Yes, I said candle painting. This is a fun twist on a painting night at home. We threw a candle painting girls night in a few weeks ago. Ours the weekend that The Tortured Poets Department was released and listened to all 31 of Taylor's new songs as a group while we painted. Candle painting and TTPD listening party, what could be better? You could probably do candle painting with paint but that doesn't seem safe to burn and I wanted our candles to be functional. We painted our candles using wax from tea light candles. Here's everything I bought to throw a candle painting party! Candle Painting Party Supplies: pillar candles taper candles colorful tea lights more colorful tea light candles paint brushes candle lighter The concept is simple. Light the mini tea candles in a variety of colors and let everyone "paint" on their pillar or taper candles with the melted wax from the tea lights, whatever design they choose. Little tip, you do have to move fairly quickly because the wax can dry quickly on your brush. You can get really creative with your designs! We did a lot of florals, hearts, and bows! Sometimes you have to "dab" the melted wax onto your candle and sometimes you can make small paint marks. Play around with different techniques, just be careful and don't put your hand too close to the flame. We kept the whole night pretty casual. I decorated the table with fresh wildflowers in mini bud vases to serve as inspiration for our candle paintings. For snacks, I created a black and white snack board to go with our TTPD vibes and we had a build your own mini pizza bar. This set of candle holders makes a great place for everyone to put their candles once they are done painting them. Check out our Taylor Swift Party ideas or all our Taylor-inspired posts. We have a lot! Would you do a candle painting party with your friends?

Kitchen scrap gardening is a fun way to get into gardening using the leftover vegetables you've already purchased from the grocery store or farmer's market. It's a creative, eco-friendly hobby, and a fun way to get outdoors. Kitchen scrap gardening is also a great way to get kids excited and involved in gardening. It almost feels like a science experiment! Kitchen Scrap Gardening Here are some of our favorite things to re-grow from kitchen scraps. Carrot Greens Start your carrots from scraps in the early Spring for a yummy salad addition or garnish. How: Start with carrots that have greens attached. "Behead" the top, leaving 1-2 inches of carrot, and cut off the greens. Place in a shallow dish, keeping the cut part submerged in water. After a few days, new greens and roots will start growing, and you can transfer them to soil. I keep mine inside for a little while longer, putting them out in the sun and cooler weather a few hours a day if possible before completely transferring them into the garden. These carrot greens are yummy in a salad or make a pretty garnish! Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are fun to grow for food or keep as an indoor house plant. From one sweet potato, you can get an average of over 100 potatoes! That's crazy right?! How: Place toothpicks in a sweet potato and place in a mason jar with the pointy end up and the flat end (more blunt) suspended in the water. You'll start to get roots growing in the water and little sprouts about 2 weeks later from those roots. When the sprouts are about 5 inches tall, you can gently separate them from the potato and grow them in soil. They will mature in about 90 days, and you will get about 3-5 potatoes from each sprout you plant. Sweet potatoes really like hot weather and grow well in the Summer. Green Onions Green onions add a nice flavor to many dishes. You can plant and grow your own green onions and never have to buy green onions again! How : Cut the green parts off the onion, leaving part of the white and the roots attached. Place the roots in a small cup or mason jar of water by a sunny window. Once the shoots start to grow and are a few inches long, transfer them to the garden and enjoy your green onions. Citrus fruit. During the winter, citrus fruits are plentiful. Save the seeds from your lemons, limes, or oranges. These will grow as a houseplant during the winter months, and you can plant it outdoors once the weather warms up or keep it indoors all winter for a fun houseplant. How : Plant 3 or 4 seeds about 1 inch deep in a small pot. Keep soil moist and keep pot in a sunny area. The seeds should sprout in about 2-4 weeks, and after about 6 weeks, you can transfer them into bigger pots for your patio or plant them in the ground. Please note that the trees will not produce fruit for a few years. This is a slow burn process, but still fun, nonetheless. Avocado Growing an avocado plant has always been a hit with my kids! How: Clean off your avocado pit the next time you make guacamole or avocado toast and save it for later. Poke three toothpicks around the middle of your avocado pit and suspend it in a shallow cup of water or mason jar so that the bottom of the avocado pit is submerged in the water. In about a month, roots and a sprout will grow. Once you feel that they are well established, you can move them to a pot with soil. You will need two avocado trees to cross-pollinate to make avocados, otherwise, you just have a fun tree. Lettuce You can also grow cabbage, bok choy, or celery