This delicious and comforting easy beef stew in the slow cooker takes less than 10 minutes to prep, all day to cook and make your house smell amazing, and no time at all to devour. This meal s a family favorite for a reason!

When I get busy, I try to keep it simple by getting out the slow cooker. It’s great for all seasons but especially in the fall, the slow cooker is so perfect for putting together healthy, delicious and filling meals that don’t require me to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Have you seen my epic list of healthy, kid-approved crockpot meals? 

It truly does not get any easier than this simple and delicious slow cooker beef stew. It’s hearty and wholesome; a meal that the whole family enjoys.

You can make this two ways: One, using a traditional chuck roast. For that method, let it cook all day and shred it about 30 minutes before serving. However, the second method has quickly become our family’s favorite. It’s more of a beef stew take on the recipe because I cut the meat into cubes (or you can purchase it already cubed) prior to adding it to the slow cooker which creates bite sized, super tender meat- perfect for kids. 

A couple notes before you get started:

• Spice packets make prep fast and easy. I prefer using the Simply Organic Brown Gravy Packet and Pacific Foods’ Organic Cream of Mushroom soup mix.
• This meal needs to cook for a long time, so if you choose low, make sure it gets at least 10 hours of cook time. If not, use the cook on high option for 6-8 hours.
• You can add whole mushrooms, swap Yukon gold for little red potatoes, or add in frozen peas during the last hour of cook time.
• Enjoy!

Easy Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker

• Author: Brittany Dixon
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Yield: 4 servings
• Category: dinner, recipes
• Cuisine: dinner

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Description

This delicious and comforting easy beef stew in the slow cooker takes less than 10 minutes to prep, all day to cook and make your house smell amazing, and no time at all to devour.

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Ingredients

• 2 lbs stew meat, cubed
• 1 packet Simply Organic dried gravy mix
• 1 can Pacific Foods cream of mushroom soup
• 2 large onions, quartered
• 4–5 Yukon gold potatoes, large diced
• 3/4 lb (6-8 large) carrots, cut into 1–2 inch sized pieces
• salt and pepper

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Instructions

1. Add meat to the slow cooker and season generously with salt and pepper.
2. Add chopped onions, potatoes, and carrots.
3. Add onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup.
4. Mix well to coat all the ingredients.
5. Cover and set to low for 12 hours or high for 6-8 hours.

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Keywords: fall, pot roast, Slow Cooker

David and I are serial entrepreneurs.

One funny example of this is from when we were first married. I got it in my head that I wanted to make individual soap/scrub drops to sell to fancy hotels. We bought a bunch of supplies to try and make them, but after much trial and error, the plan fizzled out before I could become the queen of fancy soap.

We’ve had several ventures beyond that that. A couple successes, but the majority haven’t panned out for one reason or another. I think it’s important to share that because it’s easy to see someone’s successes and forget about all the times that they fell flat on their face. 

All this to say that I have a great respect for small businesses and the labor of love that they are born from. To put my money where my mouth is, this year I’m challenging myself to do more of my holiday shopping from small businesses.

Don’t get me wrong, I use and really appreciate Amazon. I’ll continue to share things I get from Amazon, too, because it really is a modern convenience that makes a big difference. But I figure if I can reallocate 40ish% of my holiday shopping to support small businesses, then that could make a big difference. Think if we all just shaved off a portion of their spending and focused it on small and local businesses? Pretty cool! 

For this list I combed through a hundred recommendations you sent me through Instagram. It was a serious challenge as there were so many incredible businesses to support. To be maximally helpful, I handpicked the ones that I would/will purchase from myself. I hope this list connects you to some incredible gifts from some awesome entrepreneurs.

Happy shopping!

