I’ve been homeschooling for 10 years now—and honestly, saying that out loud still makes me pause. A whole decade! My oldest, who’s now 16, spent two years in public school—kindergarten and first grade. After first grade, he looked at me and said he didn’t like it. And I listened.

If you’ve ever wondered whether Ibotta is actually worth it, let me save you the suspense: it absolutely is.

In just 6 months, I earned $600 using the Ibotta app — and I’m sharing exactly how I did it, plus all the best tips so you can start stacking your own savings.

We’re a health-conscious, mostly organic family — and even with that focus, I still pulled in $600. So if your grocery cart includes more mainstream brands or snacks, you could possibly earn even more.

We stopped consuming artificial dyes well over five years ago. And honestly? I haven’t looked back.

When I first started learning about the real effects of artificial food coloring, I was shocked. I had no idea how many everyday foods — especially those marketed to kids — were loaded with these synthetic colors. Brightly colored candies, cereals, drinks, snacks, even vitamins… all filled with chemicals that, frankly, do far more harm than good. And once I knew, I couldn’t unknow. I made a decision right then and there: I want my kids far, far away from that stuff.

We’ve done full-time travel in just about every way imaginable — campers, hotels, cabins, and tent camping. We’ve spent nights curled up in the back of our vehicle with nothing but blankets, each other, and the stars above. When I say we lived on the road, I mean it in every sense. It was messy, magical, and deeply memorable.

The other day, we found ourselves reminiscing about those days with the kids. And surprisingly, all of us seemed to miss it in some capacity.

Matcha used to be my go-to drink. That first sip always hit just right. It was warm, earthy, and grounding. Nothing else compared. My husband and I were enjoying matcha long before it became trendy. About ten years ago, we were standing at Starbucks ordering it straight. No fancy milks, no sweeteners, just pure matcha powder shaken with water. We truly loved that bold, grassy taste.

For years, I felt good about choosing it. Every time I reached for a cup of matcha instead of coffee or soda, I believed I was making a better choice. It felt like something my body and mind would thank me for. But recently, I came across something that completely changed my view.

Matcha contains fluoride.

I used to be so intimidated by the idea of making oat milk at home. I mean… it just sounded like one of those Pinteresty things that people say is easy but actually takes forever, right?

Wrong.

This is honestly easier than making a smoothie. No fancy equipment. No long prep. No weird ingredients. Just pure, creamy oat milk in under 5 minutes.

Summertime is here, and I’ve got the perfect drink to cool you down and sweeten up your day! ✨

My husband had this brilliant idea to combine chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla non-dairy cold foam with an iced matcha latte to create what we’re now calling a Neapolitan Ice Cream Matcha—and when I tell you it was the best drink I’ve ever had, I am not exaggerating. Like… ever.

Let me just say—no one warned me. Not about the mental load, the random waves of pain, the “Is this normal?” panic, or how emotional I’d feel over a couple missing molars.

I had two upper molars pulled—one on each side—and that alone made things harder. You can’t really chew on either side, which meant every single bite (or attempt at a bite) became a full mental game. I wasn’t prepared for the kind of downtime this recovery would need. I thought I’d be up and feeling like myself in a couple days. Spoiler: I was very, very wrong.

Making healthy choices for your family doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. In fact, with a few practical habits and some smart planning, eating well and living well can fit beautifully into even the tightest budget.

Whether you’re navigating rising food costs or simply trying to make better choices without the overwhelm, here are some realistic ways to prioritize health without breaking the bank — and yes, it can be done.