Hello there! So… you’ve landed on my site, looked around a bit, and are wondering, “Who in the world is this gal?” Well, allow me to tell you a little about myself.
1. Hi! My name is Danielle. I am 37 years old, married to the best man on this earth for me, and I have 4 children (three boys and a girl). Right now we live in and love Arizona. We don’t know how long we will be here, but we are enjoying it so much. Like, pinch me. Sometimes I do feel like it’s all a dream.
2. I am extremely efficient. . . er, maybe it’s just lazy. Ha. I’m always trying to come up with shortcuts to simplify the way things are done. I’m one of those strange people who always tries to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes it works, but many times I fail, bigtime. The discoveries that work for me are shared here for you, in hopes of helping your life become simpler in some way. I’ll probably share my failures with you too, honestly, because sometimes fails are funny. 😉
3. The blogging experts tell you that in order to have a successful blog, you have to present yourself as an authority in your field. Well, what I have to give you is all I know and what I have experience with. I encourage you to do lots of searching to find what fits best for you, whatever the topic. But I will give you the best of what I do know.
4. Our children were all born with food allergies/eczema. Some of our most painful memories are those of my infant son, screaming as we put eczema cream on his little body each night before bedtime. Finally, after a bitten-through-cheese-package incident when he was nine months old, we started piecing together the puzzle and realized his eczema stemmed from food allergies – through his food and also through the food I was eating while nursing. I started spending hours searching online, trying to figure out some remedy or healing method for him. I stumbled upon the Weston A. Price Foundation, Nourishing Traditions, and a whole slew of real food blogs who gave me a crash course in traditionally prepared foods.
It was, and is, so fascinating. I learned about home fermentation, soaking grains, organ meats like liver, (and so much more), and I was sold. We’ve tried to eat a real food diet as best as I can manage. A few years ago, we went through the GAPS diet for six months, and because of it my children were able to start eating ghee, a dairy product, and my oldest lost his allergy to egg yolks. (We’re still not sure about the whites.) Right now I struggle with the balance of feeding my family real food and the burnout that seems to tag along with that. Still not sure we’ve found our balance yet. We use essential oils, homeopathy, and other various means of natural healing in our day to day lives – and in that area I wouldn’t look back, even for a moment.
Right now I struggle with the balance of feeding my family real food and the burnout that seems to tag along with that. Still not sure we’ve found our balance yet. We use essential oils, homeopathy, and other various means of natural healing in our day to day lives – and in that area I wouldn’t look back, even for a moment.
5. I kind of just started this blog one day as a way to document all the new things I was learning about nutrition, food preparation, a simple life, and my Christian walk. Whenever I would learn a new skill – say, dehydrating for example – I would imagine teaching and training my daughter how to do it. She was an infant at the time and found my lectures a total snoozefest.
So I just started a blog one day. It was and is a release for me, a way to spill out some (not all, Lord help us) of the thoughts running around in my head. It’s been hard work but so fun! I never would dared to dream it would grow as it has and sometimes I want to pinch myself when I think about where it began and where it’s going. If it’s a good fit for you, I would love to have you along! <3
6. I promise to keep it real with you. My kitchen seems to always be in a state of chaos. Under the table always needs a good sweep AND mop. And once that finally happens, fifteen minutes later it needs it again. My kids can be whiny, and I myself have been known to whine a time or two. Shocking, I know. I’ll keep it real.
7. Why the name, It’s a Love/Love Thing? Well, I started the blog wanting to share about the things I loved. But even more so, we’ve had several difficult life lessons in the past few years, and I just didn’t want my life to be something I tolerated, something I loved sometimes and hated other times: a love/hate thing. I wanted to embrace the bad as much as the good, and learn to love it all. The bitterness and sweetness of the journey. Love/love is super hard though. You know? I’m trying, but it is just so hard.
8. I really try my best not to judge people. By nature I am very discerning and analytical, always trying to classify people, events, and behavior. But I have learned some lessons during my time on this earth, and one of the biggest lessons was that I don’t have enough logs removed from my own eyes to start zeroing in on everyone else. I’m just not there yet. If others are, that’s great! Maybe one day I will be. But for now, my aim is to treat others with compassion, understanding, and love. I want to see what God sees when I look at people – and God is full of hope for all of us.
