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Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

How to Make a Healthier Gingerbread House for the Holidays

December 8, 2025 4


Every year as an advent activity, Eben and I made a gingerbread house. While those store-bought gingerbread kits seem very simple, making your own gingerbread house can be too! You can use ingredients that you already have on-hand, use your creativity, and there is no packaging waste either.

This year, we decided to make a healthier version of the gingerbread house using ingredients that we already had in our kitchen cupboards. And while there are still a handful of chocolate candies used in the decorating, most of the ingredients are better for him. The best part, it took less than an hour to make and we laughed and chatted while we made it, and our house smelled fantastic when we were done! Read on to learn how to make a healthier gingerbread house with your children for the holidays and add it to your weekend activity list.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

  • graham crackers 
  • carob chips
  • shredded coconut
  • miniature chocolate pieces
  • yogurt covered almonds
  • square cereal pieces
  • ice cream cones
  • cinnamon sticks
  • peanut butter
  • baker’s twine

Step 2: Choose your Design

Eben and I decided on a simple cottage design inspired by the ingredients that we had on hand in our kitchen. We wanted a sweet look and choose our colors to match the orange yogurt covered almonds that we had.

Step 3: Construct the House

You will need 4 graham crackers squares and 4 graham cracker triangles. Use a serrated knife to cut the graham crackers into a triangular shape.

We melted carob chips and used them to “glue” the house together. We then placed it in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the hardening process.

Step 4: Add the Roof

Choose your favorite square cereal to construct the roof. We used peanut butter to secure the “shingles” on the roof starting from the bottom and then layering each level until we reached the roofline. We added the shingles to all four sides of the roof.

Step 5: Add Doors and Windows

We used more cereal and miniature chocolate pieces to make the front door and windows – attaching those to the house with peanut butter as well.

Step 6: Add a Little Color

We used orange yogurt covered almonds to the peak of the house!

Step 7: Make the Trees

We used sugar ice cream cones turned upside down and adorned with miniature chocolate pieces (also attached with peanut butter) for our miniature forest of trees.

Step 8: Make a Wood Pile

We tied a small stack of cinnamon sticks together with baker’s twine to make a stack of firewood to place next to the house.

Step 9: Add the Snow

We sprinkled shredded coconut all around the gingerbread house and then added the trees and woodpile to the finished display!

Step 10: Eat and Enjoy!

After all of our work, Eben didn’t want to eat the house immediately – he said we should at least wait a day and enjoy looking at it before we devour it.

Do you make gingerbread houses with your children? Have you ever made a healthier version? How did it turn out?

Fresh, Fun, and Organized: KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars Are a Game-Changer for Homemade Meals

December 3, 2025 0

Let’s be real, keeping snacks and meals ready for little ones (or yourself!) can be a juggling act. Between daycare drop-offs, playdates, errands, and family adventures, I’ve been on the hunt for a storage solution that’s simple, safe, and stylish. Enter KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars, and yes, they’re about to make your life so much easier.

🌿 Why I Love Them

From my kitchen to your countertop, here’s why these prep jars have become a staple:

  • Perfect Portions Every Time – Measure out yogurt, fruit, applesauce, or homemade purees in the exact amounts you need.
  • Snack-Friendly – Ideal for little crackers, sliced fruit, or other finger foods.
  • Airtight & Leak-Proof – No more worrying about spills in the diaper bag, stroller, or lunch box.
  • Durable & Safe – BPA-free, freezer-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe, these jars are built to survive real life.
  • Stylish Options – Available in an array of gorgeous colors that make food prep feel a little more fun.

Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how nice it is to have containers that actually work for on-the-go life. No more bag explosions, no more guessing if the fruit will still be fresh when you get to daycare or the park, just simple, reliable, clean storage.

🥄 How I Use Them

Here are a few ways I plan to use my KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars this season:

  • Morning Yogurt + Fruit Cups – Perfect for a quick breakfast grab on busy weekday mornings.
  • Homemade Purees – Freeze individual portions of sweet potato, apples, or pumpkin for easy lunches.
  • Snack Packs for the Road – Crackers, cheese cubes, or small fruit pieces that won’t get crushed in the bag.
  • Meal Prep for Me – Yes, I’ve been known to use these for overnight oats, chia pudding, and small salads too!

The airtight lids mean that everything stays fresh, and the leak-proof design makes tossing a few in a backpack completely stress-free.

🎁 Why They Make a Perfect Gift

The holidays are just around the corner, and honestly, these jars make such a practical, thoughtful gift:

  • For new parents or caregivers: simplify meal prep while keeping baby’s food fresh and safe.
  • For toddlers and preschoolers: portioned snacks that are easy to grab and go.
  • For anyone who loves clean, stylish, reusable storage: these jars are as functional as they are beautiful.

With their dishwasher-safe design and fun color options, they’re also a gift that keeps giving — and one that helps reduce single-use plastic in the kitchen.

