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DIY Distressed Whitewashed Farmhouse Vanity Refacing for Under $40
A perfect weekend vanity upgrade. Get your farmhouse look on!
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Goat cheese and lime individual cheesecakes
Goat cheese and lime individual cheesecakes I really love these goat cheese and lime cheesecakes – they’re also perfectly proportioned as a treat for a single individual. (Not, by the way, that a whole big cheesecake isn’t sometimes also the correct portion for a single person – but that’s a different story.) Goat cheese and…Read…
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Refinished Salvaged Door DIY
Finding the perfect salvaged door I was intimidated by the idea of refinishing my own salvaged door – then I did it and I love it! During our kitchen and pantry remodel I realized how out-of-place the old 90s-style hollow core yellow door would look with all the other nice finishes. The supply chain issues…Read…
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Roasted parmesan, zucchini, onion, and tomato
Roasted parmesan zucchini, onion, and tomato is simple delicious This roasted zucchini, tomato, and parmesan dish is perfect. As veggies ripen, combining and roasting them creates a fabulous medley of fresh flavors. This makes a healthy meal that’s full of flavor but that you can feel good about eating. Every year I end up with…Read…
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Painted and raw wood dresser refinishing DIY
I love the trend of the two-tone painted and raw wood refinishing for furniture pieces. It’s a fun twist that includes the best of two different styles, and I dig the way that the two looks perfectly set one another off. Check out my web story about this refinishing that includes some video! Finding the…Read…
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Corned beef and cabbage sandwiches – delicious!
The best way to serve corned beef and cabbage. These sandwiches are sure to delight Irish and Irish-at-heart.
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Recipe for Spiced Goat Chops With Cumin, Garlic, and Paprika
Jump to Recipe Goat meat is not typically eaten in the United States, but this recipe for broiled, spiced goat chops might just change your mind. Goat is not a common source of protein here in the US. We are a nation of predominantly beef and poultry eaters (Americans consistently rank as #1 in beef…Read…
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What Grows Well In Colorado?
Homesteading in Colorado can be a little challenging, thanks to the bipolar weather and high elevation. Nonetheless, the state is home to nearly 32 million acres of farmland, predominantly turning out cattle, dairy, wheat, hay, and corn. Colorado also ranks in the top ten for production of barley, millet, sorghum (animal feed), sheep, lambs, and…Read…
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The perfect puffy pancakes recipe
The perfect puffy pancake recipe
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Farm Sayings Make So Much More Sense Now
Obviously, many of the idioms popular in everyday speech come from our roots as an agrarian society. People who have never seen or raised chickens casually comment on counting them before hatching or what they’re like when decapitated. I, too, have used farm sayings all my life, even when I lived in a highrise in…Read…
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Handle Aggressive Chickens
How to Deal with Aggressive Chickens Most people don’t think of chickens as being overly aggressive. They mostly just wander around their coup making weird noises and pecking at the ground. But what happens when they start pecking at each other or, even worse, at you or your children? Why Chickens Become Aggressive There are…Read…
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A Recipe for Homemade Goat Milk Lotion
Goat milk lotion may not be something you’re aware of, but you should be. When it comes to natural skincare, goat milk is the holy grail of ingredients. It is naturally high in skin plumping nutrients and has the same pH as human skin, which means it is safe for sensitive skin. The many beneficial…Read…
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Homemade Goat Milk Soap Recipe
Milk-based soaps are popular for their creamy lather and nourishing qualities. Goat milk, in particular, makes an excellent bar of soap. After all, soap involves two basic ingredients: fat and lye. Goat’s milk is rich in both saturated and unsaturated fats, as well as skin-supporting nutrients like selenium and lactic acid. I am a big…Read…
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It’s ok to turn it off sometimes
Man, it has been a WEEK. As a Mom of toddlers, I realize I say this most weeks. My life is like that meme going around – Adulthood is saying, “things will slow down after this week” every week until you die. It feels that way, though. The news has been depressing, at best. Pandemic…Read…
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The #HomegrownYear – Part 1 – Starting the thing
First, some numbers –Total weight lost: 82 poundsChickens slaughtered by humans: 21Chickens murdered and eaten by pigs: 7Zucchini zoodled and frozen: +/-250 poundsTomatoes canned: +/- 750Deer shot by Mark: 2Pigs who died of natural causes: 1Pigs who were slaughtered and consumed: 1Freezers that were full of meat and turned off by toddlers who snuck into…Read…
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DIY Kitchen Cabinets: Farmhouse Style
Refinishing cabinets with new hardware and a fresh coat of paint can be a simple and cost-effective way to revive a tired or outdated kitchen. This is a quick guide for DIY Kitchen Cabinets in a Farmhouse Style, let’s get started!
