The Raw and The Cooked - Simple Rhythms for SAHM, Honest Motherhood, and Books Worth Reading

This episode kicks off a special four-part series about what it really takes to run a peaceful, sustainable home. Before we talk about planners, weekly rhythms, and seasonal resets, we have to start somewhere much smaller: our habits. Because the truth is, a calm home isn’t built on heroic cleaning days or perfect organizational systems. It’s built on tiny decisions we make throughout the day.

In this episode, I’m sharing twenty motherhood micro-habits that quietly keep a home running — things like never leaving a room empty-handed, doing quick five-minute resets, and using simple habit stacking to make routines easier. These small behaviors compound over time and create the kind of environment that supports your family rather than overwhelms you.

Much of this episode is inspired by the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, which beautifully explains why tiny actions repeated consistently lead to massive results over time. Before we design systems for our homes, we have to look at behavior — because systems plus behavior equals a sustainable home.

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In Part 9 of What We Ate This Week, I’m sharing a very full February week — what we ate, how I prepped, and what we spent as a family of six after returning from travel.

This week includes:

• A full fridge reset after vacation
• Two Trader Joe’s runs + one Costco trip
• Scratch cooking (as always)
• Frozen cookie dough confessions 🍪
• Homemade tortillas 🌮
• Shabbat rhythms ✨
• And how I manage leftovers so I don’t cook on Saturdays

Total grocery spend: $309
Dining out (besides airport): $0

What I Prepped This Week 🥣

• Hard-boiled eggs
• Sourdough pancakes
• Homemade sandwich bread
• One loaf sourdough
• Blueberry scones
• Frozen cookie dough balls
• Sourdough tortillas
• Roasted chickpeas
• Challah for Shabbat
• Pre-packed school lunches
• Washed + chopped snack vegetables & fruit

Meals Mentioned 🍽️

• Chicken noodle soup
• Lentil soup (freezer stash win)
• Meatloaf + mashed potatoes + Brussels sprouts
• Slow cooker chicken taco bowls
• Sheet pan salmon + frozen vegetable mix
• Steak + salad + challah (Shabbat dinner)

Systems That Are Working ✔️

• Bulk mashed potatoes for future meals
• Frozen cookie dough for emergency dessert
• Large after-school snack platter
• Homemade bread rotation
• Leftover-only Saturdays

Budget Notes 💸

Goal: Keep groceries under $1,200/month
Reality this week: Higher than average due to post-trip restock
Win: Zero restaurant spending (minus unavoidable airport food)

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This year, I’m treating 2026 like a stewardship reset.

In this episode, I walk through the discretionary spending categories I’m tracking — groceries, household sundries, kids’ gear, memberships, family outings, clothing, and more — and how I’m identifying the “slow bleeds” that quietly add up. I also share why I’m prioritizing second-hand purchases, repairing before replacing, and using what we already have (yes, even the unopened lipsticks).

We simply have enough. And this year, I want to live like it.

Previous Episodes on Budgets: 

• #31: Fluid Budgeting and a Spending Freeze Part I
•  #32: Sinking Funds, Budgeting Part II
• #105: 2024 Budgeting for a Smooth Year
• #188: Raw Monthly Budget | What My Family of Six Actually Spends

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This week, I’m talking about the Ten Commandments, and why I believe they are still a blueprint for human flourishing today. I share my thoughts on integrity, faith, and choosing what is right in a world that often celebrates the opposite.

If you’ve been feeling unsettled by what you see in the culture, this episode is an invitation to choose light, truth, and moral clarity — imperfectly, but sincerely.

Other Shabbat Episodes:

• #193: The Radical Gift of Sabbath
• #96: How and Why the Sabbath Balances Out Your Weekly Flow

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February can feel endless—especially when you’re home with little kids, battling cold temps, cabin fever, and low energy. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest, gentle “survival guide” for making it through winter without burning out. From at-home lattes and simple meals to lowering the bar, leaning on community, and finding small things to look forward to, this is a reminder that you don’t have to thrive right now—you just have to get through. If you’re feeling tired, foggy, overstimulated, or lonely, this episode is for you.