💚 Where to Find Them

You can shop KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars here: keababies.com or on Amazon. Prices start at $19.96, a small investment for stress-free, fresh meals every day.

🥄 Bottom Line

Whether you’re prepping snacks for your little one, organizing your own breakfast, or looking for a thoughtful holiday gift for a parent in your life, these Glass Prep Jars from KeaBabies are a total win. Stylish, functional, and safe, they make the everyday moments of feeding a little easier, fresher, and way more fun.

Because life is busy, snacks are messy, and little hands need big solutions, these jars have you covered. 🧡

Helping Holidays: 4 Green Gifts That Give Back

December 2, 2025 3


The holidays are all about celebrating acts of giving, making it the perfect opportunity to make your gift giving smarter this season. There are so many amazing businesses out there that give back when you purchase one of their products. These companies are tied to doing good somewhere in the world every time a purchase is made. Read on for my 4 favorite gifts that give back – and if you hurry you can still get these goodies by Christmas.

1. Warby Parker Glasses
Eben and I both wear glasses and love the stylish, affordable frames from Warby Parker. For every pair of glasses that you buy, a pair is donated to a person in need. If you don’t wear glasses, that is alright – Warby Parker also offers fantastic sunglasses.

+ Warby Parker  

2. Feed Bags
I have been familiar with FEED Bags for a very long time – I remember first seeing them in Whole Foods back when we lived in Georgia! FEED Bags come in a huge selection of styles and sizes and with each purchase a portion of the proceeds go towards feeding the children of the world.

+ FEED Projects

3. TOMS Shoes
Most likely you are already familiar with TOMS shoes – for every pair you purchase a pair is donated to a child in need. With a great selection of shoes for everyone on your list, TOMS is the perfect holiday gift!

+ TOMS

Do you have a favorite gift to give that gives back too?

Green Your Thanksgiving With Edible, Organic Place Cards

November 21, 2025 2


I am having a lot of fun planning how the dinner table will look this Thanksgiving. Especially since it will be super small which means less pressure and more relaxing! 

First on my list of things to do to prepare is to decide on place cards for our tiny family. I really love, love, love these pear place cards from Sunset. I think a beautiful, delicious organic pear with a lovely recycled name tag would be perfect. I am also considering giant pomegranates with recycled name tags attached. (You know how I feel about pomegranates!)

What type of place cards will you be using on Thanksgiving?

Green Gatherings: Tips For Planning A More Sustainable Thanksgiving

November 20, 2025 0


This time of year is all about gathering with loved ones and expressing gratitude. And in the U.S., gratitude is best expressed in the form of food. Thanksgiving is the embodiment of this tradition, and this time of year is full of more friends, family, and food than most people know what to do with.

Even the most well-intentioned holidays can lead to excess, and this excess likely goes against your sustainability goals. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal while keeping it green and eco-friendly. The following are some of the many ways to throw a sustainable Thanksgiving dinner.

Buy organic meat and produce.
Whenever possible, purchase locally-grown organic produce for your delicious Thanksgiving dishes. As for the meat, grass-fed is generally best. This may be tough if you’re committed to turkey, but there are lots of sustainable meats to choose from. Beef from grass-fed cows has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins A and E. As for the turkey, opt for a free-range bird.

Use reusable plates and utensils.
While paper plates and plastic utensils offer convenience, these items are a significant source of waste. Instead, serve food on reusable or ceramic plates. Whoever didn’t help with the cooking can clean them. Easy, right?

Decorate with natural materials.
Store-bought Thanksgiving decorations tend to adorn the table for one day before landing in the garbage. This year, try decorating with natural materials instead. One of the best decorating tricks is to choose three colors for the event theme and then use them for all of the decor items. The oranges, browns, and greens found in nature are perfect for your entire Thanksgiving color scheme and centerpieces.

Cook outdoors.
In a recent study, the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association found that 60% of grillers cook outside throughout the entire year. This can be a great way to cook more sustainability, as long as you stay away from gas-powered grills. Instead, try cooking over a fire or woodstove. Food tends to taste better when it was cooked outdoors, so your taste buds and the environment will win.

Compost any cooking scraps.
The simple act of cooking is one of the most significant sources of Thanksgiving waste. When cooking a big meal, food scraps pile up. Instead of throwing them in the garbage, compost them instead. If you don’t already compost at home, contact your local compost companies about pickup and dropoff services.

Remember to say thanks.
Gratitude does not produce any waste. Take the time this year to pull the focus off of material items and onto the act of giving thanks and cherishing the people you love.

“If distance or circumstances prevent you from spending Thanksgiving with some of the people you love, call, email, or write them a letter (on recycled paper) to tell them why they mean so much to you and how they make your world a better place,” Larry West writes in ThoughtCo.

By spreading the love to both your dear ones and the planet, you will have a wonderfully nourishing Thanksgiving Day.

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