9. I truly believe we need to find out what our purpose is on this earth and get to work doing it. You are unique in all of creation – have you figured out why? What are you here for? A successful life, in my opinion, is a life lived to the best of our unique abilities, bringing to this world what we were brought to it for, in love. Our gifts and talents aren’t random or mistakes – they are full of purpose and I wholeheartedly believe we should be using them every day. 😉 [freebie]
10. I am not perfect. Never have been. I do not have a perfect life. My kids aren’t perfect. I am not the perfect Christian, wife, mother, daughter, friend, or neighbor. My house isn’t perfect, my car isn’t perfect, my attitude isn’t perfect, my theology isn’t perfect, and my blog isn’t perfect. Yes, I truly love to keep things light, uplifting, and happy around here, but keep in mind, this blog is an edited extension of me.
Every day I am reminded of my intense need for a perfect Savior. He’s the only perfect thing in my life. If you like and prefer perfection, I will most likely disappoint you. 🙂 But if you want to read some tips and recipes from a mom who’s just trying to make it day to day the best she can, then come along with me! You can share your tips too, and we can learn from one another.
Essentially, my blog will cover topics such as:
- healthy recipes made from scratch (or mostly made from scratch)
- healthy kitchen how-to’s
- healthy living
- essential oils
- natural beauty & hair
- Beautycounter
- natural remedies
- homeschooling
- parenting
- the Christian journey of walking in faith, hope & love
- and anything else that grabs my attention.
I would love to have you stick around! You can follow me:
on my Facebook page –
on Pinterest
Visit Danielle {It’s a love/love thing}’s profile on Pinterest.
on Twitter
on Google Plus
on Instagram – a more laid-back social network that I love.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Have an amazingly wonderful, love-filled day. <3
xoxo,
Danielle
I love Jesus too!! Had many health issues myself and still trying to figure it out. I rejoice in Psalm 100 that tells me it is God who has made us and not we ourselves. So I wait on Him, trying not to b too consumed. I found ur sight via google looking for coconut yogurt. So thankful. For the past year plus, I've been following a low oxalate diet- it's been an adjustment especially from being a vegan! But God is good and continue to show me balance is the key- not extreme! I am doing better but do find it's like peeling an onion…. More issues come to the forefront once others are better. Thanks again for ur refreshing blog! Cara.
Cara, thank you so much for your comment! It totally made my night! You are so right – balance! The path of life is not in extremes, but balance. Health, in every aspect, spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, is like an onion. You put it so perfectly. Here's to healing! God bless you. <3
Hello from Oroville, CA.
I came across your website in a google search for dehydrating tomatoes. Love the info and will start prep after this comment. Love your story and would love to share on my facebook page for family & friends but not sure what will happen if I just click the f button to the left. I wish google would have more options when doing a search besides the common ones they always seem to give me. I want the more personable ones, guess the Love/Love ones. Keep up the good work. 🙂
Thank you for such a sweet comment, TerrySue. 🙂 That made my week!! I also love the more personable search results. I’ll always click on those over the generic ones. 🙂 I have never clicked on the F button to the left of the page, so I’m not sure what would happen either! haha! I think it’s the equivalent of a FB ‘Share’. 😀
Hi, I was curious as to the benefits of Tissue Salts/ Cells Salts, and I stumbled upon your blog. I can hardly find any real evidence of the benefits of these products (on the web), and in my country ( South Africa ) I observed on the adverts, that it specified “May Work”, with respect to whatever ailment said salt was meant to be of use for. But according to your blog, you seem convinced it does work. I’m just curious – are you for real, or is this just some B.S. ?
Sersh
Hi Sersh, I guess I’m not quite sure what you’re asking, but let me direct you here: http://joettecalabrese.com/what-is-homeopathy/ She also has an ebook (I think it is free when you sign up for her newsletter, I’m not sure) about cell salts that may interest you. Hope this helps you!
