About

Hi, I’m Dara Boxer — a happily married wife, mom to four kids six and under, former private chef, book lover, and the voice behind The Raw and The Cooked. I live in St. Louis, Missouri, where my days revolve around feeding small people, reading whenever I can, and doing my best to keep our home simple, beautiful, and mostly organized.

I started blogging back in 2015 because I needed a place to share the books I can’t stop thinking about — gushing over books I loved, rants about overhyped bestsellers, and the gems I’d beg you to read if we were having coffee on my front porch. Over the years, my blog expanded into The Raw and The Cooked, a weekly podcast about honest book reviews and simple routines around the home.

Once upon a time, I worked as a personal chef and cooking instructor — so I take meal planning, grocery lists, and an organized fridge very seriously. Now, I share my favorite recipes, the ones my kids actually eat, and the daily systems that make this season of family life a little smoother.

Here, you’ll find a bit of everything: book reviews, practical routines for home life, the occasional recipe, and my reflections on mothering four young kids with as much calm and honesty as possible. New posts go up weekly — sometimes raw, sometimes cooked — but always real.

Meanwhile, I’m also diving into a new project: 54 Weeklys. I’m reading the Bible cover to cover, one week at a time, as a wife and mother of four. I’m sharing the lessons and wisdom I find along the way — the ancient truths that can shape modern family life, home, and heart.

Thanks for being here, I hope you find something that makes your day feel a little lighter.