Joyful, Healthy Living

Growing up, my family had a tradition of eating PUMPKIN PIE FOR BREAKFAST on Thanksgiving (and sometimes Christmas). I'm continuing this beloved tradition in my family; it makes for an easy, no-fuss breakfast to hold us over until our early dinner feast. This delicious pumpkin pie recipe is health(ier) because it is made with REAL FOOD ingredients: maple syrup and sucanat instead of white sugar, plus real milk and cream instead of canned evaporated milk. This recipe works g

Homeopathic remedies can prevent illness! Here's the protocol we use for preventing the flu. Evidence that Homeopathic Remedies Can Be Used to Prevent Illnesses Homeopathic remedies have a long history of being used preventatively to help avoid and lessen the effects of contagious illnesses. Way back in the late 1700's and early 1800's, founder of homeopathy Samuel Hahnemann successfully used preventative remedies for scarlet fever and cholera. Since then, homeopathic remedie

Every Fall, I start thinking of all the ways I can use pumpkin: pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies! My husband still generally eats grain-free, so this recipe for Pumpkin Custard Cake is for him, especially. This grain-free recipe is loaded with eggs and healthy fats. We enjoy this recipe for breakfast, brunch, or topped with whipped cream for a special dessert. This is spiced just like pumpkin pie, so it's a wonderful grain-free stand-in for the ho

Life gets stressful sometimes, but homeopathy can help! Here is information about the top 4 remedies that can help with anticipatory anxiety for worries over upcoming events such as tests, performances, competitions, ceremonies, or medical procedures. My healthcare clients have reported that these remedies work well to calm their nerves. I've experienced that myself, too, such as when I've had nervousness in advance of giving public speeches or presentations. These remedies h

Literature is foundational to a great education. Through stories, we can learn about good character and discernment, the history and patterns that underlie our culture, and the wonders of world and our imaginations. I have built our homeschool around great books from preschool through high school. Even to this day with my kids in high school and college, we continue to have family read-aloud time to allow us to learn and grow together. It can be hard to navigate children's b

"My kid thinks he knows everything!" "My parents don't understand me." "Why won't my teen listen to me?" The adolescent and teen years often come with lots of frustration for both kids and parents. Communications can become strained, attitudes can become negative, and relationships can become damaged. My kids are 19yo and 16yo right now. I'm by no means an expert on this, but I've learned much over the last few years and want to share it with you. Hopefully, this will help t

With Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's time to make pumpkin puree! Each year, I make lots of pumpkin puree, to be stored in the freezer. Lots of pumpkin pie clafoutis, pumpkin spice bread, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, and pumpkin crumble will keep us happy over the winter. Homemade pumpkin puree is more delicious and healthy than canned pumpkin. My method for homemade pumpkin puree is simple: bake whole, scoop, and puree! You can use any type of wi

Have you had your Vitamin D levels checked recently? Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for a strong immune system, yet many people are Vitamin D deficient, especially during the winter. Here's a primer on: why Vitamin D levels matter for your immune system why Vitamin D levels are lower in the winter optimal Vitamin D levels how to test your Vitamin D levels at home how to naturally increase your Vitamin D to a healthy level Low Vitamin D Levels = Increased Ill

Amidst cold and flu season, it's a perfect time to boost your immune system! Nutrition is one of the primary pillars of immune system health. Nutrition: Food is Medicine Ditch the processed foods and focus instead on whole, real foods. Modern diets are generally deficient in vitamins and nutrients as compared to the diets of traditional peoples. Weston A. Price's studies [1] showed that the diets of traditional people contained up to ten times the amounts of vitamins and nu

We're in the midst of cold and flu season, so I wanted to share the protocol that has been quite effective at helping with respiratory illnesses in my family. Of course, we also use homeopathic remedies for treating colds, flus, and COVID-19. However, I have found that when we use the following supplement trio, with many illnesses the symptoms never become strong enough to need much in the way of homeopathic support. Supplement Trio At the first sign of illness, we take the