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Buying a goat: what to consider
Do it, buy a goat So, you’re considering taking the plunge and buying a goat – congratulations! Goats are the best. Now that I have my little herd, I can’t imagine life without them. Goats have been growing in popularity for the last several years as people worldwide focus on urban farming, self-sufficiency, and sustainability….Read…
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Sticking with the Homegrown Year while traveling
Gettin’ out How do I travel during the Homegrown Year? Imagine it. I can’t have any food at the airport. I can’t have any food on the plane. I got an upgrade and passed up free mimosas. That’s how serious I am about not cheating on this challenge, people! Traveling during a year where I…Read…
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I’m no longer sorry for who I am
This makes me sad to even write My name is Kelly, and I’m a conservative. The previous sentence reads as a combative way to start a post, and I genuinely don’t mean it that way. It makes my soul sad that such a simple declaration would make so many either inclined or disinclined to read…Read…
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My husband bow hunting deer
Hunting to eat I’m fortunate to have married one of those rare breeds of husband who will go out bow hunting a deer and bring home neatly wrapped packages of meat ready to cook. Like Liam Neeson, my husband, Mark, has a particular set of skills. Skills he has acquired over a lifetime of hunting…Read…
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Christmas – my first cheat meal
A Christmas cheat If you’ve been following the Homegrown Year challenge, you know that I’m allowed four cheat meals for the entire year. I want to keep a backup feast or two as a ripcord if I start to crack, but made it almost five months without a cheat. It’s only cheat meal and not…Read…
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The Top 10 Homegrown Year Recipes of 2020
Here are my top 10 Homegrown Year recipes from 2020. 2020 sure was an interesting time to start an ambitious project like the Homegrown Year. Frankly, 2020 was an interesting time to start anything. The Homegrown Year is such an audacious goal, and 2020 was such a 3-ring-disaster-circus, we had several heavy conversations in our…Read…
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Homegrown Year Update: not dead yet, quite the opposite
Still doing the Homegrown Year Well, Thanksgiving is upon us, and I have been doing the Homegrown Year Challenge for 115 days – not that I’m counting. Here’s a quick Homegrown Year update. The first several weeks were absolutely brutal. I was experiencing what can only be described as physical withdrawal. It manifested in almost…Read…
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DIY Distressed Farmhouse Nightstand/Side Table Refacing for Under $30
This DIY distressed farmhouse nightstand project will brighten up any room and add something fun to your decor! I did a really fun DIY paint/stain project with these vintage nightstands, (bedside tables? Farmhouse nightstand? What’s the difference? I don’t know) to get a distressed farmhouse look. I love how they turned out, and it took…Read…
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Three reasons to love Guinea fowl eggs
Many people haven’t tried eggs from Guinea fowl, but they are really special. A few weeks ago, I went on one of my last lunches before starting the Homegrown Year (don’t know what it is? Check it out.) I brought my friend a “farm bag” of veggies, cheeses, and eggs. Particularly for my more gourmet…Read…
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Why am I eating basically the same food every day?
I started the Homegrown Year and, obviously, started posting photos of the meals I was eating. They’re pretty and delicious, but I’m eating almost the same combination of ingredients at every meal. Why? On day two I posted an egg, cheese, and tomato bowl for breakfast, and *you guessed it * an egg, cheese, zucchini,…Read…
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The Homegrown Year starts in ONE WEEK
WIth one week to go until the Homegrown Year challenge, will I succeed or fail?
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5 things you can do to control your own food supply chain
There are five steps you can take right now to start controlling your own food supply. Friends across the country have been reaching out asking for advice because they know I’ve been working hard to secure my own food sources at home. We’ve all seen the news over the last few weeks and are getting…Read…
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Still doin’ the gardening, farming, self-sustainable challenge
Now is the time for a homestead, prepper, gardening, farming, self-sustainable, gourmet, farm-to-table, challenge – complete with goats, chickens a huge garden, and pigs, if there ever was one. There’s nothing like a worldwide pandemic to change most plans. However, since my plan was to eat off what we produce here on our small homestead-farm,…Read…
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Adventure in cheesemaking – my first attempt at homemade feta
I made feta and I will never be the same.
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It’s time to bring back the Victory Garden
During tough times in our history families used to have a Victory Garden, it’s time to bring them back.
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I moved my office to a SheShed – and it’s amazing
It’s turned from a running joke with my group of girlfriends into a source of pride: I work in a shed. Literally. Like the sheds you see for sale in the parking lot when walking into a home improvement store. Unexpectedly, I have never been happier to open my office door and step inside. Challenges…Read…
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I’m your prepper Mom friend – Here’s what’s in my emergency baby bag
(This post contains affiliate links to Amazon – but you can get almost all of this stuff at your local store, too.) Ok, so, first off – everyone is freaking out right now. It’s going to be okay. Really. I know that maybe you and everyone around you feels panicked – but acting like Beaker…Read…
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A running list of all the things I will miss during Homegrown Year
So, if you missed it – I’m working on the project called the “Homegrown Year” where I will be living off what we produce on our urban farm for an entire year. Much of my life has been consumed with logistics – building a “poultry palace” chicken and duck house, getting a pig pen up,…Read…
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The Rules: Homegrown Year
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When life hands you lemons – preserve those suckers
I published the intro post on the Homegrown Year. Although there’s been prep work happening in the background, hitting the “publish” button felt like a huge step. (Sign up for my newsletter to hear about how it’s going) The first post was only live for a few hours when I called my brother, Gregory, to check-in….Read…
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Why did I just sign up to do this crazy thing – a Homegrown Year?