using the same the same method bethod below! How: Chop the bottom 2 inches off the lettuce head and place the root down in a shallow cup of water. Change the water every few days and keep an eye on them. After the new leaves get about 3-4 inches tall (usually takes about 3-4 days), you can transfer them to a pot or garden to keep growing. If you only take about 1/3 of your lettuce off the plant at a time, it will continue to grow more lettuce. Garlic We use garlic in so many of our dishes that I knew this was something I wanted to grow from kitchen scraps. How: Save one or two cloves from a garlic bulb. In the garden, plant the clove about 5-6 inches in soil, and in about 6-9 months, it will grow into a full bulb of garlic that you can use, and repeat the process! Potatoes This one might be the best kitchen scrap garden hack. How: Each potato has eyes on them, and every eye on a potato will create a new plant that will grow new potatoes. If you have potatoes that have sat in the pantry for too long and have sprouted, it's perfect for kitchen scrap gardening. Each spot where roots have grown will grow a new potato plant, and each plant will grow 5-8 potatoes from just one plant. Follow the similar method as sweet potoates above and enjoy your harvest!

Easter is a fun time to make floral crafts! All the beautiful flowers in the craft stores, and outside, have inspired us to create this sweet Floral Bunny Headband for Easter and the dress-up box. If you already have a set of old bunny ears, you can jazz them up with some flowers for a new look. We decided to create our own bunny ears out of wire and lace, for a soft and sweet look. Gather up your supplies below and let’s get started. Supplies: Headband - plain Floral wire Lace Fake flowers , assorted Hot glue + hot glue gun scissors 1. Attach two pieces of floral wire to your headband, creating bunny ear shapes. 2. Lay out a piece of your lace, and cut it to the length of one ear. Wrap your lace around the ear shape, hot gluing to the back of the wire as you go. Trim off any excess lace. 3. Decorate with pretty flowers! Using scissors, or by just pulling off the flowers, remove the flower heads from the stems. Hot glue your flowers along the base of your ears and headband. Adding a variety of different flowers and colors will make your floral bunny headband really pop! Have fun playing around with different colors and flower combinations. I could make about 38 of these; I got a little excited buying flowers at the craft store! You may also like our: DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs Flower Garden Parfaits

Spring and Earth Day are perfect times to discuss protecting and caring for our beautiful planet. We have curated some of our favorite Earth Day Books to get kids thinking and talking about our beautiful world. From looking at our world from space to learning about bees, rainforests, conservation, recycling, and the beauty of trees, these books are perfect conversation starters for kids. Earth Day Books for Kids Earth! My First 4..54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty - Learn about Earth from Earth's point of view! Meet April by April Martin - Learn about the special events that occur in April, including Earth Day. Hello World! Planet Earth by Jill McDonald - Easy to learn facts about Earth, perfect for toddlers. The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green - Kids can learn just how special these mighty organisms are and how they are all connected. Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers - A note to Earthlings about living on Earth and loving it, and the people that live here. The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins - The true story about how one tree-loving lady changed a city! Save the Scraps by Bethany Stahl - Learn the importance of composting. The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner - Little readers will learn about the wonderful world of bees. A perfect introduction to bee conservation and their importance. Earth Ninja by Mary Nihn - Learn about recycling, reducing, and reusing. Heroes of the Environment by Harriett Rohmer - The 12 real-life stories of people who have done great things for the environment. Zonia's Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal - Learn about the wonders of the rain forest following a young girl who discovers part of the rain forest has been cut and she decides to save it. What a Waste by Jess French - A book that teaches about pollution, renewable energy, and recycling. Little Turtle and the Changing Sea by Becky Davies - Explore the problems of plastic waste in our oceans. You are a Wildlife Warrior by Bindi Irwin - Uncover your inner conservationist and help save the planet and all the animals that call it home. We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow - A poem book that reminds kids of all the benefits of a tree! Other ways to celebrate Earth Day: Play outside Make a bird feeder Plant a fairy garden Make a flower garden parfait to eat Make some wildflower bombs Start a kitchen scrap garden

