Rachel Recommends

Guest Post: 7 Easy DIY Ideas to Revitalize & Improve Your Home
Home improvement ideas are always a popular topic with my blog readers, but with tight budgets these days, a lot of home decor jobs have been put on hold. So, when Elephant Stock offered to share these home improvement tips on a budget, I readily agreed. Take a look at these terrific ideas to enhance […]

My Arizona Daily Mix Morning Show Kartchner Caverns & Grand Canyon Railway Arizona Day Trips Segment
I loved my morning show segment that aired this week on the AZTV7 Arizona Daily Mix! I shared several day trip ideas to take in our awesome State 48. I was so lucky to land the travel writing gig, 15 Exciting Day Trips From Phoenix, A Local’s Guide with the amazing twowanderingsoles international travel site. […]

My Recent Crazy Travel Tidbits & Top 5 Travel Tips To Know Before You Go
Getting ready to fly? Here are a few of my recent crazy travel tidbits and my tips before you takeoff. Expect the unexpected out there because we continue to live in crazy times. I decided to share…to help you prepare. Crazy Travel Tidbit #1 – Flight delays & cancellations are aplenty right now. Plan for […]
Managed Moms Food Stuff & Recipes

Peachy Keen Recipes For Peach Season!
Peach season has arrived so here are three peachy keen recipes. See my video from last year below to learn how to make a refreshing peach sparkling water beverage, a healthy peach yogurt and a decadent peach cobbler dump cake that can be quickly made in the microwave. Since June is peach season, I decided […]

See My Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe on Arizona Daily Mix Show
Watch below to see my quick and easy chicken pot pie recipe that I showed in my AZTV Arizona Daily Mix morning show segment. I had a great time teaching show host, Brad Perry how to make this recipe that truly multitasks. Make this meal to gift to friends and family in need. I have […]

