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This is FIVE

She slowly tiptoes out of her bedroom and pulls the door softly until it clicks closed behind her. Then boldly with purpose, she walks into our room, stands next to the bed, and taps me on my shoulder until I reach underneath her little arms, hoist her up, pull back the covers, and get her situated between us, snuggling in for the last 10 minutes of sleep. But today was a little different. The routine was the same, but instead of sleeping, there was way too much excitement. "Mommy, is it morning? Am I this many?" And she holds up a whole hand of fingers. FIVE. Not a toddler, not yet a big kid. She's that perfect in between. Oh, how I love this girl. I want to be more like her when I grow up. She loves fiercely. Listens quietly. Speaks up when she feels like she's being wronged. Nurtures like no other. Her favorite color is pink, but rainbow is a close second. On Monday, I asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner. She chose the exact same thing we were eating ...
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Tiffany Tries Things, part 2

Welp, I've settled in, and my days are filled. My floors aren't getting mopped nearly as often as they did at first. That said, I haven't tried as many new cleaning supplies lately. This year I've been focusing on taking care of myself--something (someone) I've been neglecting for far too long. Here are a few of my current favorite things: 1. Thayers Lavender Witch Hazel  - Anyone else ask for toiletries for Christmas? Just me? Okay then. I had been wanting to try this for so long. And I'm so glad I did. My skin has never looked better. And the best part about it is that I believe it will last me a year ... and I use it twice a day. That makes it cost <$1/month. 2. Norwex Makeup-Removal Cloth  - Pretty sure I wrote about these before, but I'm too lazy to look. I just love them so much. I have one. I need to order more. Not that I wear much makeup, but I like not having to buy an extra makeup-removing cleanser in addition to face cleanser. Ain't ...
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Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

A couple years ago, I fell in love all over again ... with brussels sprouts. You see, there's a restaurant in Geneva, IL called The Patten House that makes these amazing Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts. They're these perfect crunchy orbs where sweet meets spicy meets bacon. And oh my word, they're what dreams are made of. Now that I don't travel to Geneva every day, I've been trying my hardest to perfect my own knock-off recipe. I've been comparing other recipes online, and I even got a tip about soaking them from my friend who heard it straight from the horse's mouth. It's taken about three months, but you guys, I did it. It's not a perfect replica (mine are baked, pretty sure theirs are fried), but holy moley, I love these. And my husband does, too. So whip up a batch and enjoy. (And let me know if you try them and like them, too!) Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts 1 lb. brussels sprouts - ends trimmed, cut in half, and soaked in water eithe...
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Tiffany Tries Things ... part 1

Now that I've had a bit more time on my hands to do ordinary things (**ahem ... clean**), I've found myself navigating a world of products that over-promise and under-deliver. But there are a select few that I absolutely love. And though I could get through my day without them, I wouldn't want to. Some save time, some save money, and some make me look free spirited (and slightly crazy) as I'm contorting my body and running in circles to get away from bees. [read on] I've done the (not-even-remotely-scientific) research for the world, and I can't keep quiet about them anymore. Before I begin, you should know that I've received zero pennies for my thoughts on these products, so that's how you know my feelings are too legit to quit . This will probably be the most random assortment of products... but anyway, here we go. Everyday Products I Love 1. Grove Collaborative Wool Dryer Balls -- These suckers are straight-up MAGIC. They cost $15.95 for a s...
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Trust

I'm the queen of worry. Worrying about things that may not even happen. Looking too far down the road and jumping to conclusions. I call it, "mental preparation." But perhaps I should stop at "mental." Long story short, I quit my job to be home with the kids. It has been an odd transition for me. In our lives, we take calculated risks. We weigh the options, make a decision, and leap. It's nice to be paired with someone who is confident and loving. Someone who listens to your freak-out moments, when you feel like your free-falling, and encourages you. Like last night, for instance. As we are figuring out the fine details of our new arrangement, I can't help but freak out. "Did I make the right decision? How are we going to do this?" He looked at me and calmly responded, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Why do I constantly let doubt and fear overwhelm me? I guess that's why we need ...
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"Title Goes Here"

I've had about a week to myself as my better half and kids went off on an adventure in Colorado. I don't remember the last time I had this much time to myself. Last week, I exercised the right side of my brain as frequently as I could. I finished two quilt tops and several random quilt blocks. I didn't exercise my body; my brain needed the attention. There's something immensely satisfying about cutting up fabric into smaller pieces, mixing it all up, piecing it back together, and creating something entirely different. It's my therapy. I listened to music loudly. I sat by the fire and stared at my phone for too many hours. I went on a quick work trip. I stayed up too late every night. I balanced the checkbook and paid bills. I made poor eating decisions and drank far too much coffee. Then today, I deliberately did nothing. No music. No creating. No makeup. I rested. I started reading a book. I watched a little t.v. And in the spirit of doing jac...
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Whole30something

Well, hello there. It's been a while. And it's not because I haven't wanted to write. Life just got in the way ... like usual. Same old stuff. Busy job. Busy kids. Busy days. Busy nights. Busy weekends. Always on the go. Never slowing down... until I broke. For the past few months, I've been battling some inner demons. It didn't matter how much sleep I got or how regimented I was with a schedule, I. Was. Tired. And emotional. And had little patience. I had a week and a half off at Christmas, and in the quiet one day, I sat and examined my spirit. I felt spent. Like I had nothing to give. Unworthy. Empty. I KNEW that none of that was true. But it felt so real. And I had to figure it out. Enough was enough. I had heard that certain foods could trigger those feelings. So I decided to conduct a little experiment, and I jumped on the Whole30 bandwagon. What is the Whole30? For 30 days, you cut out all dairy, grains, sugar, and legumes. After 30 days, you reintr...
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