Category: Lifestyle

Save Money by Stocking Up On These Sick Day Essentials

When illness strikes your home, the last thing you want is to scramble for supplies. Whether it’s a stomach bug, flu, or just a bad allergy flare-up, having a sick day emergency kit already stocked can save your sanity (and your budget).

It’s my mission to help families save money, waste less, and live more prepared. Today, I’m sharing our personal sick day essentials, plus tips to help you stock your own kit with confidence and care.

Why You Should Always Be Prepared for Sick Days

Years ago, when our kids were small and delivery services didn’t exist, a terrible stomach bug hit our house. We were all sick, with no help nearby, and we had nothing on hand. I quickly learned the lesson that you don’t want to figure out what you need after you’re already sick.

Being prepared for sick days allows you to prevent late-night trips to the store. It also helps when the budget is right and you don’t want to have any surprise spending. Lastly, it also provides peace of mind knowing that you have what you need to take care of your family when the need arises.

Stock Up on Over-the-Counter Medications

I restock our medicine cabinet right after someone in the house is sick while it’s still fresh in my mind. I also make sure to check the stockpile in the fall before cold and flu season.

We always keep a variety of different items well stocked. Those include pain and fever reducers, anti-nausea meds, cold and flu symptom relievers. We also have allergy and sinus support and ginger lozenges (or lollipops for the littles!).

I like to shop for over the counter meds on Amazon. We have a lot of allergies so this allows me to review ingredients without pressure. When it comes to expiration dates, dry tablets last about 3 years. Liquids expire faster so always check your expirations dates on these sick day essentials.

Drinks to Keep on Hand

When it comes to staying hydrated, skip sugary sports drinks! Electrolyte packets are a healthier and more convenient choice. They are easy to have in your purse, car, or in an emergency go-bag. Some of the brands that I prefer are Liquid IV (especially on sale at Costco) and Re-Lyte mixes with cleaner ingredients. Due to my diabetes I try to find sugar free options when they are available.

Protein drinks are another staple in our home. When my appetite is low, protein is crucial for managing my blood sugar. I enjoy the Fairlife Protein Shakes as well as Core Power Protein Shakes. During the summer months I do not leave them in the car due to the heat. I make sure to grab them when I know I will be gone for a long period of time to ensure I have a healthy snack.

Homemade Bone Broth for Comfort & Recovery

Bone broth is another favorite comfort food on sick days. It’s warm, gentle, and nourishing. I make ours at home and have a full video tutorial if you’d like to learn! You can even use it to make hot cocoa! Your kids or family members will not even know that there was bone broth in it. You can see the process of making Bone Broth Hot Cocoa in this video.

Sick Day Meal Prep

If I am sick and do not feel like cooking, I want to know that my family has food to eat and doesn’t have to go out and spend unnecessary money. That’s another reason why I like having batched cooked meals in the freezer. Items like taco meat or sloppy joes are easy to reheat and serve.

Another go-to meal is quesadillas. We always have tortillas in the freezer and cheese in the fridge so these can be made anytime!

If you’re looking for more meal ideas, I have an entire series of meal idea videos on my YouTube Channel. You can view one of them below. Be sure to check out the description of the video for links to other meal idea videos.

You Can Be Ready, Without the Panic

When it comes to preparing, you don’t need to go overboard. Start small and build your sick day emergency kit around your family’s unique needs and you’ll be so glad to have these sick day essentials.

You’ll save money, reduce stress, and be able to focus on what matters most resting and caring for the ones you love when they are sick.

May 28, 2025
My Best Winter Wellness Tips!

Having a winter wellness routine is important to me and my family to keep us healthy! Thank you to North American Herb and Spice for sponsoring this blog post.

There are so many different products that you can incorporate into your routine to help in this area. You should always consult with your doctor for specific health conditions and ailments, but here are some of the more natural ways that we are looking to stay well this winter! Refer back to these winter wellness tips all season long to keep yourself feeling your best.

Oregano Oil Gummies – Orega O’s

While most people think about oregano as a spice to add to Italian dishes, you can also take oregano oil on its own to enjoy some of the health benefits. These Orega O’s Gummies are such an easy way to incorporate oregano oil into your winter wellness routine. If you are concerned about ingredients like I am, you’ll be happy to know that these gummies are vegan and have no refined sugars or natural flavors.

You can learn more and purchase Orega O’s Gummies as well as other oregano oil products from North American Herb and Spice on their website.

Fire Cider

Have you heard of fire cider? It is a tonic that you can drink daily. The main ingredient is apple cider vinegar and if you haven’t looked up the benefits of apple cider vinegar, you should! This apple cider vinegar is infused with other ingredients such as oranges, lemons, onions, ginger root, turmeric root, garlic, and more! It sits with all of these items for 4-6 weeks before you drain the liquid, which is what you consume. I take 1-2 oz of it daily and increase the amount that I take if I feel something coming on or know that we are around a lot of people.

You can find the full fire cider recipe on this blog so that you can make some for yourself!

