Sleep Schedule Reset: Why Adults Need A Bedtime, Too
When back-to-school season hits, we parents shift into high gear: shopping for supplies, adjusting bedtime routines for the kids, packing lunches, and juggling calendars full of practices, orientations, and work deadlines. We make sure everyone else gets enough rest so they can function, but often forget one crucial piece: our own sleep.
Let’s be real — adulting is hard enough. Doing it on too little sleep? That’s next-level chaos. (more…)
Meal PlanningTips for Families Getting Back Into the School Routine
Back-to-school season can throw even the most organized households into chaos. Between school schedules, after-school activities, and trying to remember who needs a lunchbox and who’s buying from the cafeteria, figuring out what’s for dinner can feel like just another stressor.
But here’s the good news: meal prep doesn’t have to mean spending your entire Sunday in the kitchen or cooking every meal from scratch. With a few simple strategies, you can feed your family well and still have time (and energy) left over for yourself. (more…)
Gluten-Free Sourdough Sandwich Bread
I used to happily outsource my sourdough cravings to local bakers because, let’s be real, making sourdough from scratch felt like adopting a high-maintenance houseplant that lived on your counter. One baker used organic flour, the other imported hers from Italy, and I genuinely felt better eating their beautiful, soft loaves compared to the sad stuff on grocery store shelves. But even with all that charm, my stomach still wasn’t thrilled. Eventually, I realized I felt amazing when I went completely gluten-free with breads; like, clear-headed, zero-bloat, forgot-I-had-a-stomach kind of amazing. So, against my better judgment (and with only mild flour-based fear), I decided to dive into making my own gluten-free sourdough at home. I wanted the tang and the chew, just without the gluten backlash. And you know what? I quickly learned that with the right starter and a bit of patience, gluten-free sourdough is absolutely doable — and totally worth it. (more…)
Back-To-School Stress? 5 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health This Fall
As much as I love the fresh-start energy of fall, let’s be honest — back-to-school season is also a lot. Between earlier mornings, endless forms to fill out, changing schedules, and trying to remember which kid needs what on which day… it’s easy to feel like your brain is in a blender.
And while we’re busy making sure the kids have everything they need, like backpacks, lunches, routines — our own mental health often takes a backseat. (more…)
Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter
Sourdough isn’t just for wheat lovers anymore. With a little patience and the right ingredients, you can create a tangy, bubbly gluten-free sourdough starter that’s perfect for breads, muffins, pancakes, and more. Whether you’re gluten-sensitive, celiac, or just experimenting with new baking methods, making your own gluten-free starter is simpler than you think.
In this post, I’ll show you how to build a gluten-free sourdough starter from scratch using King Arthur’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour — one of my favorite blends for reliability and performance. (more…)
Healthy Lunchbox Ideas That Kids Might Actually Eat
Packing lunchboxes every day can feel like Groundhog Day; the same sandwich, the same snacks, the same uneaten apple that comes home bruised and rejected. If you’re tired of the lunch-packing struggle, you’re not alone. The goal is simple: find food that’s nutritious, kid-approved, and easy enough to prep in real life.
Here are some healthy, realistic lunchbox ideas (no Pinterest perfection required) that are simple options that fuel your kids…and maybe even you, too. (more…)
Back To School: 5 Ways To Reset Your Routine After Summer
I don’t know about you, but the summer is a complete whirlwind for me. It’s a joyful, chaotic rollercoaster of late sunsets, pool days, spontaneous lake trips, and the glorious freedom of not having a schedule. I love being able to run off for a weekend adventure, hang out with family, or sign the kids up for fun camps without worrying about early mornings or rigid routines. But as much as I thrive on that flexibility, I’ve learned that my kids and I do better with structure. After too many screen marathons and pajama-clad afternoons, I start to feel like their brains are slowly melting — and mine’s not far behind. The freedom is fun, but it’s also exhausting. There’s little quiet time, no personal space, and I’m in full-on mommy mode 24/7, listening for any suspicious silence or emergencies that could mean something just exploded. It’s a double-edged sword, which is why I’m more than ready for a fresh routine when school starts. (more…)
Energy Oat Balls
If there’s one recipe my kids beg for on a regular basis, it’s these Energy Oat Balls. I swear, I can’t make a batch without someone sneaking a few before they even make it to the container. They’ve become a staple in our house, and are perfect for tossing into lunchboxes, handing out after school when hunger hits hard, or even grabbing for a quick, no-fuss breakfast on those chaotic mornings when we’re running out the door. (more…)
The Sunday Reset: How To Plan Your Week Without Stress
Sundays used to be my least favorite day. The looming “Monday energy” would creep in around 3 p.m., and suddenly I was overwhelmed with all the things I hadn’t done, the meals I hadn’t planned, and the laundry staring at me like it knew something I didn’t.
But somewhere along the way, I discovered the magic of the Sunday Reset, a simple, no-pressure routine that helps me step into the new week feeling more in control and less like a human tornado.
Here’s how to create your own Sunday reset without making it feel like another to-do list:
Gourmet Gluten-Free M&M Cookies (Crumbl Copycat)
What if I told you these gluten-free M&M cookies taste so good, that they might make you question everything you thought about gluten? Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate chips and possibly too many M&Ms (is that even possible?), these cookies are so bakery-level delicious that even gluten itself would wish it was invited to this party. But don’t worry, you won’t miss it. One bite, and you’ll forget gluten was ever a thing. (more…)
Matcha Latte
When I suspected that I was having an allergic response to coffee (gasp!), I thought my life was over when I had to eliminate it from my diet for a week while waiting for a new batch of mold/mycotoxin-free coffee to arrive in the mail. Okay fine, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but if you drank coffee regularly, would you be upset if you had to remove it?? Good possibility. The first day without, I felt the strong effects of caffeine withdrawal with some major drowsiness going on that I wasn’t used to. I had to think quickly, without actually having to get dressed and go to the grocery store in 24-degree weather to hunt down some organic green tea. Then, I remembered that I had recently bought a pack of matcha powder. Bingo. (more…)
Chocolate Sweet Potato Bundt Cake
Gluten-Free/Plant-Based/Vegan/Dairy-Free
Not a day goes by that I’m not looking for some way to make a healthier version of comfort food…especially since traditional comfort food tears up my system like a mother. So, I have to get creative. Since I started gluten-free baking, there have been many experiments that have been both successful and not-so-great. What I have noticed is that when I can use fruits or vegetables incorporated into desserts, not only do they add vitamins and nutrients, but also add moisture and texture. It’s also a great way to trick your loved ones into eating healthier food, so it’s a win-win all the way around! (more…)