1. Shopbofemme – A North Carolina based handmade jewelry shop making gorgeous pieces in a Bohemian + feminine style.
2. The Gift of Today – Transforms precious, handwritten family recipes or notes into heirloom tea towels and handkerchiefs. 
3. Southern Elegance Candles – Simple and sleek candles with aromas to transport you back to a simpler time, no matter where you’re from.
4. Rubi and Lib – A one stop shot for all your party or hosting needs, specializing in adorable printed invitations, party favors, personalized tableware, and Christmas ornaments.
5. DIG + CO – They describe their products as makers of fine tools and objects made to love big and last a long time. Their products are so beautiful and to me, inspire a simple lifestyle connected to nature and family and wholesomeness.
6. RK Woodworking – The bowl cozy! I shared this item gifted to me by my mother-in-law on Insta stories and y’all loved it. You put your bowl in it, then microwave to warm it up, and then you can pull your bowl out and enjoy without burning your fingers!
7. The Rosy Red Head – She creates the cutest, most playful, floral prints, stickers, cards, and stationery.
8. The Bogg Bag – Combining style and function, these totes are sturdy, durable, and even washable. 
9. The Cookie Crate – Spreading joy all over the US by delivering delicious, freshly-made cookies.
10. Lilywrap – Wrap anything, anywhere with these beautiful, reusable, and versatile wraps that can tackle any wrapping project from a bottle of wine to a soccer call with ease.
11. Beer Greetings – They offer creative and fun packages to gift beer (or other beverages, like a hot chocolate kit!) for any celebration.
12. Heirloomed Collection Linens – A company focused on preserving the simple things, they offer aprons, table linens, pillows, kitchen wares, and vintage items.
13. Dot and Army – Offering sustainable, everyday goods cloth napkins (their cocktail napkins would make a great gift), to wraps and covers, and kitchen extras.
14. Sally and Sage – Believing food and travel are a few of life’s greatest joys, she brilliantly offers portable spice kits that would be perfect for everything from camping to airbnbs to condo stays!
15. ChappyWrap – Made from an easy to care for cotton blend, these blankets are calming and warm and proclaimed to be the best blanket you will ever own.

I had to create a special shoutout section to some of my favorite local small businesses in the Charlotte, NC area. These women-owned businesses put their hearts and souls into what they do and it shows and shines in the products they offer.

1. Sweet Stella Treats – Located in the Lake Norman area, Bonnie is a gifted artist that creates not only the most detailed and delightful cake pops for any of your celebration needs, she also offers DIY cake pop kits that come with everything you need to make the magic in your own kitchen. Ordering for her Christmas Cake Pop Kits will be available soon!
2. Alpine Mercantile – Located in Mooresville, Alpine Mercantile is a purveyor of good, clean stuff. From plant hangers to tea towels to candles, soaps, bath salts, and grains and seeds, you can find a gift for anyone on your list here.
3. The Batch Maker – Cristina is more than a masterful baker, she has created a community based around loving people well, which she does through her baking. Her bakery, located in West Charlotte, is worth stopping by for a decadent cookie or cake slice and a coffee, but you can also place orders online.
4. Sniff and Rescue – Jena creates soy, coconut, and beeswax candles that not only have the loveliest aromas, but also support a good cause. 10% of her proceeds go directly to support local dog rescues and shelters.
5. Jessica Beaver Creative – Jessica creates beautiful silhouettes that can be printed and frames or printed on greeting cards. I love that she can make heartwarming silhouettes of children, but of animals as well. These are a timeless way to capture and hold onto a precious moment in time.
6. Evans Family Farm – If you are looking for local, honest, pasture-raised meat, you must check out Evans Family Farm. They offer online ordering and even home delivery of their grass-fed, non-GMO, humanely raised and processed meats, poultry, eggs, and more. You can support them by purchasing your holiday meats from them or by buying a gift card for someone you love!

