Taste As You Go

Christmas in July: Adding to Our Holiday Decor Collection with King of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by King of Christmas, who sent me this product to review on Taste As You Go. While I did not accept monetary compensation, this post does contain affiliate links. Clicking on the links may result in my being paid a commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. For more information about sponsored content, please review our site policies.

Affiliate links updated March 2, 2026.

Now that we're nearly through the gauntlet of family birthday celebrations, I'm starting to look ahead to Christmas.

Every conversation with the kids offers an opportunity to follow clues to possible Christmas gift ideas, and I find myself walking through each room of the house and making a mental wish list of new holiday decor I want to buy.

When King of Christmas reached out to see if I wanted to continue the partnership we established last year, I said yes right away. They were such a pleasure to work with when it came time to find holiday decorations for the fireplace in our study, and I loved how the Royal Fir Collection 4-Piece Set with Warm White LED Lights looked in the glow of the fire.

I considered the spaces in our home that needed a little extra love at the holidays and set out to find something festive to display in our mudroom. Since is the first space anyone sees when they enter our home, I wanted to it be decked out, too.

Our Summer Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Our kids have been out of school for a week now, and our youngest is already complaining about being bored. While his older sister has been perfectly content reading in her bedroom and keeping to herself, he's been desperate for human interaction... which has been tough since my husband and I don't have the summer off and their friends in the neighborhood have been away on vacation.

(Thankfully, we have a mini-trip planned this weekend, so he'll finally have something to do.)

Since the official start of summer is tomorrow, I think it's the perfect time to share our 2025 Summer Bucket List.

Truth be told, we used last year's Summer Bucket List as our inspiration for this year's list... because why mess with success? As we did last year, we removed the activities that didn't seem terribly exciting this time around and then added some new ideas to the mix.

Curious to see what made our 2025 Summer Bucket List or need ideas to create your own?

Keep reading!

What's for Dinner: May 4 - May 10

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 05 May 2025 02:09:00 +0000

Another busy weekend is in the books.

The kids and I kicked things off by stopping by the Art Show for our local public schools to see my daughter's two pieces on display. Then we headed over to the community carnival at my work.

Saturday was full of errands and yard work, while I tried to play catch up today. Turns out, I'm feeling more overwhelmed than usual by the mental load I'm carrying, and I had a bit of a meltdown.

Thankfully, ice cream and French fries cure most things.

Now we're one week away from Mother's Day and my birthday. I wonder what type of surprises await me!

Before we can get there, we have to survive this week. To help us do that, here's our menu plan!

What's for Dinner: April 27 - May 3

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 03:11:00 +0000

Sunday again?

We're about to head into another busy couple of months filled with lots of work commitments and spring activities for the kids. Especially now that our oldest has committed to the long course season with her swim team.

This means swim practice four evenings a week, so I'm going to have to alter my approach to menu-planning and meal-prepping so we don't drown.

Figuratively, of course.

I guess I better share this week's menu plan and get to bed so I'm as rested as possible. If you're curious to see what's on deck for dinner at our house this week, then keep reading!

Spring Closet Refresh: Replacing Wardrobe Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:38:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate product links. Clicking on these links may result in my being paid a small commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. For more information, please review our site policies.

As the weather warms up here in New England, it's the perfect time to give your wardrobe a little spring refresh. After months of layering up, our favorite basics—like tee shirts and tank tops—can start to show signs of wear. Whether it's stretched-out necklines, faded colors, or mystery stains that just won't budget, spring is the ideal season to replace those go-to pieces.

As moms, we're so focused on taking care of everyone else that it's easy to overlook our own needs. But something as simple as replacing a few well-loved pieces can be a form of self-care—reminding us that we deserve to feel comfortable, confident, and put-together, too.

I recently stocked up on affordable wardrobe essentials from Old Navy and Gap Factory, so I thought I'd share my finds with you. Keep reading for my new favorite spring basics and affordable style picks that are perfect for busy moms who want to look and feel their best without breaking the bank.

What's for Dinner: April 20 - April 26

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 03:44:00 +0000

What a busy weekend!

Between creating these gorgeous decoupage Easter eggs on Friday, hosting out-of-town friends on Saturday, celebrating Easter with family, and then spending the afternoon doing some much-needed yard work, we're wiped.

I considered giving myself the night off and writing this post tomorrow, but I decided to push through.

If you're curious, then keep reading to see what's on deck for dinner at our house this week!

What's for Dinner: April 13 - April 19

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 19:35:00 +0000

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Our kids are officially on Spring Break, so this week is going to look a little different than usual. We won't be jetting off anywhere, but I've sprinkled a few fun activities throughout the week.

