In the spring of 2022, I happened to see a Facebook group offering support and a 14 day challenge to get your lymph system flowing. I had already been looking into natural ways to help my lymph pathways because I was waking up with bags under one eye and not the other. So when I saw the group, I thought “Accountability with other friendly people always helps, so why not?”
What I didn’t even know when I initially jumped in was that the group was run by a RN who would end up providing me with a ton of helpful videos, deep dives into the science (if I wanted them), great informational posts, and a daily checklist to keep me on track.
Now, I know lots of people joined that group because they heard about possible weight loss. Some people did experience that, but that’s not why I decided to try it. I wanted that mystery swelling gone. Within two days, I realized that my body had not been sweating properly. My system reset quickly and started eliminating toxins as it should. The swelling went away. And while I didn’t lose weight exactly, my clothes weren’t as tight because the fluid retention was gone. What definitely did change was better sleep and increased energy levels - and who doesn't want that?
I’m so excited that the support group is coming back again for this spring. If you would like to join in, email me at ginny@sageginny.com for the FB access. Also, you can grab the items you need below.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
I'm asked for this recipe all the time, year round. I wanted to make it easy to share, so here ya go! You can print it here.
It's fabulous over baked potatoes, too. We actually have to double it to even have leftovers.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
Many of you saw my story and asked for this simple, delicious recipe. You can print it here.
Our family usually has this for Epiphany, but it is delicious any time of year! If you are like me and enjoy learning the history, tradition, and religious meanings behind things, you'll find this explanation interesting:
The Galette des Rois: A Delicious Tradition Celebrating Epiphany
As the festive cheer of the holiday season gently wanes, another delightful tradition, deeply rooted in history and tantalizing in taste, beckons the attention of those in France and many other parts of the world. It's called the Galette des Rois, or the King's Cake, a unique pastry that is closely associated with the celebration of Epiphany, which occurs on January 6th each year. This day, also known as Three Kings Day, commemorates the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men, to the baby Jesus, marking the revelation of God incarnate to the Gentiles.
Why make this delicacy for Epiphany?
The Galette des Rois is more than just a dessert; it's a culinary representation of the Epiphany holiday, with each component of the cake imbued with symbolism. Traditionally, the galette is made of puff pastry, filled with frangipane (a creamy almond paste), though variations exist, including brioche-based versions topped with candied fruit. The pastry is round, symbolizing the cyclical nature of the year, and is cut into pieces representing Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles. Hidden within the galette is a small figurine, or "fève", traditionally a small porcelain or plastic baby to represent Jesus, though modern fèves can be of various shapes and themes. The person who finds the fève in their slice is declared the "king" or "queen" of the day and is often given a paper crown that accompanies the cake.
This delightful pastry is not only a sweet start to the new year but also a way to bring people together. Families and friends gather around the table, enjoying the galette and eagerly anticipating who will find the fève. It's a moment of joy and celebration, rekindling the warmth of the holiday season and forging bonds.
If you have a variation that you love, please share so my family can try it out!
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
Let’s face it, no one is learning if child and/or teacher are miserable. While it can be hard to toss aside plans, here’s your permission slip to do so.
- I get it. You invested good money into those books and materials. But what if I told you that you can recoup most, if not all of that cost? There are plenty of places to resell curricula. Social media has options, as well as homeschool conventions. You may be part of a co-op that allows it. Maybe your church will allow you to start a used book sale once or twice a year? Think outside the box. ALSO, remember that children within the same family learn very differently. If you have physical space and financial room, I would encourage you to hang onto that stuff in case a younger sibling falls in love with it.
- What if you no longer had to argue with your child to get them to do their work? What if it actually gave you more freedom during the day? Bringing PEACE and JOY to your home. Wouldn’t that encourage your child to pursue other things they are interested in learning? And you would have more time to recharge/have fun/focus on marriage.
- You’ll gain confidence, and your child will learn a valuable lesson - their educational and emotional needs come first. And I don’t mean in a “you get whatever you want kind of way.” It’s that you listened to their concerns. At the end of the day, there are times when they are still going to have to do school work they don’t want because you, as the adult, understand the value in it. But by getting rid of a program that is not valuing that particular child, you are instilling something much more important than book learning. And that is a positive character trait they will carry for their entire lives.
Want some more details of how it worked for my family? I've got you covered.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
My great-grandmother used to always say “Use the good china.”
As I was folding napkins after the Christmas meal, I mentally added “and the cloth napkins, too.” The thought came to me because they were sitting in a stack at my youngest child’s place at the table.
At that moment, my heart became filled with two incredibly strong feelings. The first was tied to a memory of my eldest child as a toddler at Christmas and how I set her little high chair with a water goblet, a silver fork, a small plate from my wedding china, and yes, a cloth napkin. Her eyes grew so big and a smile lit up her face to have special things just like the adults did. And I could feel the family story of my great-grandmother saying “Use the good china.”
You see, too often we don’t trust our children with the things we should, yet we hand them responsibilities for which they aren’t ready. Could my child have broken something? Yep, and we would have rolled with it. But you know what? She never broke any of it, and neither have either of her younger siblings. Now the adults are a whole other matter! #multiplewineglassesdown
Of course, the real moral to my great-grandmother’s saying was that the people around us are what is special, not the objects. Don’t save things to use once per year; instead, use them regularly to celebrate your loved ones. After all, aren’t we constantly being reminded that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed?
So shake things up and make the signature Thanksgiving side in June. Sing your grandfather’s favorite song whenever the mood strikes, rather than only on his birthday. Share memories of favorite people all year long, not just at weddings and funerals.
And break out the good china to celebrate with those you love.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