Honey Lemon Water

Another winter wellness tip is to consider drinking honey lemon water each morning. This warm drink is comforting during the cold winter months and there are numerous health benefits from these two powerhouse ingredients: lemon and honey. We have been enjoying the Orange Blossom Honey from North American Herb & Spice in our honey lemon water. It is a great way to start your day, and you can feel good knowing that you are doing something good for your body!

Elderberry Syrup

If you were to ask people for ideas about how to stay healthy, there is a good chance someone would recommend Elderberry. It is well known for its immune boosting properties. Making an elderberry syrup gives you an easy way to get all of the benefits from these fruits and it is so much easier to do than people think! I make it every year which gives us enough to take all fall and winter long in order to stay well. My full elderberry syrup recipe can be found here. You can also use this syrup to make elderberry gummies if that is an easy way to get members of your family to take elderberry.

Which of these winter wellness tips are you going to implement into your routine? Let me know in the comments!

This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer

November 17, 2023
My Amazon Spring Sale Favorites!
Whether you are looking to replace some items that you’ve been spring cleaning, or you want to update your kitchen appliances and tools. The Amazon Spring Sale has a lot of deals to check out. Here’s some of my favorite things that are on sale now.

Click HERE to see all of my favorite items on the Spring Sale List.

In the Kitchen
For The Home

Tineco Wet/Dry Vacuum and Mop – 40% off!

Reusable Paper Towels – the cutest designs!

Drawer Organization – 50% off!

Clear stackable bins – 50% off!

Cord Organization – 30% off

For the Family
- This toddler tower is perfect for letting little ones in your home get involved in the kitchen.
- Natural Easter Egg Dye
- Mary Ruth’s Multivitamin + Hair Growth – 33% off
- Montessori Farm Toy – 30% off
September 26, 2023
Fall 2023 Prime Deals

Click Here to Shop October 2023 Prime Big Deal Days Early Deals!

It’s almost the Prime Big Deal Days Sale! This is a great time to stock up on items for your kitchen with major savings. We found items that can help you in the kitchen or serve as wonderful gifts for someone who you know enjoys cooking or baking.

Or shop all of my selections on my Amazon Storefront.

This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.

Below are Deals from Previous Prime Day Sales

Drawer Organization – Click to shop

Two of the organized drawers in my kitchen.

Shop Individual Deals

Monk Fruit Sweetener: 30% off with code 30MONKWHITE on the checkout page. Click to shop

*Lightning Deal: Shark Vacuum: I owned a housekeeping company for 15 yrs and this is the vacuums I recommended. Click to shop

Reusable Stainless Steel Straws: Pack of 12, 46% off! Click to shop

Food Storage

Food Saver Vacuum Sealing Storage Bags, 44% off! Click to shop

Glass Storage: 20 piece set (10 containers + lids) 31% off! Click to shop

Stasher Bags in various sizes: 30% off! Click to shop

Glass Jars: Perfect for bulk food storage, 15% off Click to shop

One Gallon Glass Jars: Use these to store fruit like strawberries, grapes, cherries, etc. This is a four pack, 31% off! Click to Shop

FoodSaver Plastic Jar Sealer: 46% off, these have been super hard to find since the pandemic. Click to shop

Food Prep & Cooking

36inch Blackstone Grill: Click to shop

Vitamix: 45% off! Click to shop

Ninja Air Fryer, 10 in 1! 35% off Click to shop

Cast Iron Dutch Oven: 25% off! Click to shop

Stainless Steel Immersion Blender: Heavy duty! 35% off Click to shop

Waterbath for Canning Fruit: $30 less than when I bought it!

If you have SNAP/EBT you can get a discounted Prime Membership. Use this link to add your EBT card to your Amazon account and you also get access to Amazon Fresh (in limited areas) and the ability ot use EBT on Amazon purchases.

*Some deals are limited time deals and may sell out depending on the time you click on the link. These were posted when they had the best price possible and I was trying to pass on that savings to you.

**AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: My Amazon Storefront contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.

July 10, 2023
How My Viral Strawberry Hack Landed Me on the TED Talk Stage

The Beginning

During the pandemic I found myself reading to fill the time, my family was on zoom calls and we were in the middle of a kitchen remodel. After reading 136 books, I realized that it was no longer a good thing and I needed a new focus. I started sharing grocery tips on my favorite social media pages when I saw people asking questions. So many people were asking about how to keep food fresh and talking about how stressful it was to not be able to find the food they needed at the grocery store. People were also trying to avoid going to the grocery store so they needed their food to last longer.

It was nothing new for me to stretch my trips to the grocery store, I had been doing this for years. I also had a pantry of essentials and had an idea of what we would need in an emergency. The Cross Legacy was born when I was encouraged by friends and family to start sharing my own information online.

Strawberries in a Jar

One of my early posts on The Cross Legacy Instagram was about storing Strawberries in a Jar. Little did I know that this is the post that would end up changing my life.

