There are a lot of sugar cookie recipes out there, but this one is my tried-and-true, old-fashioned favorite—the kind that feels like it’s been passed down through generations and shows up every Christmas season. These cookies are soft, tender, and lightly flavored with vanilla and a hint of nutmeg. The secret ingredient is a little…
Category: Read The Blog
Our Favorite Family Games: From Board Games to Nerf Battles
This post is the last of my toy and gift series where I’m sharing the things that actually get used in our home—not just opened once and forgotten, but reached for again and again. I’ve already posted about building toys, pretend play, comfort favorites, and creative, hands-on play. Now I’m wrapping things up with one…
Cozy Christmas Bookshelf + Fun Inexpensive Activities for Kids
It’s that time again! Time to change up our little bookshelfie—packing away the November books and bringing out all of our Christmas favorites. There’s something so cozy about having a shelf full of seasonal stories right at kid-height. It makes it easy to curl up by the tree, grab a book, and turn an ordinary…
Simple Breakfast Egg & Cheese Quiche Recipe
I feel like everyone has that one simple, reliable recipe they can whip up from memory. This is that recipe for me. I love a good quiche—especially when there’s very little prep involved and it can be adapted a hundred different ways. Want a different type of cheese or meat? Prefer more veggies and less…
Creative & Hands-On Toys and Learning Gifts for Kids
This post is part of my toy series where I’m sharing the things that actually get played with in our home—not just opened on Christmas morning and forgotten a week later. These are the things that are good quality and last through many ages and stages. In this post, I’m focusing on the toys and…
Making Winter Cozy: Family Bucket List Ideas for Cold Days
Once Christmas is over, we will still have a lot of winter left here in Michigan. The days are short, the weather is cold, and it’s really easy to slip into “we’re just stuck inside” mode. That’s why I love having a Winter Fun Bucket List—a simple, low-pressure way to give us ideas for cozy…
Comfort Toys My Kids Reach For Again and Again
Today I’m talking about the comfort items—the cozy, calming, always-within-arm’s-reach things that help my kids wind down, reset, and feel safe. These are the toys that live on beds, in baskets by the couch, and often end up tucked under arms in the car. They’re not flashy or trendy, but they make a huge difference…
Cozy Christmas Bucket List: Simple Family Fun
‘Tis the season! Christmas is upon us and we’re reminded everywhere we turn. There are holiday events popping up, gifts and sales in every store, kids writing their lists to Santa, and decorations going up all around the neighborhood. In the middle of all that, I love sitting down to write out our Christmas fun…
You Can Still Pull This Off: A Last-Minute Thanksgiving Menu That Feels Special
I know it’s last minute, but if you’re anything like me, you might still be doing some final shopping for ingredients. No worries! You still have time to place that pickup order before stores close and before you need to start your Thanksgiving prep. We usually celebrate Thanksgiving at home. I make most of the…
The Pretend Play Toys My Kids Still Love
If there’s one category of toys that has lasted the longest in our home — through toddlerhood, early childhood, and now the “big kid” ages — it’s pretend play. These are the toys that don’t come with rules, timers, or batteries. They’re powered by creativity, fueled by storytelling, and somehow become more fun the older…










