Top

The Raw and The Cooked

Simple Meals + Honest Book Reviews + Practical Living

God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Today we’re diving into God of the Woods by Liz Moore — a new-to-me author whose latest novel absolutely swept the internet. It even won the Goodreads 2024 Readers’ Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller. When I saw that, I thought: Okay… let’s give it a try.

I’m so glad I did. Despite being just over 450 pages, it’s the kind of slow-burn literary thriller that keeps you completely hooked — rich backstory, layered characters, and that perfect back-and-forth structure that pulls you through chapters without realizing you’re still reading.

…

View the Post

Why ‘What’s for Dinner?’ Is the Most Annoying Question Ever (And What to Do About It)

“What’s for dinner?” It’s such a simple question. And yet, it’s one of the most soul-draining things a mom can hear at 4:04 p.m. — precisely when my daughter hops into the minivan after school.

First, she asks for a snack. Then comes the big one: “What’s for dinner?”

And I don’t know about you, but that question has a way of making my blood pressure rise just a little bit each time. So today, we’re going to get to the bottom of why this question is so uniquely irritating — and then I’ll share a few practical strategies to make it a little less rage-inducing.

…

View the Post

Episode 169: The Power of the Monthly Note

About a year ago, I started keeping a single note on my phone, broken down by month. At first, it was meant to be a loose outline of:

  • what we did
  • what we bought
  • what worked
  • what didn’t
  • things I didn’t want to forget for next year

Very quickly it became part digital journal, part running to-do list, part brain-saver. It is now one of the most practical tools I use: a living reference for planning ahead, remembering deadlines, and making sure I’m not reinventing the wheel every 30 days.

…

View the Post

All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

A Hypnotic Read… With an Ending That Lost Me

Today we’re talking about All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker, a book I read a couple of weeks ago that completely swept me away… until the ending left me feeling weirdly empty and frustrated in a way that’s hard to describe.

…

View the Post

Episode 162: Impulse Spending | The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Hi friends! In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my real year of impulse purchases — what I regret, what I love, and what I’ll never buy again. From beanbags that flopped to baby gear that saved my sanity, I’m sharing it all: the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

I’m also sharing my simple strategy for curbing impulse spending — my one-buy method — which has really helped me rein in my checkout habits and be more intentional with what I bring into our home.

…

View the Post

Peaks and Valley’s by Spencer Johnson

This winter has been a lot. Between the endless snow days, the ice, the pneumonia and flu outbreaks, and four kids rotating through sickness after sickness… life has felt heavy. If you’re also living somewhere cold, juggling little ones, and watching school closures pop up like wildfire, you probably feel it too.

Today I wanted to share a small-but-mighty book that has really stayed with me: Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson. It offers a simple parable about the highs and lows of life, and honestly — it’s exactly the kind of grounding encouragement I’ve needed in this season.

…

View the Post