This post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. 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 ! It is very easy to go through life somewhat passively - accepting what comes your way and not taking the bull by the horns to try and steer it in another direction.  I'm guilty of this, for sure.  I've always had dreams, goals and wants, but I haven't always taken the responsibility and, I guess, ambition, to...

This post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. I am so fortunate to have had an opportunity to speak with Stephanie from Mama Minimalist on a podcast regarding meal planning.  You all know how passionate I am about this simple, time and money saving system, so it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to speak about my experiences with it. You can find the podcast, show notes, and downloadable FREE templates here . I hope you enjoy it!! ...

This post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. Meal planning is the road map to success when you're trying to cook more at home whether it be for health reasons, or to save time and money.  By planning out the next week's meals, you reduce the stress surrounding the daily "what's for dinner" questions, can plan healthier meal options, shop for only the items you need as well as ensure a reduction of food being thrown away. There remains a bit of confusion regarding this simple yet effective system.  Let's just get one thing out of the way that may be a relief to you - there is no perfect system.  There really isn't!  If you've put off starting meal planning because you're waiting for the perfect system, I highly encourage you to instead jump right in and let your system evol...

T his post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. Those of you who follow us on either our Apothecary Facebook page or this Blog's Facebook page know that our Emerson became quite sick this past week.  Thank you SO MUCH for all of your kind words.  They really do mean a lot to us. You all know what it's like to see a pet in pain so you know exactly what we are going through.  I thought I would share a bit about what's going on.  Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of answers as of yet, but hopefully this coming week. Emerson has not had any health issues except pancreatitis up to this point, but on Wednesday night he had a seizure. We rushed him to the emergency clinic and they ran bloodwork and an x-ray.  They didn't see anything to be concerned about but recommended we leave him there o...

This post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. And just like that it's the second week of the pantry challenge! Things are going well as I hope they are for those of you joining in too.  I'm getting a bit of a hoarding feeling regarding rolled oats.  Who would have guessed that?  I've decided we should use up cold cereal for breakfasts first so we can save the oats for later in the month when the temp's (hopefully) dip.  J has assured me that we have at least 2 months worth of oats.  Please.  There's no way......so cold cereal it is! Our temp's did drop temporarily this weekend allowing me to make minestrone soup.  I like to use up any bits of different shaped pasta we have hanging around in soup, so I was able to do that.  I had some odds and ends veggies that I threw in as well. I took...

T his post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. Summer is winding down which means we are in full speed ahead mode to get the garden produce preserved for winter.  Tomatoes, broccoli, squash, green beans, corn, cukes and peppers will all be turned in to a number of things from sauce to pickles.  We will steam, dehydrate, oven-roast, shred, and dice it up.  Canning and freezing will then take place to give us opportunity to appreciate the growing season for a little longer. That's the beauty of preserving freshly harvested or produce purchased at the farmer's market.  It captures the beautiful rhythm of summer that you can enjoy once it is long gone. Although we opted not to grow a very large garden this year, we still have a wonderful bounty of some of the basics, and peppers are one.  I seem to add them...

This post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. I've written a bit about meal planning and I speak about it for a few reasons but mainly because it has allowed us to pay off our debt, and it can help you do the same!  When you meal plan you determine how expensive you want that week's meals to be.  You are able to take complete control of your budget. The way in which I utilized our meal plan to pay off our debt was by reducing (significantly) what we spent on groceries every week.  Then, I would allow for an extra $15.00 per week to use as "stock-up" money.  It doesn't have to be used every week, but it should be set aside every week.  Then, when you find a great sale on ingredients that you typically use (meat, produce, grains, seafood, etc.), buy them in bulk (provided you can store them) ...

peperonata on baguette This post may contain affiliate links which come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission.  It's week #1 of our pantry challenge !!!!  We are off to a good start.  We did spend money, as you will see below, but very little.  I had agreed with my husband that we would get dairy weekly (or as needed) and also that we would buy fresh fruit instead of dipping into our preserved stockpile that we're saving for winter, although this week we had some fruit leftover from last week. The garden continues to gift us with produce which makes it easier as well, and we are still members of our CSA which I mistakenly thought ended mid-month, but actually goes on until the end of October.  So, because it was already paid for, we get an allotment of veggies weekly (shown below broken down to the weekly cost) including this month. You'...