Psst. The grout renewal I found!

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In this week’s episode, I’m sharing how I actually live a “good energy” life with four kids under seven—without biohacking or perfection. From sleep hacks, gentle daily movement, and mindful alcohol habits to whole-food meals, slow cooking, and simple personal care swaps, I walk through the small changes that make a real difference in day-to-day energy and long-term health.

No judgment, no impossible routines—just honest, relatable ways to feel more awake, grounded, and energized as a busy parent. If you’ve ever wondered how self-care and wellness fit into a full household with little kids, this episode is for you.

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I’m sharing a no-holds-barred reading roundup: four books I couldn’t put down (even when I didn’t love them), and four that just didn’t stick. From edge-of-your-seat thrillers to impulsive library grabs that pleasantly surprised me, we dive into what made these pages fly—or flop. Spoiler: “page-turner” doesn’t always mean “masterpiece,” and sometimes the books you think you’ll love… you just can’t finish.

If you’re hunting for your next read—or avoiding a disappointment—this episode’s got you covered. I’ll spill what kept me up past bedtime, what made me gasp, and what made me slam the book shut. Plus, my thoughts are unapologetically subjective, so don’t take it personally if your favorite shows up on my DNF (Did Not Finish) list. Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s talk books.

Books Discussed:
Must-Reads / Couldn’t Put Down:

1. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
2. Prom Mom by Laura Lippman
3. Cabin Fever by Alex Dahl
4. You Deserve to Know by Aggie Blum Thompson

Did Not Finish / Overrated for Me:
5. You're Safe Here by Leslie Stevens

6. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

7. I Don’t Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson

8. November 9 by Colleen Hoover

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What if fatigue, brain fog, cravings, and mood swings weren’t random—but signals from your cells asking for help?

In this episode, we break down Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means and translate metabolic health into real life. We explain the five key markers that act like a dashboard for how well your body makes and uses energy—and why so many “normal” symptoms are early warning signs, not destiny.

We connect modern life to mitochondrial stress: ultra-processed food, poor sleep, blue light at night, sedentary days, constant temperature comfort, and chronic stress. We explore insulin resistance, inflammation, why the brain often suffers first, and why kids and teens are especially vulnerable. 

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a simple playbook you can start today: better sleep, morning light, real food, shorter eating windows, daily movement, and tracking what actually matters. Small changes compound—and your cells respond faster than you think.

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In Judaism, we sometimes call God ‘Hashem,’ which means ‘The Name.’ I love this word — it feels close and loving. In today’s episode, I’m sharing something a little softer and more reflective. Lately I’ve been feeling deeply aligned and blessed in this season of life — not because everything is perfect (it never is), but because I’m becoming more aware of Hashem’s presence in the day-to-day moments of motherhood, home life, and growth.

This episode is about contentment, trust, alignment, and learning to receive the life we already have — with gratitude and humility. I talk about noticing blessings, softening into faith, and how grounding routines and rhythms help me stay centered when things feel chaotic.

If you’re also craving peace, meaning, or spiritual rootedness in the middle of a full life with little ones — this one’s for you. 💛

Thanks for being here.

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✨ Happy 2026! We made it through the holidays and now get that beautiful fresh-start energy that January brings. I am so here for it.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing my very favorite baby and toddler books — the ones we reach for again and again with our 16-month-old and our preschoolers, and honestly the ones our older kids still love, too.

Rather than focusing on a specific age, these are simply the books that:

• have a great rhythm or rhyme
• are fun to read aloud (over and over again!)
• have engaging illustrations
• and bring joy to our home library

Because you know that feeling when your child hands you a book… and the cadence is clunky, the story drags, or the pictures just don’t land? (Looking at you, Harold and the Purple Crayon — I know it’s a classic, but it’s just not my favorite 🫣)

So today, I’m sharing the opposite of that — the books that are genuinely delightful.

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