Sorcha

Money is a tool. People often have a lot of emotion tied up with money and and many have a scarcity mindset. Neither help you get ahead. If you can see it for what it is - just a tool to utilize - then life gets much easier.

I really prefer to give unique gifts at all times. The idea that a gift recipient could've just walked into Target and gotten something for themselves is just not appealing to me. I want things they've never heard of!

So many parenting books actually encourage a bit of parental bullying! I've read a LOT of parenting books. These are the ones that shaped how we treated our kids. The bottom line is always: when this kid is 30, and he's looking back at how you treated him, is he going to want to be friends with you? We're not quite to 30, but our oldest is 20 and so far, the answer is YES!

Did you know that in 1957 92% of all 18-month-olds in the US were FULLY potty-trained? It's true! This shift has been a cultural one, not a physiological one. I teach parents how to be done with diapers in about a month or two (link on my dashboard). Whether you join my workshop or not, potty training a little one before two can be messy! These products help minimize that. You'll also need some rags in a basket near the potties.

This is not an exhaustive list, but simply our favorites and many lesser-known resources. Also, try the “dyslexia” font on Kindles for struggling readers.

Real pint-sized tools so your toddlers/kids can actually learn how to work in the kitchen. They can help chop and prep veggies, clean up dishes & serve themselves.

These are the things that my kids used or played with EVERY day for years. Plus some fun things that I'm noting for my grandkids-to-be!

Bored with the same old recipes? I found the equivalent of The Joy of Cooking from countries all over the world. I spent months researching because I wanted to know which cookbook is on *every* kitchen shelf in as many countries as I could find. I've been cooking for over twenty years, but these books have exposed me to so many new ideas in the kitchen! My weekly menus have gotten interesting, that's for sure! Any one of these books will provide you with a mountain of ideas for new, interesting recipes. Enjoy!

So many parenting books actually encourage a bit of parental bullying! I've read a LOT of parenting books. These are the ones that shaped how we treated our kids. The bottom line is always: when this kid is 30, and he's looking back at how you treated him, is he going to want to be friends with you? We're not quite to 30, but our oldest is 20 and so far, the answer is YES!

Unique and flavorful salads for people tired of the same old thing.

I love to cook, but sometimes you don't want to spend a lot of time at the end of the day. Here are some of my family's favorite meals that are easy and don't take a lot of prep. Incidentally, these are all gluten-free and mostly dairy-free as well. Two call for dairy, but you can easily sub it out. And certainly sugar-free!

The holidays can be a difficult time when you have to restrict your diet. Over the years, I've found some really great recipes, so I don't have to feel left out of the food joy. There's a lot of overlap between Thanksgiving and Christmas for our families, so these recipes have been thoroughly tested.

I've been cooking from scratch for almost 25 years. There were many years that I made three hot meals a day for my family. My husband has mostly worked from home, and we homeschooled. We believe in eating whole foods, which usually involves a lot of time in the kitchen. Over the years, I have discovered tried-and-true tools that make cooking much easier and more efficient.

I used to kill every plant that came into my house. Once my kids got older, I suddenly had the mental capacity to pay enough attention to what worked and what didn't. Now, I have a house full of plants! I still prefer the unfussy ones though. This is a list of plants you practically have to try to kill.

I'm a native Austinite and raised my children here. Here are some great things to check out around town.