Every time I logged back into my social media after I posted it, I saw that the number of views had increased as well as the shares. It was going viral! People all over the world were learning about strawberries in a jar. We kept celebrating each milestone and were amazed as the numbers kept growing and growing. Going viral is such a fun ride and my family and I were soaking in all of the excitement.

Applying for a TED Talk

In April 2022 I applied to be a TEDx Speaker in Spokane, WA since this was an event that I could drive to. I knew that it was very competitive to get a spot, but I went in and gave it my all. The day I received the acceptance call was a day I’ll never forget. It was a hard day emotionally for my family and it was perfect timing to get such amazing news.

Preparing for My TED Talk

As we got closer to the event, I practiced for hours on end. When it was time to pack, we had the challenge of safely transporting two-week old strawberries and lettuce in order to use them on stage.

Behind the Scenes at TED Talk

Once we arrived, all of the speakers had a rehearsal together and the coaches were tough on us. They knew that we had important messages to share and they wanted to make sure that we did our best and got it right.

I was going to be sharing parts of my life that I don’t usually share about and as I looked out at the audience, many of the people who helped us through those times were sitting there supporting me now. Even though the emotions were heavy, I knew that my story was just as important as the grocery tips that I was going to share. I wanted to get it right.

The day of the event was equal parts nerve racking and exciting. I was set to go on after intermission and I knew that people would be ready to hear my talk with fresh ears. I was ready to get on the stage and tell my story, hoping that it would help others.

When the time came, I got on the stage and shared about those challenging times in my life. I talked about my Strawberries in a Jar and why it was so necessary for me to have produce that lasts longer and is already prepped in my refrigerator.

While I was speaking, I could feel how engaged the audience was. They were truly listening to what I was saying and taking it all in. Afterwards the feedback was all positive and it was amazing to hear.

Feeding your family doesn’t need to be stressful and take up so much of your time, money, and energy. Follow along with me as I continue this journey and allow me to show you how to change that.

That is how Strawberries in a Jar changed my life, implementing my tips can change yours too.

Behind-The-Scenes Footage

What I Learned and Going Forward

If you want to listen, my full TED Talk can be found here. Through this experience of going viral and ending up on the TED Talk stage, I have found a new passion for educating others and I want to create a legacy that I can share with everyone. I will do whatever it takes to share this message of hope because I am already seeing how it is changing lives.

Watch My Full TED Talk

This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer

January 25, 2023
Stretch Out Your Shopping Trips

If you want to save money and stretch out your shopping trips by going to the grocery store less often, you need to learn how to store fruits and vegetables in mason jars. I just went grocery shopping and haven’t been to the grocery store in over a month! Here are some ways that I prepare to grocery shop and different methods to store my produce and make it last for weeks!

Storing Fresh Produce

Blueberries are something I bought this trip and they can stay fresh for 6-8 weeks. These are stored in glass jars or flat glass containers in my fridge after they have been washed using the specific washing instructions from my eBook. A paper towel can be put in the bottom of the jar or container for any condensation from excess water. We enjoy these in our oatmeal for breakfast so I like having them on hand.

For leafy greens, I picked up some romaine lettuce that will last for three weeks when kept in an airtight container. It needs to be washed using my instructions. Drying it with a salad spinner helps to speed up the drying process. I use these glass containers that fit whole romaine lettuce leaves perfectly, or you can put cut lettuce in glass jars. You can follow the same methods for most salad greens.

I have spinach in the freezer and it can be kept there in a resealable bag and will last for weeks.

While you are at the store, make sure that you look at your produce and inspect it. This is a great way to save yourself the headache of getting home with bad food. You do not want to buy it already moldy. Even if you get items that are not moldy, the mold spores are on the other produce items so this is why it is so important to still wash it with a water/vinegar bath when you get home. Even if you aren’t going to eat the outside, such as citrus fruit, this should be your first step to make your items last the longest time possible.

A best practice in my home is eating a rainbow to get all of your nutrients with fresh fruit and vegetables. I have taught this to my children since they were little so we always try to have different types of fresh fruit and fresh greens at home. It might take a couple of hours to get everything organized, cleaned, dry, and prepped. But it is worth it for fresh produce to last for weeks instead of only a couple of days. When doing this you buy back your time and stretch out your shopping trips.

When I am shopping, I bring my mesh bags for produce to reduce waste. This trip I bought about ten pounds of yellow onions. These will last in the pantry or other dry place where they are at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Onions are a staple in so many recipes so they are easy to buy in bulk and we keep them with other dry goods in a cool dark place. Having a food storage location is a good idea because buying in bulk will save you money as you take less trips to the grocery store.

Shop The Cross Legacy

How to Change Your Habits

If you are looking for the best way to start making changes with your products, consider getting my eBook, I Bought It, Now What?. This outlines all of the washing instructions for over 50 produce items so you will have all of the directions at your fingertips. You will no longer be throwing away fresh produce or running to the grocery store because you ran out. You will be able to buy in bulk and keep your fresh foods in glass mason jars for weeks. How good will it feel to have no more food waste, a longer shelf life for your fresh produce, and less shopping trips to the grocery store?