While this season is about much more than gifts, I know how many of us enjoy getting to show our love through this avenue. What a blessing to get to give twice- through the gift itself and also by purchasing from a small business, to whom it means so much. Happy shopping! <3

This sausage, kale, and white bean soup recipe has a comforting and robust depth of flavor and texture thanks to the spices in the sausage and the creaminess created by pureeing the majority of the beans. Serve with a hunk of crusty bread and you have a meal that will fill your belly and warm you from within.

I can not get enough soups and stews recently. I’ve made my vegetable beef soup on repeat (with corn bread, of course) and when a reader recently reminded me of a sausage, kale, and white bean soup recipe she loved and still made that I shared years ago, I knew I had to bring it forth from the archives.

Thank you, kind reader, because you are right- this recipe is worth making repeatedly.

The highlights of this soup are this:

• The sausage provides a robust flavor profile. You can use pork or chicken sausage, and while I haven’t tried it yet, I believe a vegetarian sausage would work just as well.
• Pureeing the majority of the beans creates a rich texture that provides the feel of a creamy soup without any dairy.
• It’s a quick soup to make. From beginning prep work to serving is less than 30 minutes.

Now just because I’m a soup lover, it doesn’t mean my whole family is. However, this is how I make it work as a meal for the whole family.

• Serve with bread. Homemade sourdough takes the cake lately, but crusty dinner rolls with butter work just as well.
• Serve it to young kids with less broth. For Kaitlyn (6) I use a slotted spoon and she still gets all the goodness with less annoyance with the broth.
• Offer freshly grated Parmesan as a topping. Both David and the kids always love this extra.

I hope you enjoy this sausage, kale and white bean soup and it bring you warmth and comfort during this fall and winter season. 

Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Soup

• Author: Brittany Dixon

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Description

This sausage, kale, and white bean soup recipe has a comforting and robust depth of flavor and texture thanks to the spices in the sausage and the creaminess created by pureeing the majority of the beans.

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Ingredients

1.25 lbs mild Italian sausage

1 c diced yellow onion (about 1/2 a large)

1/2 c diced celery (about 2 large stalks)

3 (15 oz) cans of Cannellini beans, drained

1/2 bunch of dino kale, cut into thin strips

1 quart vegetable broth

1 tsp white wine vinegar

salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup of broth and sausage. Break sausage apart as it browns.

While sausage cooks, add 2 cans of beans and 1 cup of broth to a blender. Blend well until smooth.

Once sausage is almost fully cooked (about 10 minutes), add onion and celery, salt and pepper. Mix well and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until onions and celery are softened.

Add remaining broth and bring to a simmer. Add the kale and let steam until wilted.

Add beans, bean puree, and the white wine vinegar. Add salt and pepper as needed. Mix well until heated through, then serve.

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No doubt that you’ve heard of CBD by now, as it’s everywhere! You can get it in your coffee or from your local gift shop. I first heard about CBD years ago from a friend and remember feeling really unsure about the idea of it. Is it like legalized weed? (It’s not). I’ve learned so much about it since then!

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It’s not psychoactive, meaning unlike THC, another compound from the cannabis plant, you don’t feel any “high” from taking the product. It’s gained a lot of attention in the natural health world for it’s potential use in easing pain and reducing anxiety, among other potential benefits. 

I’ve been using CBD products off and on for a long time now- maybe 1-2 years? I tried it initially out of curiosity and to see if I could feel a difference in my stress levels when taking it just occasionally. I tried many different brands but for months now I’ve been brand loyal to Joy Organics because I trust their commitment to quality and consistency… and the simple fact that I can actually feel a difference with their products.

My favorite products are their CBD gummies, their CBD soft gels, and their CBD bath bombs.

I usually take it late afternoon/evening on days when I just feel on edge, overly emotional, or stressed. I generally take 20 mg (2 soft gels or 2 gummies). And yes, I can feel a physical difference. There is obviously no high, but it makes me feel more peaceful and relaxed, like I would after a long yoga class or a sauna session.

I have gotten questions from people who say they can’t tell a difference when taking, and my two responses are always: what brand are you taking (is it high quality?) and how much are you taking?

