Hi, Reader, Are you trying to be more hands-on in your kitchen? Sometimes we call it self-sufficiency, which it is in a way. Sometimes we call it being frugal, which it can be (not always). But for me, I always see it as a chance for creative expression. I really think that's one of the things that separates me from other bloggers and content creators. I'm not all about the cheapest of everything ever (for better or worse), and I still layer in and practice many, many old-fashioned skills....
16 days agoย โขย 1 min read
Hi, Reader, How's your week been? It's been WILD over here. I just sent out the Spring issue of The Handmade Year a few days ago, and then setup my new booth at a local antique mall! Want to see some pics? For The Handmade Year, I wanted it to be a pure celebration of Spring with lots of strawberries, rhubarb, and herbs. I'm so happy with how this issue turned out, and absolutely loved making these recipes. I'll be bringing some with me to Easter celebrations this weekend, too! For the booth,...
23 days agoย โขย 1 min read
Hi, Reader, Life has been especially busy and hectic lately, and mostly in good ways! I'm putting the final touches on The Handmade Year, so my fridge is FULL of delicious treats that I can't wait to share with you. It has been especially hard to find *any* fresh rhubarb in my neck of the woods, but it is not a Spring magazine without rhubarb (plus lots of strawberries, fresh herbs, and more). I just have a few more projects to shoot and some final details to wrap up, and I'll be publishing...
about 1 month agoย โขย 1 min read
Hello, Reader, Calm me nosey, but I think it's so interesting to know which posts get the most traffic on different blogs. Sometimes, it's something totally random that you wouldn't expect and other times, it's a post you definitely didn't know about and absolutely should! At the end of every year, I like to take stock of which posts got the most traffic on my own blog, and just had to share with you. Do any of these surprise you? ๐ Most Popular Posts of 2025 10. Dill Salt I'm honestly not...
4 months agoย โขย 2 min read
Hello, Reader, Whew, what a whirlwind! This month truly flew by. How were your holidays? Now that the chaos of Christmas is over, I'm ready to sink into winter. This is the best time to focus on rest, and as someone who practices seasonal slow living, this is an essential part of my annual rhythm. I'll even be taking the next week off from posting new recipes and the regular hamster wheel of content creation to get some time away from my phone and social media and spend more time with my...
4 months agoย โขย 1 min read
Hello, Reader, Happy Christmas Eve Eve!I made a spur of the moment decision three weeks ago to post 24 different homemade holiday gifts this month - one for every day leading up to Christmas. Was this the best idea? I'm not sure, but I had a GREAT time and have met thousands and thousands of new folks as a result. But I just published the final recipe, and wanted to give you the FULL list all in one handy spot. 1.Hot Chocolate in a Jar 2. Beeswax Candles 3. Flavored Whipped Honey 4. Wooden...
4 months agoย โขย 1 min read
Hello, Reader, Winter Solstice officially occurs tomorrow morning (7:03 am my time), and I think that's close enough to start feeling excited about it!That means we are about to enter the longest night of the year, and after this point, we will gradually get 1-2 minutes of daylight every day until we reach the spring equinox. We made it! The longest, darkest part of the year will be over tonight; then, we'll be moving back into the light. I have a few posts about this that you may enjoy, like...
4 months agoย โขย 1 min read
Hi, Reader! Have you ever heard of a "hot caramel?" Think hot chocolate, but ditch the cocoa and add caramel instead. It's rich and creamy, but only requires a couple of ingredients - caramelized sugar, dry milk powder, cornstarch, and salt. And if the thought of making caramel sugar intimidates you, please be brave! It's way easier than it looks and doesn't have to come out great. (Even if it's clumpy, it will still blend into a powder just fine). I love serving it with a little espresso for...
5 months agoย โขย 1 min read
Hi, Reader! I didn't know this recipe would explode the internet, but it sure has! At least my little corner... Over 40,000 people have seen this post in the last 24 hours, which seems impossible! It's a recipe inspired by something I used to do in college to make cheap coffee taste better - douse it in cinnamon. The cinnamon improved the flavor greatly, and made it SO warm and cozy. Honestly, I still crave it this way and make it often! But I realized this could easily become a holiday...
5 months agoย โขย 1 min read