Planning Your Shopping Trips

When you are planning your shopping trips to the grocery store, one of the first things I do is look at what I keep pushing to the back of the pantry or what is sitting in the bottom of the freezer.

Once I identify those items, I look up recipes so that the next time I go to the grocery store I can use up these items in my pantry and refrigerator. By rotating the food that you have, you will ensure that you do not have any food waste.

Also, when you have items stored in your freezer, you are less susceptible to rising grocery costs. If you buy extra items when they are on sale and store them properly, you can wait for another sale to purchase them again and save even more money in your grocery budget.

This week, peppers were on sale so I had to buy them. I will slice or dice them and put them into the freezer for recipes in upcoming weeks. Then if they are back up in price next month, I don’t have to buy them and can use the cheaper ones that are stored in my freezer.

I can also plan meals based on what is on sale. If I make Mexican Quinoa, we can have dinner one night and then I can put extras in the freezer for another evening when I don’t feel like cooking an entire meal.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by how to build a pantry, take inventory, or how long items can be kept on hand, my course, The Grocery Solution, can help. The first module takes you all through taking inventory of your pantry so that you know what you have and can start to build a pantry.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer

January 18, 2023
New Year’s Grocery Budget

This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.

With the arrival of the new year, it is time to set goals and think about what you want to achieve. One area that many people make goals is regarding their finances. For many years, this was an area of stress in our household before we finally decided to look at our grocery budget and make a change.

Setting Your Budget

We settled on a grocery budget of $135 per person, per month. Since we have been able to successfully stick to that budget it has taken away so much financial stress. Can you imagine how it would feel to have extra money in your bank account because you are able to stick to a grocery budget?

The Grocery Solution

In order to allow others to be able to stick to a similar budget and lessen their stress, I have put my most valuable tips and knowledge into a course, The Grocery Solution. This course is designed to take you step by step through different modules in order to help you reduce your grocery budget up 40%.

The course includes videos, printables, and so much content to help you get on track. It also includes access to me via the comments within the online course to get questions answered and clarification on anything that you might need extra help with.

There is content regarding how to care for your food, because throwing away food is throwing away money. The average American family is throwing away 40% of the food they buy. If you are able to consume everything that you buy, imagine what a difference that will make!

Eat Healthier, Waste Less Food

The biggest way to make your grocery budget stretch is being able to take care of your groceries in order to ensure that they are going to last once you bring them home. Storing produce in glass jars isn’t just because it looks pretty in your refrigerator, it makes them last longer.

Washing your produce using vinegar and water with the methods that I share in my eBooks helps food to last longer and makes them healthier for your family by killing potentially dangerous pathogens.

What I have to share can help your family eat healthier, waste less food, and save money in the new year.

Whether you are a newbie to budgeting and food prep, or you have been doing it for years but are looking for a change, there’s something for you in this course. Learn more here.

December 28, 2022
How to Make Christmas Special on A Budget

As prices of everything go up, you may be feeling it in your budget this holiday season. You may be wondering how you can fit everything into your Christmas budget. If you are trying to find ways to save money on your groceries, on my YouTube channel I share my grocery shopping hauls and share money saving tips. By stretching out my purchases over a few trips and using what I have at home it can make holiday meals more affordable. On top of making your money cover your food budget, adding on the costs of buying gifts can be incredibly stressful.

Christmas Gifts on a Budget

We have always had more minimalist Christmas traditions. In order to take some of the financial stress out of the holidays, each member of my family gets three gifts each Christmas. The gifts fall into three categories: a want, a need, and a hobby. Each year we set a budget for how much will be spent per person and the three gifts are purchased to fit within that Christmas budget. This means that we can buy all of the gifts without going into debt.

My Fondest Memories

My children’s hobbies have changed over the years, but this gift can be dual purpose and used to help them stay busy and occupied over winter break. I have given many art sets, clay making kits, and embroidery kits. As they have gotten older one of my children wanted bread making supplies. This gift is a great way to foster their interests. It is a way that you can show that you care about the things that they enjoy doing.

We also get an age-appropriate game or puzzle for the whole family to do together. One of my fondest memories is a year that we bought the game Pretty Pretty Princess and my husband ended up all dressed up as he played it with our daughters.

Let Go of the Pressure

No matter what your Christmas budget is, you can still make the gifts memorable. One year my husband printed out an image with the phrase, “What a Difference a Day Can Make.” It had important dates from our lives on it. I have had it hanging on my wall for years and it is something that I truly treasure. He printed the image at home and spent $5 on the frame, but I consider it priceless. It is so special to me. If you think outside of the box, you can come up with gifts for very little money that can mean so much to the people who is receiving them.

When you remove the need to over consume and constantly buy more and more gifts, it brings so much more joy to the holidays. I encourage you to slow down and enjoy this holiday season. Do you have a gift giving tradition that your family follows? Share in the comments below.

November 30, 2022
Our Fall Leaves Family Tradition

Every family has traditions that they look forward to in various seasons and for different holidays. A family tradition that is very special to me and my family is our fall leaves tradition.

