating involving almost no shopping.    For Christmas decorations, that is.  Not to say I didnā€™t shop this week.  […]