A trip to the apple orchard is a quintessential fall outing that helps you slow down and soak up the season. Once you’ve picked your apples, the real fun begins: deciding what to make with them! There are endless ways to utilize this fall fruit. While apples really shine in pies, muffins, crumbles, breads, and other baked goods, they’re definitely a lot more versatile than they typically get credit for.…
Have you ever wanted to try making your own soap? It’s probably much easier than you think. For me, soap making is a lot of fun. I enjoy crafting all sorts of botanical concoctions, and making my own soap allows me to infuse the soap my family uses daily with lovely, nourishing ingredients. Handmade soaps are such a wonderful substitute for conventional ones that contain artificial fragrances and other questionable…
I wanted to try my hand at cold process soap making for quite some time before I actually made the leap. For me, working with lye felt intimidating and the whole process seemed difficult and complicated. I’ve since found that soaping is actually pretty easy and is really quite enjoyable. Now, it’s hard to believe how long I waited to give it a try! Crafting my own dish soap has…
For most dogs, the way to their heart is through their stomachs. So, treat your pup with cookies baked just for them! These homemade banana + yogurt dog treats are easy to make and are a fun way to spoil your favorite canine. Many commercial dog treats contain additives you may want to avoid, like artificial colorants, preservatives, and flavorings. Fortunately, baking your own dog treats is an easy alternative.…
With its bright, tart flavor, sumac is a fun foraged ingredient to work with in the late summer. North American varieties of sumac can be used similarly to their cousin, R. coriaria, a spice commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. Its complex, sour flavor adds a unique twist to a variety of dishes. I also like to add sumac to baked goods. Find my Apple Sumac Muffins recipe here. The ripe…
Lions are fascinating animals that make wonderful characters in children’s books! Here is a collection of stories featuring these majestic felines. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. Lion Books for Toddlers These lion books feature sturdy pages, interactive features, and sweet, simple stories, making them perfect for toddlers.…
World Lion Day is an international event that is held each year on August 10th to raise awareness for lion conservation. The first Lion Day event was held in Zambia in 2013, organized by conservationists Rae Kokeš and David Youldon, who worked for The African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT). Since then it has become recognized by numerous wildlife conservation groups and is celebrated annually worldwide. World Lion Day…
Late summer is a time of abundance, with gardens overflowing and the fields and forests offering plenty of wild foods to forage. Since ancient times, people have celebrated this season with harvest festivals, giving thanks for the food that would sustain their families through the long cold winter months. Celebrating Lammas Observed on August 1st, Lammas marks the beginning of the grain harvest. The name Lammas comes from the Old English hlāfmæsse, meaning “loaf mass.” Also…
National Moth Week is a mothing event that’s hosted by Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Central New Jersey. It first began in 2012 as a local event, but has since grown into an international citizen science initiative that invites people worldwide to document moth species and share their observations, contributing to both science and conservation. National Moth Week is the perfect time…
One of the best things about summer is the amazing array of fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs available in abundance from the garden (and growing wild in the fields & forests too!) With so many ingredients at their peak, it’s the perfect time to experiment in the kitchen. Seasonal produce can inspire refreshing drinks, delightful main dishes, divine desserts, zesty condiments, and more. The recipes below celebrate some of my…