HerHustlingHubBlog

🍲 Blog Title: Pantry Staples That Actually Get Used (Not Just Look Cute in Jars) 💬 Intro: Real Talk Let’s be honest. Some pantry items are there for the aesthetic, or because you bought them on impulse and felt bad after... forever (hello, mason jars of jelly beans literally no one eats). But when you’re juggling kids, work, homeschool, and the occasional identity crisis in the bread aisle,  you need food that works as hard as you do. This isn’t a trendy list. This is what actually gets opened, poured, seasoned, and scraped clean around here. Budget-friendly. Kid-approved. Hustle-tested. 🧂 Pantry Staples I Always Reach For 1. Pasta (Elbow, Penne, Spaghetti, Whatever’s on sale) Because a box of noodles + a jar of something = dinner in 12 minutes. Bonus: they microwave like a dream the next day. 2. Rice (White, Brown, or Jasmine) Goes with literally anything. I’ve made stir fry, taco bowls, fake-it-like-it’s-fancy chicken, and lazy fried rice all from one bag...

6-Minute Breakfast Sandwiches: Fast, Filling, and Family-Friendly You already know I love a good 6-minute meal, and let’s be honest, mornings are prime time for a quick fix that feels a little fancier than it is. Whether I’m prepping for homeschool mornings before work or want to maximize family time on my day off and be able to sit and enjoy with the group, this is one of my favorite go-to breakfast hustles. ☕ The Morning Drinks Game Plan Hot drinks are non-negotiable in my house, but we’re not trying to play barista before 8 a.m. So here’s how I keep it easy: For the adults: Instant coffee with a scoop of Swiss Miss? Don’t dismiss it till you try it. The hot cocoa gives it that rich, café flavor without the effort. Or orange juice if caffeine isn’t your thing. For the kids: Swiss Miss or OJ, either way, it’s fast, warm (or cold), and mess-free. I just heat water in the coffee pot, line up the mugs, and everyone builds their own drink, or tells me what they want, ...

Sometimes, survival isn’t about fighting the biggest monsters, it’s about realizing the smallest ones can be just as deadly. Morbid Treasure is one of my original short stories, blending the eerie beauty of a winter village with the creeping dread of something unnatural stirring beneath it. There’s danger, there’s mystery… and there’s Selwyn, a green-speckled white owl with more attitude than patience, fighting to keep my characters alive when the unthinkable hatches. I’m sharing it here for the first time so you can step into this strange, perilous world with me. Settle in, keep your windows closed, and whatever you do… don’t touch the eggs. Morbid Treasure The rains had come suddenly, in violent torrents. Unexpected cold froze rivulets against every window whose dweller had not put up their shutters. Our village huddled within its red shingled confines, hiding from temperamental nature. When the ground shook, ice fell from the windows. I remember the thickness of fear as the ligh...

🏆 Reward Systems That Don’t Backfire Because Bribery Isn’t a Long-Term Strategy (Even If It Works for a Minute) I’ve tried them all. Stickers, candy, dollar tree toy stashes, (if you're ready to go in the next five minutes, you'll get ice cream after church). Yep... Guilty. 😔 And sure,  sometimes it works. But if you’ve ever watched your carefully crafted reward system turn into a daily negotiation with a  3-foot lawyer who sways from side to side with hands on hips,  squeaking for emphasis at the end of every word..., you know the dark side: the backfire. 🧠 Why Some Reward Systems Crash and Burn They become expected instead of earned. Suddenly brushing teeth isn’t about hygiene, it’s about what do I get if I do it? They train kids to perform, not participate. You’re not building habits, you’re running a prize machine. And guess who’s funding the tokens? 👋 They fizzle fast. What used to earn a jellybean now requires a trip to Target. Inflation is re...

🎁 The Art of Saying No to New Stuff (Even from Grandma) Why Our Home Isn’t a Toy Store, And That’s Okay There’s a special kind of love that comes wrapped in glittery gift bags, often arrives unannounced, and jingles when it walks through the door. Her name? Grandma. And bless her generous heart, she means well. Really. But after making a special trip to the Home Depot for stackable bins with lids big enough to live in, only to learn they didn't hold everything, and the FLOOR was the next available storage space. I had a heart-to-heart with my hubby about his mother's love for our daughter. Basically, we decided we didn't have a small apartment problem, we had an I love-you-so-much-I-ca n’t-stop-buying-stuff  problem with the Mother- in- law.  The Clutter That Sneaks in Wearing a Bow It starts small. A cute outfit here. A squishy book there. Before long, every surface is covered in "special surprises," and I’m playing emotional Tetris trying to find room in ...