I was recently asked to try out Salba, a form of the ancient whole grain chia.  It might have the same name as the ch-ch-ch-chia that I spread on terra cotta animals as a kid, but this time around my family and I consumed the chia, and much to my surprise I believe we are […]

Last week the Breast Cancer Fund released a report about concerning levels of BPA in many prepared Thanksgiving foods.  BPA, an estrogenic chemical linked to breast cancer, is most often found in plastics (one of many reasons I try to avoid plastic altogether).  However, BPA is also found in other surprising places like grocery store […]

At the start of the fall season my mom gave my sisters and I each a lovely pumpkin cast iron pot.  We had been admiring the one she puts on display every year, so her thoughtful gesture really means a lot. Every time I look at my new pot I think of my mom and […]

Trick-or-Treaters will be knocking on doors in just about 48 hours.  I have yet to purchase Halloween candy – time to get to the grocery store!  Maybe this year I will hand out candy alternatives as I wrote about last year. Sometimes its fun to think outside the box! If you decide to pass out […]

While reading through a local magazine the other week I came across a review of “Homegrown & Handmade,” a book written by Deborah Niemann.  Because she is a local Illinois woman who left the urban jungle in search of the country life, I was instantly intrigued. This is my new favorite book for so many […]

A fellow Homemade Mother recently asked me how I keep my recipes organized.  Aside from this blog – where I post mostly original recipes – I’ve found a few other ways to maintain records of my family’s favorite dishes. 1.Recipes I clip out of magazines or print off the internet are placed in one in […]

Shortly before my daughter turned 3, we moved her out of her crib and into a big girl bed.  I must admit that I was a bit anxious about the transition – would she sneak out of bed? would she fall out of bed? would she miss her crib?? To ease her into the idea, […]

We live in the center of a huge city, but I still want to expose my kids to nature and the country. I grew up on a small farm in a rural part of Illinois surrounded by horses, dogs, cats, sheep, geese and chickens – not to mention a dairy farm across the street! – […]

For the most part, I’m a fairly no-frills kind of girl.  Yes, I wear make-up every day and I like nice clothes, but my hair is always up in a ponytail and I don’t take the time to accessorize. I’m certainly not as glamorous as my sister Colleen – her outfits are always so chic […]

One of the biggest bummers about living in a big city is that I don’t always get to satisfy my quaint domestic desires.  Sure, I’ve become quite adept at preserving fresh foods, making homemade cleaning products and keeping my life sweet and simple, but there are days I long for a little dirt under my […]