Why you might not “feel anything” when taking CBD:

• Your CBD isn’t from a quality source. 
• You aren’t taking a high enough dose (this is actually a common mistake, especially since we only absorb about 4-20% of cannabinoids we ingest).
• You need a different delivery system (read more below about benefits of each).
• It might just not work for you (apparently about 20% of Americans have a genetic mutation that makes them less sensitive to it).

Let’s chat delivery systems. You can find CBD in every kind of form now. 

CBD Tinctures vs CBD softgels vs CBD gummies

Tinctures 

• Tincture products are fast-acting and easy to take. Tinctures are a simple introduction to the world of CBD — you simply select your favorite flavor and take by mouth as desired.
• As with all Joy Organic’s high-quality products, they extract any trace amounts of THC from their tinctures before they sell them to you. This means you can enjoy all of the benefits of CBD without worrying about feeling a THC-induced high as a side effect. Their third-party lab tests ensure that there is no detectable level of THC in their tinctures.
• Because they use broad spectrum hemp oil, you also get the benefits of the naturally occurring components of the hemp plant working together with the CBD. This is what’s known as the entourage effect. When you take CBD from Joy Organics, you are truly receiving all of the benefits the hemp plant has to offer.
• There are flavor options. If you’re a citrus fan, try the Lemon or Orange flavors. The Tranquil Mint is perfect for those looking for a relaxing, refreshing experience from their tincture. Or, if you’d rather experience the authentic flavor of hemp extract, the natural tincture is simply made up of extra-virgin olive oil and CBD.
• With the tinctures, you’re able to have more control over the amount of CBD you ingest with the option to adjust as necessary for your individual needs. 
• Tinctures are super easy to add into drinks or foods!

Softgels

• Oil and water don’t exactly mix. The human body is mostly made of water. That’s why when you take a regular CBD product, you don’t absorb much of it. Joy Organics softgel formula utilizes nanoemulsion technology that decreases the particle size, transforming their premium hemp extract into a consistency more easily absorbed by the body. This increased bioavailability means that you’ll see similar benefits that you would with a regular CBD product but with a smaller serving size.
• Joy Organics CBD Softgels are made with broad spectrum oil, packed with naturally occurring phytonutrients. The combined benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp plant make their CBD softgels truly synergistic. This process is known as the entourage effect, which just means you are getting the best of what the hemp plant has to offer when you trust Joy Organics for your CBD needs.
• Softgels give you predictable results in an easy-to-swallow format. Because of their water-soluble nanoemulsion technology, the bioavailability is much higher than an oil-based CBD product. If you are looking for fast and effective CBD results for any time of the day, their 10 or 25mg softgels are the perfect product for you!

Gummies

• CBD Gummies make it extremely easy to get a perfectly-measured serving size of CBD. Taking a tincture can be slightly more difficult because it requires you to measure your own serving, usually by filling a dropper. CBD edibles are different. They often come in a perfectly measured serving, which lets you know exactly how much CBD you’re taking. When eating a 10mg CBD Gummy, you know you’re consuming exactly 10mg. 
• CBD Gummies offer long-lasting effects. Although CBD Gummies might take longer to kick in, the effects tend to last longer than other methods. CBD Gummies can be great for those interested in experiencing benefits that extend over a period of several hours. 
• Few products are more discreet than a CBD Gummies. If you’re someone who values their privacy, CBD edibles make it easy to get a regular serving of CBD wherever you might be without anyone knowing the difference. 

I’d say the biggest thing when choosing an ingestible would be based on preference. What is ‘easiest’ for you to ingest! 

Use my affiliate code, BRITTANY, for 25% off your order with Joy Organics.

I have friends that take CBD morning and evening every day. I know people that give it to their pets or their teenagers. Personally I take it on what I call an “as needed” basis and can say that over the course of this incredibly hard year, it has helped me.