It's finally Spring! Let's plan a party to celebrate. Here are some fun and festive Spring party ideas, from food and activities to decor, we are sharing our favorites today! Spring Party Food Let's talk food first. You'll need a signature drink or main food that's the center of the food table. Here are some fun ideas. Lavender Lemonade Mini Flower Tarts Greek Pasta Salad Veggie Pizza Cheshire Cat Tails Seafood Pasta Salad Flower Garden Parfaits Banana Pudding Spring Party Activities We always have a fun craft or activity to do at the party. We are sharing a few fun ideas from fairy gardens to butterfly crafts. Fairy Garden DIY Candle Painting Bird Feeder Craft DIY floral bunny headband Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft Puffy Sidewalk Chalk Paint DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs Flower Jar Craft Spring Party Decor Set the right vibe with these floral Spring party decor finds. Of course, don't forget the fresh flowers. I prefer wildflowers in the spring, but daisies, tulips, or roses are all stunning! Floral paper plates Floral backdrop Wildflower banners Fresh flowers Hello Spring Porch Banner Tissue Paper Flowers

No-sew Blanket This no-sew blanket is a perfect easy craft to do with a friend or by yourself while you watch a movie. Supplies: Fleece - 2 large pieces, however large you like, see below for sizes Scissors Measuring board - optional Step 1: Choose 2 coordinated pieces of fleece . We choose this gorgeous watercolor fleece fabric (currently out of stock) and a matching minty green to be the back. **I suggest using 1.5 yards to create a child-size blanket. 1 yard makes a good-sized blanket too, but would only work for a smaller child or baby. Of course, you could always go bigger and make a 2 yard blanket which would be good for an adult size blanket. For fleece here are some good places to start shopping - here , here , and here . Step 2: Layer the two pieces of fabric together and trim your edges to even them up, remove any fabric info and to make sure they line up correctly. Step 3: Cut out a 4 x 4-inch square from each corner of your blanket. Step 4: Cut strips – about 4 inches long and 1 inch apart, along all four sides of your blanket. Kind of like a fringe. Step 5: Fold your “fringe” back at the base and snip a small cut in the middle of each fringe piece. Maybe 1/2 inch, just big enough to loop your fabric through in the following step. Step 6: Fold back both layers of the fringe and loop through the snip. Step 7: Pull your fringe loop tight. My daughter calls these little fortune cookies. They help your blanket lay flatter and then you don’t have knots around the edges. Kids are great helpers for this part. My daughter and I sat across the table from each other and just talked while we worked on this blanket.

A few years ago, I shared our collection of books for kids about diversity and kindness. These books help foster an appreciation of acceptance and inclusion of others. Since then, friends and family have recommended books about diversity that they love too, and our collection has grown. I'm all about reading books to my kids that will help teach (and reinforce) different ideas or help them see different perspectives and be compassionate toward others. These stories cover a wide variety of sensitive topics and show us how we can be proud of who we are and the diversity around us. Books for Kids about Diversity and Kindness Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o Age range: 3-8 A beautifully illustrated story that made me tear up when reading it to my children. It follows the story of a young girl who wishes for her dark skin to be lighter. The story is ultimately about colorism and learning to love oneself, no matter one's skin tone. I saw this in the store one Fall and regretted not buying it immediately. I hunted it down for a few weeks and got it for my kids one Christmas. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad Age range: 4-8 This is a sweet story about two sisters loving their culture and overcoming prejudice. This book shows the hijab as something kind of magical and empowers and celebrates a rite of passage for Muslim girls. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrome Age range: 3-7 Another beautifully illustrated story told from the point of view of a young girl about the North American indigenous battles to protect our water. A call to action and celebration of culture. Written and illustrated by indigenous book creators! The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi Age range: 5-8 When the new girl from Korea moves to America, nobody can pronounce her name. Her classmates fill a jar full of suggestions for her to choose a name from. This book is about friendship and it really highlights the Asian culture and the power behind a name. The Wall in the Middle of the Book by John Agee Age range: 4-8 The contemporary relative to the Monster at the End of the Book, the knight is sure the wall keeps him safe from the horrible "other side" of the book. Or does it? As the water (and danger) rises on his side of the book, without him noticing, the other side comes to his rescue. Kids learn that sometimes "the other side" isn't as bad as we thought. Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian Age range: 3-5 Worm meets worm, they fall in love and decide to get married! All their friends are curious about who will wear the dress and who will wear the tuxedo. But, in the end, it doesn't matter because they love each other! You may also like our collection of LGBTQIA+ Books for Kids and Teens. All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph Age range: 5-7 This story follows Zane the zebra as he learns that all his stripes- his caring stripe, his curiosity stripe, and his autism stripe, are what make him special and unique. Learn to embrace the differences of those around us and all their beautiful stripes with this quirky and sweet book. She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton Age range: 4-8 These are the stories of 13 women who would not take no for an answer. Even when they had to fight to be heard, these tiny feminists changed the world with their ideas and bravery. This book is the perfect reminder for those who were told to sit down or move out of the way. Featuring stories of Ruby Bridges, Helen Keller, Sally Ride, and many more who overcame obstacles to show the world what they are made of. The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart Age range: 3-6 If you're like me, you're wondering what a purple person is. A purple person is one who brings their community together with kindness and uses their voice to speak up for what is right. In the light of the divided political parties, purple people blend red and blue together to help people become purple and encourage kids to look for similarities rather than differences. A sweet but simple sentiment and a good reminder for adults too. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena Age range: 2-6 A young Black boy and his Grandmother take a ride on public transportation and he wonders why they always get off at the dirty part of town and why they don't own a car of their own. His grandmother helps him find the beauty all around him. This is a good story of humanity and how to help people who in need. Butterflies Belong Here: A Story of One Idea, Thirty Kids, and a World of Butterflies by Deborah Hopkinson Age range: 5-10 This is a moving and beautiful story of a girl who recently immigrated to the United States and feels a little out of place, like a quiet little caterpillar. She makes a poster about monarchs, who followed the same migration path that she did. Soon she and her classmates make a garden for the traveling butterflies. This story is about building your community and the small changes you can make, that make a big difference. Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Simma Age range: 3-6 Kelp has always felt different than the narwhals in his family. When he discovers another mysterious creature like him, he finds a way to have the best of both worlds. A beautifully illustrated book about family, fitting in, and standing out! We love the underlying theme of the all-encompassing love and acceptance of family. We Are All Born Free Mini Edition: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures by Amnesty International Age range: 6-10 After World War II, in 1948, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed and declared to protect all people from all countries. This book covers all 30 articles, written and illustrated with children in mind. This book brings these concepts to life, but at a child's level - that we all have the right to live, freely and safely. Noodlelephant by Jakob Kramer Age range: 3-8 "Famous for her pasta parties, Noodlephant is shocked when the law-loving kangaroos decide noodles are only for them!" This is a great book about social injustice as Noodlephant pushes back against this unjust law. She and her friends invent a machine that turns ordinary items into pasta, like pens into penne, and so on. It will get kids thinking about bullies, exclusion, and the power of the community standing up to injustice. Hello, My Name is Octicorn by Kevin Diller Age range: 3-7 Octicorn is a sweet character who is half octopus, half unicorn but totally loveable. He feels left out, like he doesn't fit in on land or at sea, and in this book he starts naming off the unique qualities that make him someone who should be appreciated. This is a clever book about differences that is told in a silly way. The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss Age range: 3-10 A beloved classic about prejudice and discrimination. The Sneetches wear stars on their bellies and think they are special, and the ones without feel lesser than them. A scammer comes in and starts selling stars to the other ones that don't have them. He makes a profit out of prejudice, proving that always trying to be different or better, can be costly. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho Age range: 2-6 A lyrical book about a girl who notices her eyes are different than those of her peers. She draws strength from the generations of powerful women in her life, as she learns to recognize and embrace her own unique beauty. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry Age range: 2-7 Zuri has beautiful hair, but it is full of tight coils and sometimes goes in every which way. When Mommy fixes her hair she feels beautiful, but with Mommy out of town, Daddy has to step in. This book is an ode to self-confidence and a celebration of the love between fathers and daughters. I am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde Age range: 3-7 This book is an easy read about what being human means. That it's okay to make mistakes and the power that our choices have. The main character explores how everyone feels different emotions, even sadness or anger, and how you can making different choices can turn things around. I love this illustrator as well, we have several of his books. I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet Age range: 3-7 A powerful, picture-only book about how a small act of kindness against bullying can lead to a community joining in. When a fellow student sees Vanessa getting bullied she decides she wants to walk with her to school each morning. This book is a good reminder that sometimes just showing up and showing kindness is all that is needed to make a change. Mama The Alien by René Colato Laínez Age range: 6-10 Sophia finds her mother's resident Alien card in her purse one day and decides that her mother must be from outer space. She heads to the library to do some research but her mother doesn't look anything like the aliens in the books, with their big eyes and blue-green skin, so how could she be an alien? Through this great introduction to immigration and citizenship, Sophia learns that her mother is getting ready for her citizenship ceremony and that the word alien can also mean someone from a different country. Our Diversity Makes Us Stronger: Social Emotional Book for Kids about Diversity and Kindness by Elizabeth Cole Age range: 3-8 No matter your skin color, nationality, religion, or what you dream of becoming, this book shows kids that diversity makes us stronger. Nick gets new glasses but is afraid to wear them. There are a lot of different examples of diversity and reminders that it's okay to be who you are throughout this book. The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates Age range: 3-7 When it starts to rain there is a big umbrella by the door with room for everyone underneath it. The umbrella is big and friendly and helpful and doesn't care what you look like, it welcomes them all. With a more subtle theme that includes kindness and hospitality, you learn that there is always room for others. Mixed: A Colorful Story by Aree Chung Age range: 2-5 In the beginning, there were 3 colors, blue, red, and yellow and they all lived in harmony. Until, Red decides that "reds are best", and that starts a whole disagreement. The colors separate and live in their respective parts of town. One day Yellow and Blue fall in love and have a daughter named Green, she is a mixed color and unlike anyone else! Soon more and more colors begin to mix. This book has great use of symbolism to promote thoughts of acceptance and inclusivity. The Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit Age range: 4-10 The chickens are comfortable, safe, and secure in their coop, each one doing what they should be doing. One day a bunch of on-the-run capybaras appear. It's hunting season and they are looking for refuge in the chicken coop, but they don't follow the rules. This book shows how friendship can form in even the most unlikely places and teaches compassion and acceptance, as the chickens learn that including the capybaras in their community will only make it better. Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev Age range: 2-6 Today is Pet Club day, except no elephants are allowed. A tiny boy with his big pet elephant comes up with an idea to team up with others who are banned from Pet Club to make their own club where everyone is welcome. A sweet story about friendship, kindness, and acceptance. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson Age range: 5-12 Sometimes we have to do things that scare us, and sometimes we walk into a room and nobody is like us. This book helps reinforce the positive message that it's okay to be different from others. The message of empowerment came from the author's award-winning memoir Brown Girl Dreaming and reminds kids that it is okay to tell their own unique story. My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart Age range: 3-7 This book is great on many different levels. It teaches kids that it is okay to love your true self. It touches on gender identity and self-acceptance and how to support others to let their inner self shine. While helping break outdated gender stereotypes, it reminds us that small acts of kindness can go a long way. For more books like this, check out our LGBTQIA+ Books for Kids and Teens. The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah Age range: 3-7 Based on the real-life story of two friends. One liked hummus sandwiches, and the other liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They both thought the other sandwich looked gross, but this story is a reminder that we sometimes judge things too early, and sometimes trying new things can lead to positive experiences. Embracing cultural sensitivity and finding similarities even among the differences. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard Age range: 2-6 This book is aimed towards kids but also has a lot of messaging for adults - Native American History as well as a fry bread recipe in the back. This story is about fry bread - how it brings people together and keeps them connected to their culture. It talks about the cultural importance of food and also shows the diversity between different Native groups. Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You Hardcover by Sonia Sotomayor Age range: 4-10 Just as a garden with lots of different flowers makes it more beautiful, the same is true with people, all our differences make our world beautiful. Written by a Supreme Court Justice, this story embraces all our differences and encourages us to look at them as special powers. She talks about many different disabilities like tourettes, diabetes, ADHD, being blind, wheelchair-bound, and so on. She reminds us to be curious and learn about the person, differences and all. A good introduction for kids to people who are different than them. Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand Age range: 4-8 A beautiful body-positive book for kids about a Native American girl who gets teased about the little hairs on her upper lip. Her parents teach her that hair is all over, no matter what your gender. Laxmi is proud of who she is and she helps teach that beauty standards are different all around the world. Cake Mix: Learning to Love All Your Ingredients by Mikki Hernandez Age range: 5-8 When Remy's classmates ask, "what are you?" she goes on a journey learning about cultures and loving her identity. She learns about different ethnicities and celebrates them with her class. An inspirational story of self-acceptance for those who don't fit a certain "mold". Boxitects by Kim Smith Age range: 3-7 Meg loves to build things out of boxes that impress her teacher and classmates. One day she gets a new classmate who also builds things out of boxes. She doesn't want this new girl to change everything. The girls are paired together for an annual Maker Match, but all they do is argue. They have to find a way to be a team and work together. A creative STEAM-centered book about acceptance and teamwork. Masterpiece by Alexandra Hoffman Age range: 4-10 This is an inclusive book about celebrating a child on the autism spectrum. When the class has to create an art piece, it becomes apparent that Samuel has a special way of looking at the world around him, and his teacher praises his masterpiece. Through his art, his classmates learn about acceptance, inclusion, and empathy. We love that the illustrations show a child wearing noise-canceling headphones, too! Have you read any of these books? Do you have any suggestions or any favorites?

As we move into the new year there will inevitably be new trends that pop up. We are taking a look back at trends we noticed from 2024, that we are keeping in 2025. Beauty Trends Red light therapy - items like this facial massager that offer multiple color therapies as well as heat and massage, are great for lymph drainage, reducing fine lines, as well as increasing muscle tone and product absorption. Satin pillowcases - satin pillowcases aren't a new thing, but they made a comeback in 2024 and we are keeping them around for our skin and hair! Hydrating masks - keep your skin hydrated with this overnight hydro mask that turns white as the nutrients are absorbed into your skin. We're still obsessed with this. Pimple patches - No more picking at our skin, pimple patches can be cute or demure and help prevent scarring from skin damage. We like the discrete Mighty Patches or the cute StarFace patches . Home trends Air purifiers - help keep your home air clean by removing dust, smoke, and pollutants in minutes for better air health. Dopamine decor - Out with the beige mom aesthetic, we are creating spaces that bring us joy and are full of life. Find your style and embrace it in your home. Cozy wear - Being comfy in my own home, say less. Does anyone else immediately change when they come home? Whether it's my favorite pajamas, cloud shoes , buttery soft leggings , or a cozy blanket , I'm bringing comfort into the new year with me. Smart Homes - Adding things like the Echo Dot to create a smart home where you can dim lights with voice commands, listen to your favorite music, or ask questions. Smart homes are making things easier and I'm here for it. Being more sustainable - Whether it's through laundry sheets , reusable beeswax wraps , or creating a kitchen scrap garden, we're making small changes that we hope will have a big impact to our world. Food trends Chopped salads - Chopped salads went viral in 2024. With the help of gadgets like this vegetable chopper , we intend to keep chopped salads around for a while. They are easy and healthy and perfect to meal prep for lunches. Coffee at Home - Unless I'm having a really busy day, I focus on making my coffee at home. I know the savings aren't going to pay for a vacation or buy me a house but I enjoy making my personalized coffee at home. Would you like to see more coffee recipes? Cucumber salads - We are going to be keeping around all these bright and crisp cucumber salads that trended in 2024. Fun with food - whether it's cooking from a new cookbook, making your own pasta or bread, or trying new cuisines, we're going to keep having fun with food in 2025. Lifestyle Trends Hygee - learning it's okay to slow down and embrace and enjoy life's simple pleasures. We shared 10 ways to hygee this winter last winter and we're sticking to it again this winter. Micro-learning - Adding more books , podcasts, or classes to learn throughout the year instead of always doom scrolling. Mental health - embracing mental health, being aware of our boundaries, and realizing it's okay to say no to things if you are feeling burned out or overwhelmed. Saying yes to things you know would be good for you. Also, embracing self-care (see cozy, hygee, and beauty trends above) What trends will you be keeping in 2025?