If your kids are off from school, too, I hope you have a great week!

And if you're looking for dinner ideas, here's what we'll be having our house.

What's for Dinner: April 6 - April 12

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 02:36:00 +0000

I can't believe I'm saying this... but I'm actually looking forward to Monday.

The kids weren't being very cooperative. It's after 10 pm, and I've made minimal progress on my to-do list. The recipe I was looking forward to trying for dinner tonight left me feeling mostly disappointed... and now I'm dealing with one of two things - my allergies have gone into overdrive or I caught my daughter's cold.

(Both are unacceptable.)

Before I allow myself to be consumed by frustration, I'm going to share this week's menu plan as quickly as possible so I can put myself to bed. Because I changed the sheets this morning, and a bed made with fresh sheets always makes me feel better.

Without further ado, here's what's on deck for dinner at our house this week.

What's for Dinner: March 30 - April 5

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:15:00 +0000

I was setting up my bullet journal for April, and I don't think I've been this ready to turn the page toward a new month in a long time. March was packed with a lot of milestones and activities, and running from one thing to the next has worn me down.

In fact, I actually forced myself to lay down for a nap over the weekend because my body was so exhausted.

Here's to a relatively calmer month ahead and to the menu plan that's going to get us there.

What's for Dinner: March 23 - March 29

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:58:00 +0000

Between our daughter's birthday and a bunch of travel, March completely got away from me. I have another busy week ahead of me, but after that, thing should calm down for a while.

In an attempt to get things back on track, here's our menu plan for the week.

What's for Dinner: March 2 - March 8

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 04:17:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate product links. Clicking on the links may result in my being paid a commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. For more information, please review our site policies.

Whew! It's been a busy weekend.

Knowing that our Saturday was packed -- hair appointments, grocery delivery, a swim lesson, shopping for clothes for the kids, a trip to the library, and attending a high school musical performance -- I deliberately kept our schedule clear today.

But I put the time to good use by making tonight's dinner, baking bread for tomorrow night's dinner, and making meatballs for our daughter's birthday dinner next weekend.

(I'm in denial that she's turning ten this year.)

After dinner, we gathered around the fire and finished our family read-aloud book before sending the kids up to bed. And... after taking an hour to find the motivation to write this post, here we are.

Without further ado, here's our menu plan for the week!

A Taste of Japan with TokyoTreat

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 04:40:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by TokyoTreat, who sent me this product to review on Taste As You Go at no cost to me. I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

For more information about sponsored content, please review our site policies.

When I launched Taste As You Go all those year ago, food blogging was still relatively new. I joined a small community of established food bloggers to share my love for food and my passions for cooking with others through stories.

I tried to encourage my readers to trust their instincts in the kitchen and to "taste as you go" through the cooking process. Adjust seasonings along the way and modify recipes to highlight the flavors and ingredients that you like the most.

This approach was also helpful when it came to dining out. I wanted to inspire others to try new cuisines and restaurants... to order something they've never eaten before... to sample little bits of his and that until you discovered something you loved.

Fast forward a few years, and now I'm encouraging my kids to have the same attitude about food. We try new recipes all the time and aren't afraid to be adventurous eaters when we're dining out. And one of our favorite ways to learn about different cultures is through the food.

So, last month, when the opportunity to collaborate with TokyoTreat, a monthly subscription box featuring some of Japan's most popular snacks, came my way, I just couldn't say no.

What's for Dinner: February 23 - March 1

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 03:13:00 +0000

If you've been following my Instagram Stories today, then you know it was a big day for our family. More specifically, it was a big day for our sweet girl, who competed in her last swim meet of the season.

Since she's still a new competitive swimmer, she suffered from bouts of anxiety early on. But she put in the work week after week and was determined to finish the season strong. She had two goals for today - to fully compete in her events and to swim without worrying about her time.

Well... not only did she finish her events, she placed first in one of her heats! My heart burst seeing how happy she was and to see her confidence skyrocket.

Core memory, for sure.

With the early morning and the excitement of the meet, we were all pretty zonked by the time we got home. As we pulled into the driveway, I mentally gave myself a huge pat on the bat for prepping tonight's dinner last night so all I had to do was turn on the slow cooker before we left the house.

Another benefit of menu-planning!

Curious to see what we had tonight? Or to find out what's on deck for dinner in the days ahead? Keep reading for this week's menu plan!