If you have any questions about CBD or my personal experience with it, don’t hesitate to ask. I know how hard it was for me to find reliable information when I had questions, so I hope this has been helpful to you!

Happy Monday! I hope you had a good weekend, whether it was spent collecting candy, snuggled on the couch, or knocking out home projects. We had a bit of it all and spent Sunday cleaning, food prepping, and building a new deck to cover up the hole left from removing our hot tub. Ok, I did the first two and David knocked out the third.

Still, it was a great weekend mix of fun and productivity, finished up with a walk with a good friend, a hot bath, and an early bedtime. #thisis37. I’m feeling my Earl Grey this morning and just felt like chatting with you, so… let’s chat!

Halloween was a blast.

It was so refreshing to have a night that felt normal. We had a few friends over for chili and Brunswick stew. I used this Brunswick stew recipe and would make it again but with a few changes. First, I would use a vinegar-based BBQ sauce instead of the recommended Sweet Baby Rays. I also would eliminate the sugar, or only add half the amount if needed with a more vinegar based sauce. I added potatoes to mine as well. Overall it was good, but just too sweet!

As for Halloween festivities, the girls were thrilled with how our costumes turned out. They had been wanting to do a Star Wars theme for a long time and I think we pulled it off! The neighborhood really went all out making it a special night for everyone. Neighbors gathered in cul-de-sacs and the community vibe was heartwarming. The full moon was beautiful and the weather was cool but not as frigid as I was expecting.

All in all, I’m just really grateful for such a fun, normal feeling evening. And the girls still have their candy spread out and categorized; the trading fun has yet to cease!

Lands End is having an amazing sale right now. I’ve been wanting a warm coat for myself at the girls that falls somewhere between a hoodie and a ski coat. These fit the bill! They are rated for temperatures down to 9 degrees and aren’t big and bulky. David has been looking for a vest (I love a good vest for cold weather and I think he’s been jealous…). Anyway, I don’t know how long this sale will last, but it’s a good one to take advantage of!

• Petite Crewneck Tunic – usually $59, now $54 (ok, so this one isn’t a great discount but I think I’ll wear it all the time)
• Petite Down Winter Puffer – usually $99, now $49!
• Little Kid Insulated Puffer Down Jacket – usually $69, now $34!
• Big Kid Insulated Puffer Down Jacket – usually $69, now $34!
• Men’s Packable Down Vest – usually $139, now $69!
• Thinking about going snow skiing? They also have ski gear on sale!

Consider this your friendly reminder to book your dermatologist appointment. I have to book mine at least 6 months in advanced, but my actual appointment was last week. With melanoma in my family and a lot of moles to keep tabs on, I’m glad I’ve found a dermatologist I trust. She uses a dermatoscope (a special handheld light that allows her to see the structure of the skin that might be hidden to the naked eye). 

I had two biopsies done and while I keep a close eye on my skin, neither one would have been spots that I had my eye on as suspicious. I’ll get the pathology report back in a week, but wanted to give you a gentle nudge to make an appointment to have a professional help keep an eye on the health of your largest organ. 

Homeschool update. We took last week off as a fall break at it was rejuvenating! We baked biscuits with Nannie and got watch a couple extra Halloween movies. Now this week I am feeling refreshed and ready to jump back into a few solid weeks before we break for Thanksgiving. Right now I’m feeling really grateful we started our new curriculum in June. We are over a third of the way through our math and language arts curriculum. That has me feeling good.

We ditched Singapore science early on (it was a bust) and just received my order of The Good and The Beautiful Human Body unit study. We are starting that today and after combing through it, I think it will be a great fit for the us. I plan on staying the course through the holidays and adding in more writing and reading come January, as we are fans of homeschooling in rhythm with the seasons.