Whenever we gather as a family for Thanksgiving, I have fall leaves precut on colored paper for family members to choose from. I use various shapes and styles of leaves to keep it creative. We take our time thinking about specific things that we are thankful for from that year. This is important because it makes us think a little deeper and be intentional with the items that we choose and then we write them down on the leaf along with the year.

I had smaller leaves for when we had littles in the house and I also have larger sized leaves for the adults. We use all different colors of paper that fit within the fall theme, but I make sure to buy scrapbook paper so the color does not fade over time. We make sure to write the year on the leaves along with our ages. It’s fun to see the ages of everyone and seeing Great Grandma who last year got to write down her age of 93!

You could also let younger kids trace their hands, use stamp pads to do thumbprints, or just color them. This is a great way to let them be creative and showcase their personalities.

Keepsakes to Cherish

I keep all of these leaves together so that I can bring them out each fall. My dream is that one day when I am older, I will have hundreds of leaves that span many generations. It is so special to be able to look back at all of the people who have been in our lives and their thankfulness leaves. I love to read what they were thankful for and have those physical reminders of how thankful I am for each of them.

This is a time of the year that can be hard when we think about people who are no longer here with us to celebrate. Having their leaves as little pieces of them are keepsakes to cherish.

If you would like to start this fall leaves tradition with your family, you can download this pdf with some example templates for leaves, or create your own with any fall shapes.

Download

Do you have a favorite fall tradition in your family? Share it in the comments below!

November 9, 2022
Speaking Events: From a Local Kitchen to the TEDx Stage

This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.

Having the opportunity to speak on the TEDx Stage in Spokane was a dream come true. I have a passion for sharing what I know with people both in person at speaking events and through social media. It still amazes me how eager people are to hear my story and the tips that I have to share. I think back to the first time that I spoke in person and I never would have imagined myself where I am today, fresh off the TEDx Stage.

Last October there was a woman in my town who ran a local group for women and business owners. After some convincing, I went for coffee with her to see what she wanted to discuss with me. At that meeting she asked if I would be willing to do an in-home presentation to share what I know with a group of women.

This would have been my first speaking event and I had no idea what to expect. Would I know what to say? Would people actually show up? Would people be interested in learning from me?

The answer to all of those questions was YES. There were over 20 women who squeezed into this home to listen to what I had to share.

We recorded this event, as it was my first time speaking to an audience. My first Instagram live, and it became my first YouTube video. I had no idea it would be just the start, and that’s exactly what it was.

It was the first time I spoke for The Cross Legacy, but it would not be the last.

After that I did two more in-home presentations and they were similar. I would show up expecting to speak for 30 minutes and that they may have a few questions. However, they usually resulted in us chatting for a couple of hours. I found that people were engaged, curious, and loved to learn!

Helping Families One Event at a Time

In the spring I had the opportunity to speak with a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group which was really special to me since I used to be a MOPS director. I loved being able to give back to a group that was so influential in my life.

Over the summer, I attended speaking events at more churches and community groups. Being able to share my message with other women and moms brought me so much joy. I love knowing that I am helping them to be able to provide healthy food for their families and save money on groceries.

Sometimes my talks are more specific and tailored to a certain group. I worked with an organization called Step-by-Step to help families on assistance learn how to use their WIC produce benefits. I helped them to learn how to make their food stamps stretch while still being able to choose healthy meals and snacks.

Since coming home from TEDx I have more speaking events scheduled with local schools and community groups. The more people who can hear these tips and save money on their groceries, the better.

If you want to come and hear me speak, keep an eye out on my social media sites for public speaking event opportunities. If you are part of a group and would like me to come and speak, you can learn more and submit a request on my PR page. I hope to be speaking with you soon!

October 23, 2022
Prime Big Deal Days

Click Here to Shop October 2023 Prime Big Deal Days Early Deals!

It’s almost the Prime Big Deal Days Sale! This is a great time to stock up on items for your kitchen with major savings. We found items that can help you in the kitchen or serve as wonderful gifts for someone who you know enjoys cooking or baking.

Or shop all of my selections on my Amazon Storefront.

This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.

October 11, 2022
Making a Generational Change, Creating a Legacy

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer .

The Cross Legacy and Generational Change go hand in hand. I have a passion to help families and bring hope back into the kitchen. This ray of hope started with a strawberry in a jar post that went viral with over 15 million views and most recently a reel that has been viewed almost 440k times in the last week.

Putting views and reels aside, let’s talk about expectations for food in your house. I recently saw a post with a list of fruits and vegetables and how long each item stayed fresh. This list provided the normal expected amount of time these items would stay fresh. Strawberries were listed as two to four days to stay fresh. Two to four days. No wonder people are at the grocery store multiple times a week. I looked at this list and in a way I was shocked. This is the information that is being shared around the internet and being taught.

