My (almost!) three-year-old daughter, Alba really loves doing kitchen projects with me. We do a baking or cooking project a couple times a week and we usually use it as an opportunity to learn something else – like the time we made Fairy Tea Cookies using edible flowers. This time it was all about pretending to be squirrels and storing food for the winter. Every time I am in the kitchen, she ...
Bartering 101: 3 Tips for Making a Good Trade
The other day, using modern alchemy, I turned diapers into Maple Syrup + Blackberries. It's All About The Barter Baby! I have recently found a love for bartering. We are going through a major purge at home, something I will discuss in a later post – how to do it, why to do it, etc. But suffice to say that right now we are getting rid of things that no longer serve us as a family. In this ...
Fairy Tea Party
I apologize for my long absence. Having a baby, starting a new company and adjusting to life with 2 small children at the same time has been hectic, to say the very least. In my absence I have been learning how to slow down and enjoy all the many blessings I have in my life, even though some parts of it are far from perfect. Through some personal struggles my resolve has become even stronger to ...
Needle Felted Nisse/Tomte/Yule Elf
Nisser, Tomten and Yule Elves are associated with Scandinavia, the winter solstice and winter holiday season. They are known as gift givers, but not the same way as Santa Claus – although like Santa, it is important that you are nice to your Nisse! Nisse can be your answer to Elf on the Shelf for the Yuletide season, if you are a folklorist like me. I first encountered the Nisser when I lived ...
Fresh Thanksgiving Cranberries Two-Ways
Do you want to add a little pizazz to your cranberry sauce? Hoping to get a head start on Thanksgiving prep, but don’t have a lot of time? Making these quick, easy and tasty cranberry recipes ahead of time will save you time on the big day and will impress your guests! The best part is they only take 20 minutes to make. I got started on Thanksgiving prep this weekend. We are having dinner for ...
Sheep Birthday Party Cupcakes and The Joy of Plan B
These cute allergen-friendly sheep cupcakes will be the hit of your little one’s party. Perfect for littles that love farm animals, Shaun the Sheep, or Timmy Time. In my busy life as a blogger, food writer, business owner, hearthkeeper and soul seeker, there is still one thing that makes me feel more accomplished than anything else in life and that is a smile from my little girl! Recently as ...
Helping Children Through The Grieving Process
A few weeks ago when I was talking to my best friend on the phone a subject came up that I think all of us struggle with, how to deal with the grief that comes from the loss of a loved one and especially how to help our other loved ones get through it. This past winter her family unexpectedly lost her husband’s father. It was very hard on the whole family, especially since the week before they ...
Chamomile, A Hearth Keeper’s Friend
DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional health care provider, herbalist, nor homeopath. I am just a person who has used and researched these integrated therapies for close to 20 years and I use them on myself and my family and have had excellent results. Please read the safety precautions of each herb before ingesting, or consult a health care provider. Who is a Hearth Keeper? It is ...
The Best Espresso Drinks…Why I love Nespresso, Let me count the ways…
Disclaimer: This post is NOT SPONSORED by Nespresso. These are my own personal thoughts and evaluation of their products. I believe my readers should be introduced to wonderful products whether or not I am paid for it. If I love a product, I will share it with you, if I don’t I won’t. It’s that simple. My very favorite kitchen appliance these days is my DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Plus ...
Faerie Flowers
The real beginning of spring for me is when the Faerie Flowers sprout up overnight on our land, which happened earlier this week. I remember when we first moved here, the land was dotted with these beautiful flowers and it made a lasting impression on me. One day there is only tender green grass and the next day there are little haphazard trails of these delicate little beauties all over, ...
Infuse Your Life with (more) YUM. YUM is the stuff that feeds not just our bodies but also our spirits. Offering simple recipes and tips, life hacks and tools and little pleasures to infuse life with more of the Good Stuff, the YUM.