contributing writer Archives

Easy Recipe for Sourdough Bread | Beginner-Friendly Sourdough Focaccia Bread

Stephani Jenkins / 09/11/2023

Years ago, when I started making sourdough bread, I envisioned beautiful round loaves, dusted in white rice flour and decorated with intricate floral patterns slashed into the surface and baked to perfection. You know the ones I’m talking about. That classic sourdough bread makes you think, “Man, I could totally learn how to bake that. […]

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Have You Tried a Body Scan Meditation Yet? Free & Easy Practice for Busy Moms

Pastor SJ / 08/28/2023

Looking for a free and easy way to get grounded in your body? Could a body scan meditation help you find more ease and calm? One of my most common defense mechanisms is that I cut my head off from the rest of my body. In other words, I am prone to getting really focused

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Easy Refrigerator Pickles Recipe

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 08/21/2023

Have you ever grown cucumbers? If so, you know that just one plant produces an insane amount of cucumbers. You pretty much need to have a plan of attack before they start producing or you are going to be eating cucumbers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes I have an entire produce drawer full at

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Dairy-Free Zucchini Muffin Recipe

Stephani Jenkins / 08/14/2023

I looked for a dairy-free, healthy zucchini bread muffin for years. The internet is full of baked goods that you can stuff with grated zucchini, but I specifically wanted a muffin recipe that worked for my family: dairy-free, whole grain, naturally sweetened, and easy to make, with no weird ingredients. Here it is. Easy Dairy-Free

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Why I Quit the Grain-Free Diet

Pastor SJ / 07/24/2023

When I had no improvement in my symptoms doing a dairy-free and gluten-free diet, my primary care doctor suggested I try a grain free diet. Since my childhood, I had been plagued with stomach pain and headaches. As a teen, I had bloating and diarrhea on and off. After a traumatic surgery, I developed chronic

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Instant Pot Creamy Veggie Pasta Recipe | Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 07/17/2023

The middle of summer – fresh veggies abound! But you also are either super busy preserving or just out enjoying the nice weather. It’s too hot to cook. You’re sick of salads. But you really want some simple nourishing food. That means one thing – time to bust out the Instant Pot and make this

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Macro Organizing: The Shortcut You Need

Pastor SJ / 06/26/2023

Could macro organizing help you get your house under control? I grew up with a stay at home mom who was a type A perfectionist. She had everything organized to a T. When I had my first place, I tried to be as organized as my mom was. Instead of the pristine organizing systems that

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Gluten-Free Air Fryer Salmon Patties Recipe

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 06/19/2023

Growing up, eating fish meant one thing – my dad was out of town on a business trip. He detested the smell of fish -…

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Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe

Stephani Jenkins / 06/12/2023

Tacos are my family’s favorite dinner. After 15 years of living on a budget and eating real food, I learned that they are the perfect dinner solution for every season. These Instant Pot carnitas are just one of the endless possibilities, and they are one of my favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. Tacos are the perfect way

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Positive Parenting Solutions Review | Skill Building for Parents

Pastor SJ / 05/29/2023

I first heard about Positive Parenting Solutions in an email PS from Katie. So I watched the webinar and was hooked. We all want to…

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Dairy-Free Simple Strawberry Sorbet Recipe

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 05/15/2023

Frozen treats aren’t typically the first thing on your mind in winter. Neither are strawberries. But winter is when this simple strawberry sorbet was created. My twelve-year-old was sick…again (we had an uncharacteristic rough patch in March and April!). This time his throat was incredibly sore. He had all the telltale signs of strep throat

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Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes

Stephani Jenkins / 05/08/2023

Smashed potatoes are my family’s new favorite potato side dish. We’ve tried all the classics: mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, homemade fries. Honestly, it’s…

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Simple Strategies to Cope with Anxiety for Kids

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 04/24/2023

It’s Monday morning. We have to be out the door by 8:00am. It’s the usual frenzy of packing up lunches, helping the preschooler get dressed

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Mold Poisoning: Symptoms, What to Look For, and Remediation Options

Pastor SJ / 04/17/2023

When I bought a new house in February 2022, I didn’t know it would give me mold poisoning. However, that spring, I felt like my immune symptoms were flaring and getting worse. I reduced my work hours because I was struggling to get everything done. My biggest issue was fatigue. It wasn’t until another mom

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Instant Pot Tomato Soup Recipe

Stephani Jenkins / 04/10/2023

This tomato soup is a real food crowd-pleaser at my house. It is budget-friendly simple food at its best, and you can make it in your Instant Pot. Whether you’re feeding your kids a quick, healthy lunch or making a family-friendly meal to share with friends, this instant pot tomato soup recipe ticks all the

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How to Eat to Reduce Anxiety in Kids

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 03/27/2023

I have struggled with anxiety pretty much my entire life. From the time I was very little I worried about things most people never even think about. It gradually increased over the years, coming to a head in my 20’s with full-blown panic attacks. My poor husband got a crash course in mental health issues

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How to Stop People Pleasing | So Important for Moms!

Pastor SJ / 03/20/2023

Do you struggle with people pleasing tendencies? Here’s how to stop people pleasing. I never thought of myself as a fearful person. I love adventure and taking risks. I didn’t consider myself a people pleaser. However, at my first job after college graduation, I found myself feeling really burnt out and filled with resentment. It

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Instant Pot Honey-Mustard Salmon with Potatoes Recipe

Stephani Jenkins / 03/13/2023

Let’s talk about how hard it is to make dinner every night. We are the kind of family that rarely eats out, so we eat most of our meals at home. While that sounds like I must make a nice dinner every night, it is simply not true. Instead, I make simple, flavorful meals with

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Why Kids Have Anxiety | Root Causes of Anxiety in Kids

Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) / 02/27/2023

When I was little, riding in the car meant one thing to me – no bathroom for a long stretch with an overactive bladder. My dad hated stopping. I actually didn’t even know that you could stop anywhere besides a rest area until I was much older. Most long car rides were spent staring out

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What Is Medical Gaslighting? How To Recognize It And What To Do

Pastor SJ / 02/20/2023

Have you heard of medical gaslighting? Have you been gaslit by a medical professional?

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