Author Archive: Rachel

October 16, 2017
10+ Halloween School Party Ideas

Need some ideas for a Halloween school party? Or even some game ideas for a Halloween party coming up? Keep reading… Am I the only one who draws a blank when it comes to brainstorming up school party ideas? I feel like I see awesome game ideas all year long …
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October 3, 2017
Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowls {Freezer Meal}

This post contains affiliate links. Here‘s what that means. Sometimes the best thing a mom with young kids can hear at dinner is silence. That’s not to say I don’t love conversation around the table. (In fact, here are some excellent dinner conversation starters.) But, when everyone is too busy …
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September 27, 2017
Our Cookbook Launch Party In Action (+ The Best Flowers in Town!)

This post is written in partnership with the Hy-Vee stores in Columbia, MO, who helped provide delicious food for our launch party and continue to be cheerleaders for our cookbook and our blog. Thankful to have some great local Hy-Vee people on our side! Two Friday nights ago, Polly and …
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September 25, 2017
10 Fall Recipes You Need to Try–Stat!

Despite the 90 degree temperature days in mid-MO this past week, the leaves are starting to turn and my yard has the beginnings of an epic leaf pile. Fall is officially here. While I’m admittedly not a huge fan of fall–mainly because it means winter is coming–, I am a …
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September 20, 2017
The Most Important Moment in My 39 Years

We love helping equip others with practical ways to thrive at home, especially through freezer cooking. But, every once in a while, I get an itch as a blogger to share something really personal or meaningful to me in my life. I’ve wanted to share a little bit about a …
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September 6, 2017
Is “From Freezer to Table” Paleo and Whole30 Compliant?

Our pal, Natalie Fieleke–blogger, mom, long-time Thriving Home fan, and Paleo diet follower—was really honest with us a few weeks ago. She wasn’t sure she was going to buy our cookbook. The thing is, she was a bit skeptical about From Freezer to Table. Like many of our readers and …
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September 4, 2017
How NOT to Encourage Your Child’s Teacher

Meet our friend and Virtual Assistant Jennifer Shackelford. She works behind the scenes every week to bring our Real Food Menu Plans to you. We are incredibly blessed to have her our on team. And, as if Polly and I being lookalikes isn’t strange enough, Jennifer happens to be a …
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August 21, 2017
Easy-To-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot

These easy-to-peel hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot just might change your life. This recipe is MAGIC, I tell you. In all of my years of trying every hard boiled egg trick in the book, I’ve never come out with ones that were cooked this perfectly (think moist yellow …
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August 16, 2017
10 Healthy, Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Ideas for Back To School

A healthy breakfast even on those chaotic weekday mornings? We’ve got you covered with 10 healthy, freezable breakfast ideas to make ahead and have on hand. We started school again yesterday. It’s hard to believe my babies are now in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades–our last year all under one …
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August 2, 2017
Very Berry Crumble {Freezer-Friendly}

Back to school time may be around the corner, but don’t let summer die, I say! Keep it alive a bit longer by filling your house with the smells and tastes of summer with this simple Very Berry Crumble. If you’re like me and love the berry insides of a …
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July 26, 2017
Being On Live TV Is Like…

Last Friday, Polly and I made our debut TV appearance in St. Louis. Like with everything in the cookbook publishing world we’ve entered, it proved to be a brand new learning curve. If you haven’t seen the clip yet, you can watch our 3 minute appearance here. What was being …
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July 19, 2017
Healthy Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips {Freezer-Friendly}

Three zucchini–that were dirt cheap at the store this month–sat and sat in my fridge…just staring at me. Do I make Zucchini Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies out of you? How about Zucchini Flaxseed Muffins? Double Chocolate Zucchini Waffles, perhaps? (Yes, this is a very real thing. And a very lovely …
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July 12, 2017
A Super Simple Summer Freezer Party: The Answer to Our Junk-Eating Slump

I’m gonna be straight up honest with you all. My family hasn’t been eating all that well this summer. I’ve been swamped with work, my son has baseball games and practices many nights a week, we’ve been traveling, and momma just needs some time off. So, we’ve eaten out waaaay …
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July 3, 2017
What Books Are In My Nightstand Right Now

I’m finally at a phase of life where I have time and a little more energy to read at night and in the early morning. I always enjoy getting a peek into other bloggers’ lives to see what books they have lying around and/or are enjoying, so I thought I’d …
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June 28, 2017
10 Things I’m Glad I Did On Our Family Vacation

The beach is my happy place. And I’ve always wanted my children to be able to see and experience the ocean and white sands beaches of the Florida panhandle, like I’ve been fortunate enough to many times as a teenager and adult. Being landlocked in mid-Missouri (at least 14 hours …
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June 14, 2017
Instant Pot Chicken and Cheese Taquitos {Freezer Meal}

Some affiliate links included. Here is why. I was so happy to finally get back in the kitchen this week after the week-long kid camp I help lead at our church each year. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thankful for the free food provided each night for my family, but we …
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June 12, 2017
We Need to Tell Our Kids That It’s Hard to Follow Jesus

Photo credit: All photos in this post are property of The Crossing, Columbia, MO. See originals here. I just spent the past year with a team at my church writing and producing a curriculum for our one-week kids camp, called Kids Club. This is my 16th year of helping run …
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May 24, 2017
Pan-Fried Catfish

Believe it or not, this main dish cost me just under $5 to put together and my whole family loved it. Let’s just say that catfish in mid-Missouri is not hard to come by. I don’t fry foods very often, so this Pan-Fried Catfish was quite the treat for my crew. …
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May 17, 2017
20+ Excellent Summer Learning Activities for Elementary-Aged Kids

I want my summers at home with my kids to count. Every May, I spend some time thinking about how I can make an impact in my children’s lives over the summer months. I’ve written quite a bit on setting summer goals for our children beginning with this blog post …
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May 10, 2017
“Kale Me Maybe” Smoothie Recipe {Dairy-Free}

Sing with me, everybody (to the tune of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen), “Now here’s my recipe, so Kale Me Maybe!”. I am not an impulse spender and am actually quite frugal. But there is one thing I’ve had a hard time passing up over the years–this “Kale Me Maybe” …
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