As for readalouds, we finished The Prairie Thief recently (would recommend for ages 7+ and get ready for a lot of new vocabulary words) are currently reading Tuesdays at the Castle. Hailey is really into it and Kaitlyn is so-so. In the car we are listening to the audio version of The Land of Stories and both girls (and myself) are hooked. Chris Colfer does a wonderful job with the narration. After devouring the Whatever After audio books more than once, we are all really excited to have found a new twist on the idea of characters going into fairy tales. 

The Election

The big ‘ol elephant in the room, right? This will most likely be the only snippet I share about politics, but I had it on my heart to say this on the day before election day, especially after being asked on Instagram multiple times if I was going to share who I am voting for.

While I do have opinions on the matter (I’m a political podcast junkie), my strongest thoughts on the election are this: I care a lot less about who anyone votes for than I do about how they treat people who vote differently than them.

We are a very divided country right now. I saw videos of DC boarding up shops and restaurants in preparation for election night and it broke my heart. No matter the outcome, it appears that roughly half the country will have voted in line with you and the other half didn’t. I have friends and family that I love dearly that vote differently than I do. That’s OK. That’s more than OK; that’s what our country was founded on- voicing our different opinions, formed by our unique perspectives and priorities, in the spirit of listening to each other and using that to create a strong country.

I love this country, am grateful to live in this country, and believe the world we raise our children in has a lot less to do with what happens in Washington and a lot more to do with what happens within our own four walls and in our communities. Sending so much love to you all that you find peace right now and turn off the dang news if it just feels like too much.

💜

It’s totally normal to go through periods of being focused in on healthy living then having times of being less inspired. For a couple months now I’ve been more in line with the latter. It’s not that I fell of any wagon or anything, I just haven’t felt excited by focusing on my health like I usually am.

I’m sure a large part of it has to do with it being a really hard year. Since May-ish, I’ve gradually increased my creature comforts like creamer in my coffee when I usually drink it black, weekday wine, and more foods that just taste good and provide comfort. No big deal, of course. In fact, I think it’s healthy to allow ourselves some grace and creature comforts when life calls for it.

But if I’m being honest with myself, at more core, I am really interested in maximized living. I geek out over health tips that can help us feel our best and live longer, healthier lives. So I was excited that this week I got a taste of that old energy. And it felt so good!

I’m not sure exactly of the stimulus, but listening to this Wellness Mama podcast about viral risk and our immune systems and this Mark Hyman podcast with Dr. FrankLipman about aging well certainly contributed.

So here are the motions I’ve put in place this week to dial back in on health in a way that makes me feel my best.

I pulled out my juicer. My mom gifted me this Omega masticating juicer a couple years back. I often to use it to make morning wellness shots for David and me. I’ve used it periodically for celery juice or making lemonade for the kids. Juicing for usually takes a backseat in the summer when we are eating the plethora or fresh fruits and veggies available, but I always get more into it again when cooler weather rolls around. There is just something incredible about being able to pack so many nutrients into a single drink. 

This week’s green juice consisted of celery, a Granny Smith apple, cucumber, baby kale, parsley, lemon, ginger, and turmeric. I don’t measure exact amounts, but know that the apple, celery, and cucumber will create more volume. It makes a bottle’s worth and I typically drink half and save half for David.

Focusing on moving and resting my body. We still are rocking along with Madeline Moves’ Weekly Moves. You can read my full review of Madeline’s App and why we love it here. With the days starting to get shorter and colder, especially once the time changes on Sunday, I know this will take more concerted effort to make happen. I’m grateful David is into it as much as I am and that we have our crawlspace “gym” to use.

Just as important as moving our bodies is resting our bodies. Bedtime got a little all over the place for a little while (I’d blame TikTok, but laughing at short little videos has actually brought me a lot of joy and mental release during this time period).

Anyway, the girls are a little older now (9 and 6) and we homeschool so they can sleep in, so their bedtimes have gotten a little later, too. Typically they go to bed around 8:15/8:30 and while it’s tempting to stay up later ourselves, for the health of our mind and bodies, we enjoy another hour of time together but hit the hay around 9:45/10:00. Being that we are both up around 5:30 each day, it works for us and we feel so much better when we stick to it.

