the fun of hidden doors

faux cabinets | image source here Hidden doors. It sounds like something out of a fantasy, right?! They belong in novels like "The Secret Garden" or "Jane Eyre", not in our modern day lives. Amazingly, there are hidden doors being used in home now-a-days, and they are nothing less than aw-inspiring! Nothing brings out the …

orange and herb-y cornish game hens

I love trying new meats out as the shining star of my holiday meals, but one recipe has become a favorite in my family, and that is orange and herb-y Cornish game hens! I tried this recipe on a whim a few years ago because I thought Cornish game hens sounded really fancy, but it …

let’s make something: peppermint cocoa bombs

This is something my aunt told me about, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to try it; it's hot cocoa bombs!! Hot chocolate, marshmallows, and peppermint pieces wrapped in a chocolate shell, which melts when you pour hot milk on it, releasing the cocoa into your milk and making a …

environmentally friendly gift guide

Photo Source I LOVE giving gifts! I love the hunt for the perfect item, I love wrapping gifts, and I love seeing my loved one's smile when they open it. But, as you all know, I am also committed to being as environmentally conscience as possible and a huge part of green living is consuming …

30 gift ideas from Etsy

I think gift buying from Etsy is always a good idea! Most of the time you are supporting someone's small business, and being able to shop small online makes me happy. There is an insane amount of beautiful jewelry, home goods, clothing, art, crafts, beauty products... and basically anything else you can think of to …

happy-making: november 2020

just a few things that made me happy this month, and might make you happy too: Easy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies Do you ever just NEED chocolate? When this happens to me, I usually end up baking extra chocolatey cookies because I rarely have actual chocolate laying around, but I always …

Lilly’s Guide to Apple Hill

It's no secret; I love Apple Hill. For those of you who don't live near Sacramento, Apple Hill is an area in the Northern California foothills where there is a group of farms (primarily apple farms) which have become a popular Fall destination. Most of the farms sell multiple varieties of apples as well as …

happy-making: october 2020

just a few things that made me happy this month, and might make you happy too: Image from the Little Spoon Farm Pretzel Recipe Y'all Already Know: Making Pretzels If you follow me on Instagram, you saw me talking about making pretzels. I really enjoyed this bake because it was simple, fun (especially the shaping …

5 sustainable swaps to make in your bathroom (without having to change your lifestyle)

I love this graphic and the article it came from! When it comes to trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle, the goal is to reduce waste in general, but I would say it is even more important to reduce plastic waste. A lot of what I have learned while looking into waste reduction is …

let’s bake: hocus pocus buns

A few weeks ago, I noticed that something really interesting was trending on Pinterest: Hocus Pocus buns! Looking at the pictures of them, I wasn't too impressed by them or jumping out of my seat to make them, but much like Max standing in the Sanderson sister's house, lighting the black flame candle, my curiosity …