Generational change is expecting something different or something more for your family. It is changing the trajectory of your family or community in one way or another. This weekend is Mother’s Day weekend in America. I thought about doing more of a Mother’s Day post and realized that 1) not everyone I share my information with celebrates this holiday and 2) more than moms read this blog. So, it is on my heart to talk about how you can make change for your family. Today you can make small changes that will have a big impact on your family.

It is no secret that I grew up on a 5th generational farm. I spent time with my grandparents. Both my parents worked. Ultimately I learned from an older generation ways to clean and store food. Frankly, I just thought everyone did this. I watched my elders do this so I did it too. As I started my own family and then fostering littles I shared what I had learned from those before me.

If you hear me talk, you will hear me say I taught my children and our extra littles, “Snacks come from the fridge not the pantry. Eat a rainbow everyday.” Having fresh snacks in glass jars simplified life in a variety of ways. Littles can see and point at what they want while learning the names of their favorite snacks. The glass jars provided a storage system that kept produce fresh longer than its plastic counterparts.

Glass Containers

Glass is your produce’s best friend. Ultimately, the key to getting those extra days and weeks out of your produce is the glass container. Mason jars, old pickle jars, glass containers of your choice are all great but it must be glass. Glass can be jars or square dishes.

“The Cross Legacy was born out of a need to try something new and a need to share my passion with others. Sharing my tips on washing and storing produce fulfills my heart and soul in a way that I cannot completely explain. Helping your family have healthy food options in a cost effective way, fills my cup. I still find it staggering that Americans throw 30 to 40% of their food away. On a world wide scale, 60% of food waste comes from households. My hope and my dream is to help change these statistics. My revolutionary goal is to minimize these statistics.”

Eat What You Buy

Can you imagine a world where you eat 90-95% of everything you buy?

Imagine you having all the food you need in your house to prepare a meal?

If you didn’t have to worry about going to the store every week, how would that change your life?

How would your life be different if you could open the fridge and have fresh ingredients?

What if you taught your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews how to have healthy food on hand? How would that change their lives? How would that impact the next generation and the next?

What kind of financial impact would that have for you? You, my followers, have come to me with stories on how this is changing your life; how this is changing your financial life as some of you are saving thousands this year. Saving thousands by eating what you buy.

I have been asked… is this real? Does this really work? Just know every hack I share with you I use in my house. I am sharing these tips, tricks, and hacks because they improved my life in some way. Saving half an avocado for a late meal means that avocado will get used. For my household, shopping on a three-week grocery cycle saves money; I always end up with extras when I shop and I am sure you do too.

Food Revolution

Just know that you are helping me as much as I am helping you. You may be sitting there asking yourself “Well, how does that work?” Let me tell you. When you try a hack, and it works in your kitchen, I have helped you. Together we are starting a food revolution. We are daring to change normal expectations. We have taken the normal and given it notice. Normal food and storage is no longer acceptable. I expect my food to last longer when I take the extra time to wash and store my way.

I dare you to expect the same. That is a pretty strong statement, but I dare you. Take a leap. Try something a little different and see how that can change your family. It changed mine and I know it can change yours too!

Creating Your Legacy

Take a few minutes. Dream again. Imagine things a little different. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish. During Covid I could not read another book and I dared to try something new. I decided to post about strawberries in a jar and now I am helping you keep strawberries for up to three weeks.

Really, it started with strawberries. Strawberries in my jar. Now it has grown to strawberries around the world, and avocados, and bananas, and really all the fruits and veggies in all the households.

Change can be easy and some change is difficult. When you think about leaving your legacy, what do you envision? Do you have a vision? Have you thought about it?

If there is one thing you could leave as your legacy, what would that be?

I know my answer. My passion is to lead a transformation of food expectations for families around the world; to give back hope to families in the kitchen and give you the power to feed your family no matter what is going on in the world around you. This revolution began with a strawberry post and has grown to much more.

Buckle up, because the momentum is building and the food revolution is beginning.

The Cross Legacy is changing how we view food one produce tip at a time.

May 8, 2022
The Cross Legacy Gift Guide
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer .

The Cross Legacy Gift Guide was made just for you! These are all products that will make food buying and storage easier for you and those you love.

Click the links below to purchase from our Amazon Storefront; there is much more to see when you are over there, too!
1. Colanders – These coated steel colanders are both pretty and perfect for rinsing produce. I also love that they come in a set of two.
2. Ceramic Fruit Baskets – I love using ceramic baskets in my fridge for produce that doesn’t need to be stored in airtight containers (like peppers and oranges). They keep those items separate from others so that they don’t bruise and also just make my fridge look beautiful and organized.
3. Glass Snapware – My favorite glass storage containers! I have two sets of these because I use them for so many purposes in my kitchen. They are the best for storing when you want to avoid plastic and keep your food fresh. I love that they are also oven and freezer safe too.
4. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet – Everyone needs a cast iron skillet. Easy to clean and lasts forever!
5. Glass Bottles – I love these glass bottles for drinking and storing dressings and condiments. They fit perfectly in the door of my fridge. I really try to stay away from plastic and these help me do that.
6. Mesh Produce Bags – Now that many stores are charging for bags, these are great to have on hand. It’s just a plus that they are cute, too!
7. Stasher Bags – Stasher bags are a perfect alternative to plastic bags. They can be used in the fridge, freezer, and pantry for all the things!
8. Salad Spinner – This is the salad spinner that I use and love! It’s big but still fits in my cabinet perfectly since the spinner locks into the lid when stored.
9. Banana Stand – Bananas do way better when they are hanging off of the counter and away from other produce that can cause bruising or quicker ripening. I love that it doesn’t take up much space on the counter either.
10. Souper Cubes – These freezer cubes are amazing for meal prep and saving leftovers. They have many different portion sizes. You can choose to leave them in the cubes or move them into a big stasher bag or glass container so that you can keep using them for more meals.
April 30, 2022
Valentine’s Day Traditions – Recipe for Fondue at Home
Valentine’s Day Dinner Recipe with Kids

