DIY Shower Cleaner (+ 2 ways to grow your savings)

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

ON THE BLOG:

Do you see that scragly brownish-green grass poking through the snow and mud?

It might not look like much, but it's proof that West Michigan winters can not last forever. Spring will eventually come!

I actually don't mind winter. It's so pretty, and it gives me lots of time to get stuff done inside. However, it's easy to start feeling a little stir crazy by the end of February, as winter break has come and gone, but spring break is still 6 weeks away.

We've enjoyed a brief warmup this last week... and it was such perfect timing. It allowed for basketball, baseball, bike riding, and rollerblading to happen outside on the driveway. It might still be COLD... but there's not as much snow or ice, so it's easier to be outside.

I was looking back at old photo books, and came across one of my favorite pictures of the 4 kids together -- taken in February of 2020. The snow was finally melting, and everyone was so excited to be outside again! Simon was peddling the tractor while Clara rode on the front, Nora rode on the back, and James was pulled along via a jump rope attached to his pink bike. 🥰

Whether you're reading in a warm/sunny spot or a cold/snowy location, I hope you're able to use at least one nugget from today's content to simplify and streamline your home and life a little bit more.

Happy Reading,

simple food.

Need a quick weeknight meal or a great make-ahead option to feed a crowd? This easy recipe for Taco Soup should do the trick.

Get it on the table in 30 minutes or less, and serve it with a variety of optional toppings so everyone can create a version they love.

get my recipe -->

organized home.

If scrubbing your showers is not one of your favorite weekly activities, you'll love this easy homemade shower cleaner because it quickly cuts through soap scum, grease, and grime.

Plus, it smells great, it's gentle on your skin, and it's super frugal!

keep reading -->

intentional living.

Want to grow your savings but aren't sure where to start? Essentially, you have a couple of options — earn more or spend less.

Both can help you reach your financial goals faster, but they come with different trade-offs in time, energy, and lifestyle.

learn more -->

In other news...

Cheap(er) AE Jeans: American Eagle has long been my most favorite place to buy jeans. They fit me so well, they offer "short" and "extra short" lengths, and I just love their styles. So I was shocked to recently learn that they give $10 off ANY pair of jeans when you trade in an old pair of jeans or jean shorts. Nora and I traded in 2 pairs of Clara's too-small jean shorts (from a thrift store), and each got $10 off a pair of AE clearanced jeans. We walked out of the store with 2 pairs of new AE jeans for $18 total!

Whole Grain Sourdough Bagels: I used this recipe to make sourdough bagels... with a few tweaks to use my freshly milled whole grain flour. They were good, but not as firm as a normal bagel (likely due to the whole grain). I made cinnamon sugar bagels for breakfast, and we enjoyed the triple cheddar bagels as sandwiches for lunch.

Fresh Flour For Sale: Speaking of whole grains -- I've been selling lots of freshly milled flour by the pound. If you're interested and live in the area, contact me for more information!