I remember the day vividly. The day I lost custody of my little girl. I knew it would probably end up this way, but nothing could have prepared me for being a non-custodial mother. Being a non-custodial mother is a rare breed. So rare I thought I must be the only one. I guess in a way I hoped I was the only one. I would never wish this painful experience on any other mother. Alas, the world is a…
Kid approved trail mix was inspired by my kids. My always hungry, often picky, kids. We were gearing up for a summer road trip with 6+ hours of car confinement and I knew I had to roll out some new tricks to keep the vehicle peaceful. My kids are always clamoring for their next snack. A little bowl of goldfish, an apple, some cereal, any of it. Or all of it. It can be hard to keep snacks healthy…
A few years ago when this blog first began I posted my favorite veggie side dish recipe. I’ve made it countless times since and have shared the recipe so much, it deserved a reboot. 3 ingredient easy asparagus pairs well with most dishes and is super simple to make in a pinch. Enjoy! The side dish. The important meal-balancing decision made every night. Typically the protein is the more detailed and time consuming factor of the entree. Most of the…
Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore is a meal that is easy enough to be a family staple, but impressive enough for a special occasion. Chicken Cacciatore is an Italian meal my family made on special days when my parents were really trying to do dinner up right. The result was delicious, and something I wanted to eat more often. Over time I was able to decide on just the right combination to make it into an easy crockpot meal! Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore…
This year marked a special point in our little man’s life. He would be 4 years old. This age brings a lot more autonomy and some admirable (and sometimes stubborn) certainty over what he likes and wants. For me as a cake-making-mommy it can be a little scary opening up the cake decision to a little person with big ideas. My concern wouldn’t last long, he wanted a mountain bike birthday cake and I knew I could deliver! Mountain biking…
Does the idea of making Thanksgiving dinner make you cringe? Several years ago that’s exactly what it did for me. Thanksgiving dinner (especially the turkey) seemed like a high bar I would never even attempt to jump over. I felt ill-equipped and unfamiliar entirely. Luckily, my sister-in-law inspired me and redirected my culinary fear. For years now I’ve been making Thanksgiving dinner with the turkey proudly included. Today it is time to share how to make the star of Thanksgiving…
Making soup is almost as good as eating it. It is comforting and delicious any time of year, but especially during the cold season. This turn of season I aimed to try something new. New, and simple. Hearty was on the menu too. I found a bunch of ideas online with sausage, canned beans and canned potatoes and thought those ingredients sounded perfect. A few combined ideas online mixed with my preferred seasonings brought about this simple sausage & veggie…
From my very first blog and beyond my love for cleaning hasn’t wavered. Nothing feels as comfortable as a clean house. I am thankful for the wonderful tools and products I have, none quite as valuable as my Dyson collection. As much as they cost, and as much as I love and use them, I must confess my abuse of them. With the obvious cleaning tasks of any home, cleaning your cleaning devices goes unnoticed and forgotten. Today, I am…
Beginning each blog about this topic is tough. The voices in my head strike up their noise. How did I end up here? Has it been going on this long? How much longer will it be? Will I survive it? How will this time and distance effect my daughter? Will she ever be able to understand? Being a mother from a distance is the worst. Being a mother from a distance is the last thing I ever planned to do. …
Summer may be winding down, but it’s still 5 0’clock somewhere! That means it’s also time for Just Be Slower’s margarita cupcakes! Margaritas are so fun and colorful they’re perfect for summer and a staple at any happy hour. These are always a hit for any BBQ and will earn you plenty of compliments for looks and taste. Make your very own happy hour with my margarita cupcakes recipe and directions below. To make these margarita cupcakes there are a…