I vividly remember having a version of this as a kid. It didn't seem appetizing to my kid brain, but I was given it at a party, and was very surprised at how tasty it was! Now I've made my own version that is just as yummy! This veggie pizza is good for parties and potlucks if you want to break up the dips and cookies with some vegetables but still have something that looks pretty and tastes good. Veggie Pizza Ingredients: 2 rolls of refrigerated crescent rolls 1, 8 oz block cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup sour cream 1 packet Ranch dip mix 1 tsp dried dill garlic powder as desired 1 head of broccoli, chopped 1 small red bell pepper, diced 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced 1 carrot, shredded 1 small can of black olives shredded cheddar cheese, as desired Bake crust Preheat your oven to the temperature on your crescent roll package. Unroll both of your crescent rolls and lay side by side, slightly pinching together the seams and perforated areas to make one large crescent roll crust. Bake as directed on the package, mine was 13 minutes. Take out and completely cool your crust before adding the toppings. I prepped my veggies during baking and cooling. Cream cheese topping In a small bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, sour cream, ranch packet, dill weed and, garlic powder as desired. Store cream cheese mixture in refrigerator until ready to add to pizza. Once you are ready and your crust is completely cooled, add a thin layer, like pizza sauce to your crescent roll crust. Add veggie toppings If you haven't already, prep your veggies. Note, you'll only want to use the head of the broccoli, chopped into small pieces as shown. Just like decorating any other type of pizza, add the toppings you desire in the amount you desire. I usually top it in this order - broccoli, peppers, carrot, olives, cheese. You can also use other vegetables you like - cucumbers, cauliflower, radish, whatever you think would taste good. I gently press my toppings into the cream cheese sauce to help them stick, but this is not a necessary step. Cut into pieces and serve immediately or store in the fridge for a few hours before serving. This recipe will make the bread soggy if you wait too long to eat it so keep that in mind when prepping.

My friend gave me this potato soup recipe years and years ago. I tweaked it a little over the years, however, it still remains one of our rainy-day favorites. I use heavy cream in my recipe, but you could substitute it for milk if you have it. I usually use whatever cheeses I have on hand. I usually have cheddar, swiss, and mozzarella cheeses in my fridge so that's become my base recipe. In the past, I've used a variety of different cheese combinations. That's the great thing about cooking. You can totally make changes to a recipe to suit your likes or use up things you have in your fridge. Three Cheese Potato Soup Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced smoked sausage, sliced olive oil 2.5 cups chicken broth 4-5 medium potatoes 2.5 cups heavy cream or milk 1 cup cheddar cheese 1 cup mozzarella cheese 1 cup Swiss cheese Directions: 1. Start a large pot of salted water on the stove to boil and cut the potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Boil in salted water for about 10 mins or until tender. 2. Meanwhile, in a large pot sauté onions, garlic, and sausages in olive oil over medium heat until the onion is slightly browned and soft. 3. Stir in chicken broth. Dump in drained potatoes and mash with a potato masher until smooth, some lumps are okay. 4. Add in salt and pepper to taste (I've added smoked paprika before) and stir in heavy cream or milk. 5. Stir in cheeses, leaving a little for topping. 6. Feel free to adjust the milk and chicken stock if the soup is too thick. 7. Once it's heated through, scoop it into bowls, top it with cheese, and serve. These Soup Bowls are my favorite for presenting cute soups and stews! Shop them here: I like to serve my potato soup with a big German pretzel or some crusty bread and a cold beer!