Vitamins and supplements. Over the years I’ve bounced back and forth on whether I think supplements are worth the money. The doctors I trust seem to say that some are, so I’ve gotten more consistent at taking Vitamin D3 everyday. I keep Vitamin C on hand but don’t take it regularly, same with my probiotic.

I do stay fully stocked up on Wellness Pills. These nutrient-packed Wellness Pills are incredible and I start taking them at the first sign of feeling run down. I can’t tell you how many times I believe they’ve saved me from some nasty colds and sicknesses. I just bought a new bottle for cold season and if you want to try them, I recommend you go ahead and do the same, because they will get hard to find again, like they did in March.

Checking off appointments. I’m not the best at staying up to date of regular doctor appointments. This week I went to the dermatologist and had two moles biopsied, which is not unusual for me given that we have melanoma in the family and I have a lot of moles. It was a good reminder to stay on top of these wellness type appointments. The dentist is next up for me. I won’t tell you how long it’s been for that one.

Trying out an infrared sauna blanket. I debated even including this because I haven’t gotten to try it yet, as it arrives today. However, I love infrared saunas. My parents have one and if we had a place to put it or planned on being here long term, I’d buy one, too. But we don’t and we aren’t, so I was really intrigued when I heard about the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket. Their team reached out to me after hearing me talk about my love for saunas and offered to send me a blanket to try. I said yes and will let you know how it goes after I use it for a while.

This sauna blanket offers far infrared rays (as opposed to full spectrum that saunas do ) which can increase circulation, promote detoxification, and promote relaxation and management of body aches. There are other health claims I’ve heard made about improved immunity among other things, but I’m not making any of these claims. I’m just excited to give it a try and add it into my routine a few times a week to see what I feel. At the very least, it will force me to sit still for a few minutes which has to be good for my mental health. 😉

Getting outside. Shorter and darker days means less sunshine to take advantage of. I’ve been going out on my porch every morning. It’s nothing major, but something about breathing fresh air and seeing the outside world gives me a better perspective from which to take on my day as opposed to my usual routine of heading straight into the office and computer. 

We are also doing a ton of school on the porch right now and plan to do so until it’s too bitter cold to hold a pencil. But even then I plan on bringing out blankets and setting up cozy shop for our read alouds. Fresh air does wonders for all our attitudes.

This swing has also increased our time spent outside ten fold!

Taking CBD. Every time I mention my love for Joy Organics, I get questions about CBD and I am working on a detailed post about it. After all, I’ve been researching to answer my own questions about the benefits an the differences between brands and products (tinctures vs soft gels vs gummies). I have learned so much.

I don’t take CBD daily, but when I do take it, I usually take it late afternoon/evening on days when I just feel on edge, overly emotional, or stressed. I generally take 20-30 mg. Yes, I can feel a physical difference. There is obviously no high (there is no THC in the products), but it takes the edge off for me and makes me feel more peaceful and relaxed. You can save 25% off any of their products by shopping through my referral link.

Cooking nutritious food. As with my health, my love of cooking goes through ups and downs as well. As we ease into cooler weather, making soups (like this vegetable beef recipe) is reigniting my joy for being in the kitchen. Inspired by the book Fiber Fueled, I also have been trying to vary my fruits and vegetables that I eat.

I was also inspired by Dr. Hyman’s recent podcast with Dr. Frank Lipman (whose book The New Rules of Aging Well I plan to borrow from my mom as soon as she finishes it) to pay attention to the amount of protein I am getting in (I struggle with getting enough sometimes) and focusing on getting most of my carbohydrates from produce. 

I know I feel my best when eating a Pegan style diet, and while I am not strictly adhering to any diet right now and don’t plan to, it feels good to refocus on the good stuff and pick out new recipes to try. If you like that style of eating, too, check out these 7 delicious Pegan dinner bowl ideas.

