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The Raw and The Cooked

Simple Meals + Honest Book Reviews + Practical Living

3 Thrillers to Kick off Your January Reading

Snowed-In, Coughing, and Still Reading Mysteries ❄️📚

I’m writing this on a Tuesday that should have been my kids’ first day back at school after winter break… but winter had other plans. We’ve been snowed in since Friday afternoon, school is canceled, groceries are dwindling, and I have zipped/unzipped snow pants, boots, jackets, hats, mittens, gloves, and an extra sweater on three toddlers approximately 9,000 times in the last three and a half days.

I haven’t worn makeup. I haven’t left the house. My espresso pod supply is at DEFCON 2. Delivery trucks can’t reach us anyway. We are truly just existing right now.

Add in a two-week cough so violent I pulled the muscles between my ribs, and you’ve got my winter-break vibe. ✨ But while my husband plays with the kids in the snow (for the 15 minutes that will inevitably last), I’m writing this post.

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Episode 154: Surviving with 2 Under 2

Today’s post is all about surviving—and maybe even thriving—through life with a newborn and a two-year-old. It’s my third time walking through this wild, tender stage, and I wanted to share what’s helping: the real-life rhythms, honest moments, and little survival strategies that keep me grounded. If you’re in it too, I hope this feels like a deep breath and a reminder that you’re not alone.

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Three Summer Romances I Read So You Don’t Have To

Oh my goodness — it is officially August, and it is officially baby month around here.

We are in a “could be any day now” situation, which is equal parts exciting and slightly chaotic. I really thought I’d be more ahead with this podcast at this point. I had a grand plan to pre-record the rest of August and September before delivering… and here I am recording this essentially at the last minute.

It’s wild to think that back-to-school season is already just around the corner, and summer is about to start winding down. Which felt like the perfect time to talk about summer romance novels.

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