Homemade Marshmallows.

Every time my children ask for hot cocoa they MUST have their Marshmallows too… except my 100% organic, no refined sugar or corn syrup brain secretly despises purchasing them. Thanks to Danielle Walker of Against All Grain, Celebrations- we now have a Paleo/healthy version of these delectable puff balls. I’m sharing her recipe because #1… its awesome and #2… because I want my children to have a book of our favorite family recipes when they grow older, and this blog is a perfect way of keeping them all in one place. So without further ado, here’s our new favorite Marshmallow recipe.…

Almond Butter Buckeyes.

Tis the season for warm beverages + satisfying treats. Although I try to keep my Holiday indulgences to a minimum, these are still a traditional staple… not to mention they’re gluten free + delicious. Almond Butter Buckaroos : 1/2 cup almond butter 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 2 TBSP + 1 TSP coconut flour 2 TBSP arrowroot powder 1 TSP pure vanilla extract 4-5 oz of organic, fair-trade dark chocolate. In a bowl, mix almond butter, maple syrup, coconut flour, arrowroot powder, and vanilla extract. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then using a spoon, create 1 inch round…

Roasted Cinnamon + Honey Pear Slices.

We purchased some really beautiful + delicious looking pears at our local supermarket a week ago, and of course they were on their last leg by the time I remembered them in our produce basket. Not the right texture to eat fresh, I scoured around for a seasonal pear recipe. We changed up the suggested cooking time, because my kiddos love dehydrated foods vs. chips… so we made “slices” instead. Having a reason to fire the oven on a 5°F day made the process of this recipe extra special. Not to mention our home smelled amazing (once again) thanks to an…

Orange + Cranberry Garland.

After deciding I was done with those SIX Rubbermaid’s crammed full of Christmas stuff, we began a different kind of Christmas decorating by using natural items only. I purchased a large bag of Cranberries at Costco for $3 – and four oranges at the local supermarket. Together, my children and I, created a new family tradition in which no one cried about. Here’s how to make your own Orange + Cranberry Garland. You’ll Need: 1 large bag of fresh cranberries. 4 oranges. string. a large embroidery or cross stitch needle. Directions: Pre-heat your oven to the lowest setting, ours was 175 degrees. Slice…

A different kind of Christmas + our Advent calendar.

As many of you know, minimalism and slow living seem to be taking over not only our home, but our lives these days. I’ll be the first to tell you Christmas preparations look a thousand times different now, than they did just last year. In the past, I would have lugged in SIX different Christmas Rubbermaid’s… full of decorations, stockings, garlands, ornaments, wrapping paper, etc. Decorating for the holiday season was no easy feat, and oftentimes cluttered the house with all things nutcracker, sparkly, and even remotely Christmas. The kids would kind of help… but because I’m so OCD about where everything…

Annual Pumpkin Patch Trip | in photos.

The Global Guardian Project.

In the spirit of running with our latest Eco-Minimalism Post, we’ve also made the decision to become Global Guardians. What does it mean to become a Global Guardian, who are they? “We are a tribe of parents, educators, activists and artists who share a common goal. We want to raise our children to become guardians of our planet, to be inspired and empowered to care for the Earth in a way we adults haven’t. It’s no secret that we’ve created a mess. But we can do something about it today, while our children are young, that will teach them that proper…

Eco-Minimalism + our family.

In this family, we do nature. Our kids adore exploring outside, and my business (Alpine Baby Co.) reflects that. As we started our journey with Minimalism, first going through our belongings, it slowly crept into other aspects of our lives. Slowly but surely we were consuming less, but also finding other ways to respect our Earth + the environment around us. As Ryan and I dove into this whole other branch of minimalism, we started making new changes as a family, I’ll share these with you in the following categories. As always… please know that we are a work in progress &…

Zucchini Yogurt Multigrain Muffins.

Fall is quickly approaching in our neck of the woods. It almost seems as soon as the time hits September 1st, the weather follows suit. Colder nights, crisper mornings, and the occasional frost making its appearance in the forecast. Of course this triggers all the feelings for my favorite season, and the autumn (attempt at) baking that comes with. Yesterday while the girls were napping I made these delicious Zucchini Yogurt Multigrain Muffins. Anyone who knows me knows baking isn’t my strong suit, but these muffins are literally no-fail. Not to mention they include wholesome ingredients, and no refined sugar!…

Summertime Sangria | a recipe.

When the air gets hot, and life gets filled with all sorts of summer activities – Ryan and I turn to enjoying our evening adult beverage. I’ve toyed with mixing Watermelon Vodka with Passion fruit LaCroix + a fresh smashed mint leaf… which has become a new favorite- but every now and then it’s nice to mix it up. Ry and I are your novice, to average, red wine connoisseurs. We know the basics, but mostly we just try different bottles until we find a favorite. Tonight we decided fresh fruit + a little extra kick was in order, so Sangria it is! We started by adding a bottle of red…