I'm a creative person at heart and that carries on into the kitchen. I like creating and cooking new and novel meals for my family whenever I have time. Recently, I decided to try my hand at homemade pappardelle. I had a craving for luscious noodles and a rich beef ragu sauce with lots of parmesan cheese (check back soon for the sauce recipe). So, "for fun" I decided to try my hand at making my own pasta. It can't be that hard I thought, and they weren't, and let me tell you, they were delicious. You don't need any fancy tools for this recipe, just a clean counter, rolling pin, and knife. This is more time consuming so make sure to save it for a weekend night when you have more time to devote. I would say it took 15 minutes to create the dough, 20 minutes for it to sit, and then about 30 more minutes to roll it out. Overall, set aside at least an hour or even 1.5 hours of time to create this pasta. It's totally worth it though! Homemade Pappardelle *makes 8 servings Ingredients: 4 eggs 3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt small bowl of cold water plastic wrap Directions: On a clean counter, create a large mound with your flour, make a hole in the middle, and add your eggs, olive oil, and salt right into the hole. Make your bowl of cold water and set it nearby to have while you make your dough. Slowly, with a fork, start adding in flour little by little into your eggy middle. Once the side of my flour pile broke, but I just scooped it all together and started using my hands to mix it. It will look kind of fluffy and jagged. Keep working it together. Add about a tablespoon or two of the cold water to your mixture until it starts to form a dough. I think I added about 6 tablespoons to this batch. Using your hands, create a ball with the dough, kneading it until it's smooth and slightly elastic feeling, about 10 minutes. It should look like this below. If it's too sticky add a little flour until it's more like a playdough texture. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or covered in a bowl, and let sit for about 20 minutes at room temperature. Once it's sat, take a knife or bench/dough scraper and cut the dough in 4 pieces like a pie. Place the unused dough back in the plastic wrap until you are ready for it. On a clean, floured surface (I used the counter) use your hands to slightly press down the dough and use the rolling pin to roll it out. Make sure to keep dough, counter, and rolling pin floured to keep it from sticking. Roll out your dough slightly thinner than you think because it will puff up a bit when cooking. I just eyeballed this part. Once you have it rolled out as thin as you like it, take a knife and cut strips about 1 inch wide and about 12 inches long. It's okay if they aren't perfect that makes it more homemade. Add a little bit of flour to a bowl, baking pan, or space on your counter, grab the noodles in the middle and drag them in the flour to lightly coat them. Swirl noodles into "nest" on a cutting board or baking sheet until ready. Repeat the same process with the remaining 3 mounds of dough. * I've found that each "nest" makes about 2 servings of pasta. Lastly cook or store your pasta (see below) and serve with your favorite sauce! Cook: To cook the pappardelle, boil a large pot of water. Cook for 3-5 minutes (depending on thickness) in boiling water until al dente. You can finish off the noodles in your sauce of choice. Store: I usually cook my pasta the same day, but you can store it, covered, in the refrigerator for a few days or lay it flat on a baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours, and then transfer it to a plastic bag for storing in the freezer. I think I doubled the cooking time when I froze my last batch, but test the doneness to your liking.

It was recently my birthday (yay, me!) and now I'm fully regretting not throwing a Taylor Swift-themed birthday party with my friends. We listen to Taylor a lot in this house and I'm always down for a fun party! Would it be too late to throw a party with Taylor Swift, singing at the top of your lungs, and heart-shaped glasses as the theme? Regardless of if I end up pulling my life together enough to do a party, I wanted to share with you my ideas for a Taylor-themed bash! This would be the perfect opportunity to have a 1989 TV album listening party! You could go all out in a specific Taylor album-themed party, but this party inspiration board is for an all-around Eras Themed Party. Eras Tour Tapestry // Disco Balloons // Bracelet Making Kit // TS Guitar Banner and Cupcake Topper s // Inflatable Guitars // Pastel Rainbow Party Plates // Champagne Problems Banner // Number 13 temporary hand tattoos // Holographic Garland // Instax Camera // Butterfly Drink Markers // All Too Well Wine Label // TS Birthday Banner // Heart Glasses // Karaoke Machine // Disco Cups // Confetti Poppers // Fake Microphones Shop our newest Taylor Swift-themed gift guide! We've got TTPD inspired gifts for the tortured poets! Looking for more Taylor Swift ideas for your party?! We've got cookies, drinks, gifts, and crafts that would add that special touch to your Eras party! Make sure you bring your Swiftie a fun gift! Shop our Swiftie Gift Guide for ideas! You've gotta have the Chai Cookies that Taylor Swift made during her secret sessions for 1989! Let's talk cocktails. We were inspired by Midnights to create this Lavender Haze cocktail . It has a soft lavender color with a frothy egg finish to look like her lavender haze clouds. Want something non-alcoholic, this Lavender Lemonade is just the thing. Floral and refreshing, it's the right balance of sweet and tart! Make an Eras Tour shadow box to display your concert or party pictures! You could frame some of the party pictures you take with your Instax camera. Make the friendship bracelets and then make this Lover House Bracelet Holder to store and display them in! Have so much fun at your Taylor Swift Party!