Having Valentine’s Day dinner at home was a tradition that we started once we had kids. We realized how challenging it was to find a babysitter on Valentine’s Day without interrupting someone else’s plans. Restaurant’s also often raised prices for the special day and that didn’t already fit in our budget.

Our Grandma once mentioned how they used to do fondue parties. She even had her bright orange fondue pot from the 70’s that she was no longer using. She let me borrow it and we started our own fondue tradition that we have continued every Valentine’s Day for the last 15 years or so.

Over the years I did retire the bright orange fondue pot and bought the one we have now to use when we have a special occasion to celebrate. It is convenient since it plugs in and we don’t have to worry about a flame. This would make a perfect gift for a newlywed couple so they can enjoy a date night meal at home.

How to Make Fondue at Home

Our Valentine’s Day dinner recipes include a Fondue Menu includes a Cheese Course, Broth Course, and a Chocolate Course for dessert.

To make our cheese fondue, I use equal parts swiss, gruyere, and gouda. I have also been known to add some Cougar Gold cheese from Washington State University’s Creamery. This is Mike’s alma mater, so we have a strong affection for their cheese. Go Cougs!

I shred the cheese with our KitchenAid shredder attachment and toss it with a bit of cornstarch. We take a garlic clove and rub it around the warm pot to release the oils and keep it in the pot. You can thin out the melted cheese by using a bit of chicken stock (like the one I make here) or white wine. We use the stock because I can’t drink wine, so I’m not sure how much you would add. You could also use a bit of lemon juice (I recommend using about 1 ½ tbsps or half a lemon).

The cheese fondue can be as simple as you want. Most grocery stores have ready-made cheese fondue in their deli section. Grab a loaf of sourdough bread or another form of crusty bread, some apples and you are all set.

Cheese is so versatile. You can definitely use anything that you enjoy eating with cheese.

What we really love the most with this cheese combo is sourdough bread and Granny Smith apples. Can you tell we live in Washington? It’s the apple capital of the world.

With the broth, we like to eat pieces of thinly cut sirloin, shrimp, and fresh veggies like zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, and thinly sliced potatoes (we use my homemade broth for this). This would be considered the main course of the meal.
Chocolate Fondue Recipe
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup milk (whole, 2%, or 1%) plus a bit more as needed for consistency
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Splash of Kahlua (optional)
- 10 oz. (about 1 ¾ cups) of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (you can do a mixture of both if you want)
We like to dip Rice Krispies bars, marshmallows, angel food and pound cake, bananas, and of course, strawberries (see how I keep mine fresh for weeks here) in our chocolate fondue. There’s nothing quite like chocolate covered strawberries for a Valentine’s Day dessert.

I will note that if you have little kids, the skewers are quite sharp, so I would recommend that they use a fork instead. I also had them put the food on a plate to cool because fondue sauces hold heat well.
$1 Valentine’s Day Tradition

My other favorite Valentine’s Day tradition that I started in the last few years is to go to the Dollar Tree and get the $1 (or thereabouts) heart balloons. I get a dozen of them and put them around the house. There is something about them that makes me smile and I love that you can buy them in the early weeks of the month and they will last for weeks. Spending $12 on these balloons just makes me happy.

Our Love Story

My husband, Mike, and I celebrated our very first Valentine’s Day as a couple in 1994. I was a senior in high school and he just graduated and was in college. I had a huge crush on him, ever since 7th grade, but we finally started dating on Christmas Eve in 1993.

It’s kinda funny; the day that we ran into each other at the mall, after not seeing each other for a while since he wasn’t in high school anymore, I was with my mom and had just finished a photoshoot at The Bon Marché. Mike was there with a friend and I noticed that he had shoulder-length hair. I was not a fan. Still, I had such a huge crush on him since junior high that I didn’t care. We exchanged numbers and started talking again.

Fast Forward to Valentine’s Day of 1994

He picked me up at my high school, a dozen roses in hand. I was so excited to see him with the bouquet, but I noticed he seemed a bit upset and I didn’t understand why. If you know Mike, he is one of the most easy-going guys around, so this behavior was really out of character for him.