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A Homegrown Year
I’m going to live off of that which I can produce on our small “micro-farm” north of Denver, Colorado – for an entire year. It seems like such a bizarre thing to type it out loud, but here we are. Wondering about the rules of this crazy year? Here they are. By “live” I mean…Read…
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If you give your goat a pancake, hire a professional waxer
Some days life on the farm is weird. Other days if you give your goat a pancake you will end up tarred and feathered.
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5 reasons you’re not doing the thing – and why you’re wrong
This is the time. Do the thing.
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Holiday Eggnog Panna Cotta
You can’t go wrong with this foolproof, two-ingredient, luxurious, holiday dessert.
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Quick and healthy farm-fresh (Keto friendly) zucchini/squash hash
We have entered that time in the growing season – you know the one – where everyone across the country is asking themselves, “Why in the actual world did I think that I could eat this much zucchini?!?!?” If you’re not growing them yourself, I’m sure you have a friend or two who have tried…Read…
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Did you cut your goat’s ears off?
In which I answer the internet’s burning question: Did I chop the ears off my goats?
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Pavlova with fresh fruit
Is there a more perfect dessert than a pavlova? It’s light and airy but, when well executed, has a depth and complexity that snaps all your senses to attention. It’s perfect as the centerpiece for a brunch, or as the final note to any meal with friends or family. One of my favorite things about…Read…
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Easy homemade lime curd – 10-minutes
Lime curd is something worth making from scratch. I always bought the kind in a jar and I will never go back again.
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Shout your average childbirth
One bizarre sociological trend we all need to reconsider is the seemingly pathological need some women have to impart childbirth horror stories on visibly pregnant women – even complete strangers. I have no idea why this is a thing, but without exception, every one of my friends who has been pregnant has experienced some nosy/oversharing…Read…
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We tasted the Peeps flavors so you don’t have to
Walking down the candy aisle at the last minute to put together Easter baskets, you’ll see an entire section dedicated to a marshmallow icon – the Peep. They used to just come in just one flavor – semi-stale marshmallow (which are MUCH better toasted or in a pie). Now, in a naked attempt to make…Read…
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Morning wake-up mantra for energy and attitude
Are you listening (and controlling) your internal dialogue to get the most out of your day?
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Addictive candied kumquats
My friend sent me a beautiful box of kumquats, I candied them!
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Easy peanut butter s’mores peep pie
Easy and colorful peep pie.
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Ultimate carrot cake cupcakes
Perfect carrot cake cupcakes
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I was a good Mom – and then I had a baby
I was the best Mom, then they handed me a baby.
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Delicious zucchini and turkey sausage lasagna
I generally am in the “use whipping cream and butter” camp when it comes to cooking. That’s great for weekend recipes. However, we all need some recipes to make in a delicious way that still makes us not feel guilty about feeding it to the family at least once a week. This is perfect for…Read…
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Baked unreal mac and cheese for the whole family – no boil
One of my besties asked me to post my simple and delicious mac and cheese recipe. This is good for even sophisticated adults but will be beloved by children, too (not that there’s anything wrong with the blue box some days – as long as you’re feeding your kids you’re basically winning at the game…Read…
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Stuffed jalapeños – keto recipe
Spice up your appetizers this week with a Keto-friendly and vegetarian stuffed jalapeño. This is keto, vegetarian AND gluten-free – also they’re freaking delicious. If you’re having friends over double the recipe. This is good for about two people – or one of me. 3 large jalapeños – halved and seeded 1/4 cup whole milk…Read…
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Tomato and avocado salad
Fresh vegan avocado tomato salad can be made in under five minutes and is perfect as a stand-alone or an addition to any meal.
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Cloud eggs on avocado toast
We’ve reached #peakhipster with these cloud egg avocado toasts, and it’s delicious. Don’t be sorry. Just embrace it.
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8 steps to konmari your friendships
This is less about sending some friends to the proverbial Goodwill store of life, and more about refocusing your time and attention
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Sunday sliders – bacon, pimento cheese, chipotle mayo, and honey shallots
This is the ultimate Sunday slider. A little bit spicy, a little sweet, a little southern, and a little southwest.
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Six versions of “Baby Shark” that will make you marginally less likely to stab yourself in the ears
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Amazing shrimp and feta pasta (or zoodles) so easy and healthy
A fast and easy dinner that everyone will love – try this feta and shrimp tonight.
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Baby milestones no one talks about
There are all the parenting milestones people talk about – the first time your baby rolls over, her first steps, his first words. Those are all nice and exciting to talk about in polite conversation. Let’s be honest, there are other milestones which are just as important. When your baby can hold his own bottle…Read…
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Unreal almond & raspberry tartlets (gluten-free)
Try these gluten-free raspberry tartlets today.