Dinner salad made up of romaine, baby spinach, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, artichokes, red onion, hearts of palm, boiled egg, grilled chicken, parsley, hemp seeds, and blue cheese

Other areas of interest I have on my list to further explore and add into my routine include yoga, meditation, sprouting, and controlling the amount of time I spend on social media (I’ve been working on this for about two weeks now and feel a very positive mental shift!).

My goodness, it turns out I had a lot more to say on this topic than I originally anticipated, but I think that’s just my renewed energy towards taking care of myself shining through. It feels good to feel inspired about my (and my family’s) health again.

What challenges has this year brought to your health journey?
Where are you on the rollercoaster of health on a scale of 0 (totally uninspired) to 10 (researching sprouting and water purification).

When I was a little girl I have the best memories of my Nannie and PawPaw’s farm. It is in rural Georgia and while they never (to my knowledge) had animals beyond their sweet mutt, Pug, we always called it the farm (and still do).

My Nannie used to have a huge garden and grew the best tomatoes and spinach, among other things. She toasted pecans from her tree and made the tastiest pear preserves. When we stayed with her, she’d make biscuits for breakfast and I’d coat them with the sweet syrup from the mason jars, leaving the pears behind and using up all the syrup. 

Since then, it’s stuck in my head that I wanted Nannie to teach me to make her biscuits, but here at 37 and 87 years old, it still hadn’t happened yet. It’s funny how we can want to do things, but if you don’t pick and date and put it on the calendar, time just sort of slips by.

So a month ago we set a date to make it happen and Sunday the girls and I drove down to Mom’s house to drive to Nannie’s Monday morning.

We arrived mid-morning and Nannie had a craft table set up for the kids (Hailey, Kaitlyn, and their second cousin, Oly). She showed them how to make ornaments from old Christmas cards cut into circles.

The girls, especially Hailey, took right to it.

We lucked out with a day that felt like fall. It was a little misty and cloudy, so we decided to tromp through the field to help pick up pecans. I remember doing the same thing, quite possibly with the same old white bucket, when I was a kid. I taught Hailey how to use two pecans in one hand to crack them open. 

We walked back when our stomachs started grumbling. Nannie had pulled enough vegetable and beef soup out of the freezer to feed us all. The recipe I shared recently for beef and vegetable soup is based on Nannie’s iconic soup that never seems to be exactly the same, but is always delicious. That’s the beauty of soup- you can put almost anything into it!

While the soup warmed, we decided it was biscuit making time! I’ve tried enough biscuit recipes to resign to the fact that a good biscuit needs Crisco. And they are actually quite simple to make. Three ingredients: self-rising flour, Crisco, and buttermilk. 

Somehow these three simple ingredients transform into the best little biscuits. Nannie told me her mom used a juice glass to cut out her biscuits, but my memory will always be of Nannie’s metal biscuit cutter, which makes the perfect sized biscuits, about 5 kid-bites big.

15 minutes in the oven and they came out golden brown. With a little butter and pumpkin butter as topping options, we all made those 12 biscuits disappear in record time.

Another perfect biscuit topping for fall? Check out this sweet potato butter recipe!

The girls giggled loudly on the porch while we sat inside at the table, chatting and enjoying our biscuits. It was such a nice time; one of those days when time slows down and you lose track of it. One of those days that let’s you forget for a moment how chaotic and noisy the rest of the world is. One of those days that makes me think I actually belong living out in the country.

I’m so grateful we made that memory. Four generations, hanging out together, eating biscuits and picking up pecans. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

Is there a memory you want to make that hasn’t happened yet? 

Let me encourage you to pick a date and put it on the calendar. Family time and memories is what it’s all about. 💜

Other good Nannie memories include the first time I tried to make her pickles (I really need to do it again!) and of course, all our wonderful Thanksgiving memories from the farm.