Change Your Life In 2018 - May Challenge: Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

If you’re just joining in, the “Change Your Life In 2018” series is my quest to make some small changes this year.  Rather than setting easily forgotten resolutions I wanted to focus on 12 changes that would help me learn and grow as a person.  I’ve chosen to focus on one change per month so that it could not only become a more manageable goal, but I have a better chance at making these new habits as well.  I hope you’ll join me in the challenge!

“If it’s still in your mind, it is worth taking the risk.” ~ Paulo Coelho

This month's challenge is somewhat similar to last months in that it's time to shake things up.  As we discussed last month, if you want things to change in your life then you need to change.

They say that everything you're after is at the end of your comfort zone.  It seems this is true!  If you've ever really stuck your neck out on the line only to have things suddenly work in your favor, then you know that this is where the magic happens.  Pushing yourself to do what may seem uncomfortable or unnatural can be incredibly beneficial.

This Month On The Farm: April 2018 - New Chicks, New Kitchen, and Beautiful Weather!

If you’re just tuning in, this is a brand new ongoing series in which I document each month of our lives in our transition to a simple, homemade life on a modern homestead. We ditched town and moved to the country in 2008 and we blog about both our successful and not-so-successful ventures in homesteading, switching to natural products, and embracing a whole foods lifestyle.  Check out the entire series here.

We got so incredibly lucky in April - we had very little mud!!  We were so relieved as it's usually so darned messy and disgusting.  Although it was a cooler than average month, the end of the month temp's were 70's and sunny for the most part.  Do you notice how much happier everyone is when it's 70's and sunny?

$100.00/week Real Food Weekly Meal Plan - Week 20

If you’re just tuning in, this is an ongoing series in which I share our weekly meal plan as I (attempt) to convert us to a Whole/Real Food lifestyle.  Our grocery budget is $100.00/week for 2 adults.  Often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

The Chicks Are HERE!!

They are fuzzy, they are cuddly, and they are super sweet!  Unfortunately, one passed away her first night home, but so far the other 9 are doing really well.

I know, I know, I wrote a month or so ago that we decided against growing the flock this year.  But then we got to thinking about the ages of the other coop girls (we have a pretty good blend of ages 1-4) and realized we very well may either lose a couple this year or the egg production will at least slow right on down.  And so we decided to order 10 of these little cuties.  I announced in our newsletter a few weeks ago. 

If you haven't already signed up, you can do so here!  We never (ever) spam or sell your information and usually only send 1 email per week.

Now to figure out their names.......

Here are more photos:

$100.00/week Real Food Weekly Meal Plan - Week 18

If you’re just tuning in, this is an ongoing series in which I share our weekly meal plan as I (attempt) to convert us to a Whole/Real Food lifestyle.  Our grocery budget is $100.00/week for 2 adults.  Often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

$100.00/week Real Food Weekly Meal Plan - Week 17

If you’re just tuning in, this is an ongoing series in which I share our weekly meal plan as I (attempt) to convert us to a Whole/Real Food lifestyle.  Our grocery budget is $100.00/week for 2 adults.  Often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

6 Things To Consider Regarding Raising Backyard Chickens

This post contains affiliate links.  When you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we receive a small monetary compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for supporting Cobble Hill Farm!

I often get the question "I want to get some chickens - what do you think I need to know?" I also get the question "I want to get chickens but my husband said no.  Can you tell him why we need chickens?"  Yikes!  While I can help with the first question, I really can't help with the second.

This post is a result of the many times I get the first question and includes a VERY brief look at things to consider.  We have a "chicken-keeping" tab full of all of the articles I've written if you would like to take a more in-depth peek into life with chickens. (spoiler alert - they are a LOT of fun!!)

DELICIOUS Chicken Marinade For Juicy Chicken Every Time

Chicken breasts can be bland and dry if you aren't using a flavorful marinade or sauce.  That is what we experienced, until we began using this SUPER simple marinade.  I use this whenever I want the chicken to have just a bit more flavor or if it's going to be standing on it's own.  I use it on chicken when I make grilled chicken, grilled chicken subs, Quick & Easy Chicken Parm, chicken for kebabs, chicken for chicken salad sandwiches, etc.

Oven-Baked PERFECTLY Melt-In-Your-Mouth BBQ Pork Ribs

My husband is a big fan of BBQ.  He loves meat that has that smoky flavor, is drenched in BBQ sauce, and features a savory rub.  Here's the thing......I don't have a smoker, I have no idea how to use a smoker, and I have no desire to ever own a smoker.  So, I needed to create a delicious pork rib that wasn't a smoked rib, but an incredible BBQ rib.  A melt-in-your-mouth rib that you crave.  So I found a few recipes and none of them were THE rib.  They were too dry, or didn't have enough flavor, or weren't crispy, etc. 

So I used those recipes as a starting point to figure out what worked well and what did not, and then created this one.  The best thing is that it's sooooooo easy!  It doesn't take much work at all and within 2 hours, dinner is served.  And you're a hero.

$100.00/Week Real Food Weekly Meal Plan - Week 16

If you’re just tuning in, this is an ongoing series in which I share our weekly meal plan as I (attempt) to convert us to a Whole/Real Food lifestyle.  Our grocery budget is $100.00/week for 2 adults.  Often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.