What's for Dinner: February 16 - February 22

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 01:38:00 +0000

The weather has been nasty in our area of Connecticut, and the wind is starting to make its presence known. There's a good chance we'll lost power tonight with all the ice and wind, so I'm typing frantically to get this week's menu plan out into the world before things can cut out.

Without further ado, here's our menu plan for the week!

What's for Dinner: February 9 - February 15

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:14:00 +0000

Hello, friends!

It's been a busy weekend for us. While my husband took our son to a classmate's birthday party yesterday, I took our daughter out for a girls' breakfast with my sister and her daughters.

Then, thanks to last night's snowstorm, we spent the better part of the morning outside, sledding and playing in the snow with our neighbors. The snow day turned into an impromptu cake party outside... something I think all of us adults needed.

(It's been a hard couple of weeks.)

Now our family has gathered in the living room watching the Super Bowl. While we watch the game and vote for our favorite commercials, here's our menu plan for the week!

What's for Dinner: February 2 - February 8

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 21:14:00 +0000

I wish you could see my bullet journal for 2025.

I had such big plans to jump into the new year with a reinvigorated energy to blog more often. I have pages and pages of blog post ideas that I've been collecting... none of them realized yet. I've earmarked which blog posts I want to update... none of them updated yet.

And it's not for a lack of trying.

The only time I have to write and create new content is at the end of my day. If it's a weekday, then that means I have to summon my creativity after working a full day, making dinner, and making sure my family is in a good place to start the following day with success. As you can likely imagine, there's not much left in the tank by the time I've taken care of all that.

(Don't even get me started on what the new administration has done to my mental health.)

I tried a new approach this weekend, where I blocked time on my calendar for me. To write. But I lost the blocked time due to some unexpected parenting needs.

The starts-and-stops are frustrating... and I'm wondering whether I'll ever get this blog back on track again.

While I figure that out, here's our menu plan for the week. At least I'm still on schedule when it comes to our menu plan posts...

What's for Dinner: January 26 - February 1

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 04:39:00 +0000

When I woke up this morning, I pictured the day going differently than it actually did. Overall, it was a pretty productive day... but then I ran out of energy when I sat down to write this blog post.

As usual.

I've been trying to block out time earlier in the day to write, but other responsibilities took precedence.

So here we are.

Maybe, one day, I'll find a way to write more than one post a week. Until then, here's what's on deck for dinner at our house this week.

What's for Dinner: January 19 - January 25

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 21:25:00 +0000

For the first time in a long time, we've had a quiet Sunday with nowhere to be... which has been great since our area is expecting a snowstorm this evening. The snow is supposed to start any time now, and I keep looking out the window to see if the rain has changed over yet.

To keep things warm and cozy, I planned a comfort food meal for tonight. Once I hit publish on this blog post, I'll head into the kitchen to start cooking.

Curious to see what's on deck for dinner at our house this week? Keep reading to find out!

What's for Dinner: January 12 - January 18

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 03:51:00 +0000

Updated: January 13, 2025

I've been spending a lot of time thinking about how I want to be present online, both here on my blog and on my social media channels. Despite my best intentions, I simply don't have the bandwidth to be everywhere and engage with everyone online.

So... I'm considering scaling way back this year by concentrating most of my efforts here and then supplementing a little bit on social media. Like I used to do back in the beginning.

That would mean more blog posts and fewer updates on Facebook and Instagram.

While I weigh the pros and cons of a move like that, here's our menu plan for the week.

What's for Dinner: January 5 - January 11

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 04:58:00 +0000

Wow! I have been neck-deep in house projects and completely lost track of time. Before I head up to bed, here's our menu plan for the week!

What's for Dinner: December 29 - January 4

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 01:36:00 +0000

Hello, friends!

I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday. With any luck, you were able to spend time with friends and loved ones and had the chance to recharge a bit.

I took full advantage of my week off and only opened my laptop a handful of times.

I'm back to work tomorrow, so I'm back to menu-planning to make the transition into a new week -- and a new year -- much easier.

Without further ado, here's our menu plan for the week!

Taking a Holiday Break

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 03:11:00 +0000

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Well, here we are.

For better or worse, we're just days away from Christmas.

I'm off from work this week, and we'll be hosting family for a few days starting on Christmas Eve.

Even though I'll have more time on my hands to write, I'm taking a break from blogging for the holidays so I can slow down and enjoy the season.

What's for Dinner: December 15 - December 21

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:53:00 +0000

Here's our menu plan for the week!

What's for Dinner: December 8 - December 14

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 02:30:00 +0000

Here's our menu plan for the week!

What's for Dinner: December 1 - December 7

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Rittler) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 03:22:00 +0000

Here's our menu plan for the week!