Well, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day and showing grand gestures of affection, he cut his hair for me. I was so busy gushing over the roses that I failed to notice. Still, to this day, that first Valentine’s Day held the best Valentine’s Day present ever. It is one I will never forget.

Show Your Love

Mike and I have been happily married for 24 years, and as time has passed, we have realized that it’s the little things like these traditions that are most important to me. We chose to stay home on Valentine’s Day and have a family fondue party as a way to show love for the whole household. We can always go out another day to a fancy restaurant and celebrate a different special day, but these traditions are important to our whole family.

I don’t think there is any greater gift that we can give our family than to show our children how much a father loves their mother.

I remember all the times Mike walked in the door to give me a kiss and we got the teasing and the “eww, do you have to?” response so many times. Secretly though, I feel like our kids appreciate that daddy publicly loves on mommy and shows others that he loves and appreciates her. I always would comment, “Wouldn’t you rather have parents that loved each other than fought?”

There isn’t a time when Mike has walked in the door and hasn’t given me a kiss or told me “I love you” one last time before he walked out the door. It’s the small things you do to show love for others that end up meaning the most. Grand gestures are wonderful, but when you walk with someone through the ups and downs of life and show them throughout all those times that you love them, it makes an impact.

Valentine’s Day tends to have a romantic connotation, but I believe it can also be a great way to recognize those you love, be it friends, family, or your spouse. Fondue has been a big hit in our house and you can create a special moment like this with your whole family too.

I encourage you to take the stress and unneeded expectations out of Valentine’s Day and just enjoy spending time with the ones you love. It can be a fancy romantic dinner or a cozy night at home. You can get everything you need for this delicious meal on your next trip to the grocery store and enjoy this homemade meal together.

If you have other favorite Valentine’s Day dinner ideas, share them in the comments! I’d love to hear your great ideas too.

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer .
February 6, 2022
How to Change Berkey Water Filters

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, please read my Disclaimer . Power outages, empty shelves in the stores, supply chain disruptions (oh my!) I don’t know about you guys, but this past year has really had me thinking more about emergency preparedness. It’s always been something that is taken into consideration when I prep items to be canned, dehydrated, etc, but especially after last year…it has definitely been at the forefront of my mind. I already have the food storage thing down, but what about water storage? What if there is a natural disaster that knocks out our local water supply? There are so many scenarios besides this, and many that are not as life-threatening, that may call for the need for a water filtration system. That is why I got a Berkey.
What is a Berkey Water Filter System and What Is So Great About It?
Have you guys ever heard of LifeStraw? It’s a personal, reusable straw that will filter out contaminants from pretty much any water source, making it drinkable. Many people use Lifestraws when they are out hiking or fishing or camping. Well, Berkey is like a bigger version of that, and it does way more. It is a stainless steel water filtration system with a range of products that hold anywhere from 1 quart (.95 liters) to 6 gallons (22.7 liters). They also have a showerhead attachment, a sports water bottle and a portable stainless steel system intended for trips like “camping, school, on your desk at work, travel, in times of emergency or other outdoor activities.” One thing that makes the Berkey water filtration system so great for emergency purposes, camping, hiking, and travel, is that you can take water from any source. You can use muddy river water (check the website for a video demo they have on this), rainwater, or even pool water. Pool water!!! It’s that good!
Boroux Filters are Compatible with Berkey Systems
I found myself needing new filters after two years of using my Berkey. Thankfully, Boroux started selling filters again! I recently was gifted a set of filters in order to replace my old ones. One thing that was impressive was that I did a red dye test with the previous filters and it showed that the filters were still removing contaminants after being used for over two years! This speaks to the quality of these products. You can get your own filters here and use the code: THECROSSLEGACY for 10% off your order! Changing filters is pretty easy and you can see the full process in my YouTube Video here: How to Change a Berkey Filter
What Types of Contaminants do Berkey’s Water Filter Systems Remove?
There is a huge list on the Berkey website that shares all the contaminants that their filters remove, but some of the larger categories include a few more things than regular water filters, like bacteria, protozoa, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and some other well-known chemicals and elements, like lead, uranium, arsenic, chlorine, and a host of others. I found out about Berkey from fellow social media influencers and many of the emergency preparedness groups I am a part of on Facebook. They are very popular and talked about quite a bit in those groups. I decided to check it out.
The is the Water Filter System I Use at Home
The second-largest system they offer, the Royal Berkey, is what I have, and it can filter 6,000 gallons of tap water in the lifetime of the two filters inside. That’s a lot! One of the biggest differences we have noticed with having a Berkey is that we are drinking more water. It’s hard to accurately describe what water from the Berkey filter tastes like unless you have tried it for yourself, but my family has described it as smooth with no aftertaste.
Get Your Own Water Filters
I am so grateful that I discovered these companies. It has really given my family and I some peace of mind to know that we are taken care of when it comes to having clean drinking water, especially in the case of an emergency. We also use these water containers for extra storage. We filter our water through Berkey and then store it in these containers and change out the water every 6 months. Here is the link to the Berkey water filtration system website where you can find all the details.

November 3, 2021