Naked Cookie Let’s You Have Your Cookie & Eat It, Too…Plus Enter To Win Case of Cookies!
Cookie monsters unite! If you are a cookie monster, like me, who loves cookies but you don’t want the sugar and unhealthy ingredients, you can now have your cookie and eat it, too! I was excited to try the Naked Cookie, specifically the chocolate chip flavor and this cookie did not disappoint. It is delicious. […]
Family Matters
My Three Favorite Spring Cleaning Organization Tools From My Arizona Daily Mix Morning Show Segment
My first spring cleaning get organized segment went so well that the AZTV Arizona Daily Mix show had me do another one! Spring cleaning season has arrived and less clutter equals less stress. See my top three favorite spring cleaning organization tools in my segment below. I asked the show’s host Brad Perry guess what […]
Guest Post: How To Aid Your Bullied Child
Although my children are now grown, when I received an email with the infographic below about how to aid your bullied child, I agreed to publish this helpful information. Today’s guest post comes from Kids Car Donations… This infographic was created by Kids Car Donations, a local car donation center This […]
Guest Post: 5 Reasons Why Concerned Parents Use Teen GPS Trackers
Since a number of my blog readers have kids with a brand-new driver’s license, this guest post is timely. I’m happy to now have young adults. We survived the nerve-wracking teen driving stage. Twice. It’s a bittersweet time. I loved when my two children started driving because it made life easier, but I didn’t love […]
Look Back: My #1 Hands Down Favorite 2021 Moment Was My Son’s Perfect Picture-Postcard Engagement!
My #1 hands down favorite 2021 moment was my son’s perfect picture-postcard engagement to the love of his life. In case you missed it, here it is. It went so well in beautiful snowy Vail, Colorado that a national TV show carried the proposal nationally. A big shout out to Jack’s little sis for her […]
Quick Tip: Baby Stain Removal Tried & True Techniques
Lucky me, I have some new babies in my life since several of my relatives have recently had babies and are about to have a little one join the family. So fun! So, when guest post writer, Kay Escobia asked to share her tried and true techniques for all kinds of baby stains from spit […]
To My Friends Sending Kids Off To Young Adulthood…This!
As I watch so many of my pals tearfully send their babies off to college…or to the military…or to another path as adulthood has somehow crept up so quickly, I considered what I might share in this blog post. With my oldest turning 24 in a few short months, enjoying his sports journalism career and […]
What Our Tucker Taught Us: Mourning Our Furry Family Member
We said goodbye to our beloved Tucker boy kitty yesterday. 15 years ago a volunteer at the shelter suggested we hold the little black and white kitten that had arrived that week. She told us that there was something special about him. She was right. We knew it those first moments we held him and […]
Back To Basics Quick Tip: Are You Doing This Right?
Here is a back-to-basics quick tip as we celebrate our nation getting somewhat back to normal…are you doing this right…are you washing your hands correctly? I would have never thought that I would do a handwashing segment on my morning show…and that it would be a popular segment! If 2020 reminded us of anything, it’s […]
For My Blog Readers Who Haven’t Heard…Our Son’s Postcard Perfect Engagement That Even Made A National TV Show!
Most of my pals know the big news…our son popped the question to his longtime girlfriend (who we LOVE)! Hannah said yes! Our Jack invited his little sister along for Hannah’s birthday trip to Vail last month. Hannah had no idea that they were there to create a big life milestone that they will remember […]
My Morning Show Segment Precious Photo Project: Kindergarten To Graduation
20 years later I finally completed and hung two beautiful frames that show a collage of my kids’ school pictures from kindergarten through high school. It felt great to get this done. The framed pictures look nice with my home décor. When I shared this on social media, I had a lot of pals ask […]
Why Basic Invite Is Best For Grad Announcements & Invitations Plus Get 15% Discount
I wish I would have known about Basic Invite in the past when my kids were designing their announcements. We would have found the perfect custom graduation invitations. We may have selected this beautiful design shown below from the Basic Invite website. I would have definitely used Basic Invite for college graduation invitations. Both graduated […]
Watch My Your Life AZ Morning Show Segment – Home Health Picks
Watch my Your Life Arizona morning show segment below to see my quick tips top picks for the best home healthcare items to have on hand for the whole family. Take a look and see if these items are on your list. If I missed a good one, let me know and leave your pick […]
My 3TV Segment – Helpful Home Health Care Kit
If you saw my segment that aired today on the Your Life Arizona morning show, here are the details… With families home a lot more than in years past, it is more important than ever to have a good home health kit on hand. Especially since we should try to avoid a trip to the […]
Freebie Friday: Enter For Chance To Win Awesome Boiron Prize Pack
Today’s prize pack is my mother’s absolute favorite homeopathic medicine line. I have to agree that, time and time again, Boiron products have helped me as well. Our favorite Boiron go-to item is the Arnicare Gel, although we faithfully use many of the Boiron products for all kinds of ailments as well as for proactive […]
Helpful, Heartfelt & Some Humor, Too…My Ten Tips For Empty Nesting Adjusting
Last week my husband and I became official empty nesters. 23 years later and it is an adjustment. I am blessed. My family and friends have checked on me with loving messages, texts, phone calls and some gifts, too. They all want to know the same thing… HOW AM I ADJUSTING TO AN EMPTY NEST? […]
Emptying The Nest With Our Daughter’s Bittersweet LA Launch College Move
Our nest became empty last weekend with our daughter’s bittersweet move away to college that I call Lexi’s LA Launch. I haven’t blogged about my lastborn in a while. Unlike many mom bloggers, I chose not to post anything about our Class of 2020 child the last few months. Like many mom bloggers, we were […]
AZ Local: EQuip Our Kids! Organization Provides Mostly Free Parenting Resources
Parenting is always a big job. This year has proven to be even more challenging for moms and dads to stay positive and focused every day. Kids of all ages watch how parents cope, so the pressure is on to stay as emotionally strong as possible. A friend of mine told me about a nonprofit […]
How We Made My Daughter’s Virtual College Preview Day Special
When my daughter’s virtual college preview day arrived through our computer screen instead of on campus, I decided to try to make the day special. With a few little surprise touches, it went well and we had a good time. Several of my friends told me that they loved what I did so I share […]
Short & Sweet Smile Post Day 2
Day 2 of sharing a short and sweet post that I hope makes you smile today. This sweet photo popped up in my social media memory page yesterday. This is my Grandma Dottie. She turns 95 in June. She is embracing my sweet girl. This photo was taken two years ago in my grandma’s home […]
In This Historic Trying Time, My Perspective & A Few Shared Tips As A Parent Of A Teen Who Is Also A High School Senior
My teenage daughter is supposed to graduate on May 21st. My son is supposed to graduate from college on May 12th. My girl’s cap and gown are pressed and hung in her closet. When senior year kicked off in August, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that it may collect dust before it is […]