I found your blog just now. I am doing research on Diatomaceous Earth, and how to add it to my diet in the shape of smoothies. Thru my research I found your blog, and would like to know where to find some recipes for smoothies using DE? Also, where can I order DE to MAKE SURE I get the stuff that is safe for human consumption? Thanks for any info you have on this subject.
I use DE in smothies all the time—also in salads. It’s a no-brainer—it has no flavor and you only use a little bit anyway, so it just disappears. I’m going on faith that it is good for me—-haven’t noticed any change. It is realyl cheap in the long run—-buy a 10 lb. bag and that will do ya forever…..
Hey there! I just found your blog (not exactly sure what led me here – maybe the dehydrate radishes search….) and I really like your style.
All the best
~Heidi
Thank you, Heidi. 🙂 Hope you can find something interesting and useful. <3
I just found your blog when I was researching homemade coconut flour! I’m 42 and pregnant with our 5th after 11 years! ☺️ I have been diagnose with gestational diabetes and I have to be very careful with my diet! I eat only meat, eggs and veggies at the moment! I was looking at some recipes with coconut flour and wanted to try to make my own. I didn’t see a recipe for it on here, did I just miss it?
Hi Jennyfer! Congratulations on your 5th!! Wow!!! Awesome!
Yes, I do have a coconut flour tutorial, here it is! https://lovelovething.com/homemade-coconut-flour/
Hope that helps!
Do you by any chance live in Flagstaff? At least it has to be somewhere close because the rest of Arizona doesn’t look anything like your photos. 🙂 Just wondering cause I live in Flagstaff myself.
I found your homemade herb shampoo on Pinterest today, looked through a few other posts and here I am now. You have a nice blog! 🙂
Hello, fellow Arizonan! 🙂 We do not live in Flagstaff, although I’d love to visit Flagstaff someday! We live down in the Tucson area. I love it so, so much. I checked out your Etsy shop, it’s awesome! And guess what? I totally used to crochet wire earrings and sell them on etsy! Haha! Love your shop. Thank you so much for stopping by the blog, and for your sweet comment! Made my night. Have a great one!! 😀
Wow, beautiful pines there! That’s what’s misled me 🙂
Thanks for your kind words about my shop! Sounds like we do have one or two things in common. 🙂 I’ll keep an eye on your blog – like your ideas.
Yep, beautiful lake on Mt. Lemmon. My jaw dropped when I first saw it! Hope you enjoy looking around. 🙂
So glad to have found you Danielle! I didn’t even realize that you had a blog till Charis found one of your pins on Pinterest! Yay! I’ve been meaning to ask you about recipes anyhow. 🙂 I so look forward to reading things you’ve posted, collecting recipes, etc! Happy Dance mentally, and Praise God!
Aaaaah, Catherine! So happy to have you stop by! Yes, happy dance! I’d love to talk recipes and everything, we should get together! <3
Hi Danielle, I read your info on DE and found it to be very interesting and helpful. I think it will be very beneficial to me. Thank you! In reading about you and your life, many of the things you spoke about reminded me of lyrics from my daughter's songs. She is a christian singer/songwriter. She has an albumn on iTunes (and other srteaming sites) that I think you would really enjoy. One of her songs is on youtube if you want to check it out. The song is You'll Find Rest by Emily Flaherty (at St. Patrick's Cathedral). Her albumn is Metamorphosis.
Thanks for the DE info, I look forward to reading more from you.
Thank you for sharing that Liss. I’m so happy to have helped you in some way. I will have a listen to your daughter’s song!! All the best to you. <3
Hi, hows the healing going? I just started the gaps intro two months ago and am needing some hope. Im on stage two still with daily digeatice discomfort. Are you all feeling well?
We’ve been off the GAPS diet for about three years now. Still working on healing. The GAPS diet did us good, but was very difficult to carry out for all of us. <3
Nice post. I like the way you have embraced your limitations and that attitude stands out. I came here looking for eczema care for my son. Thanks for your tips,