Julie, The Effortless Girl, is from a small (teeny tiny) community in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. The Effortless Girl was born out of a desire to challenge herself to find accessible, unique lifestyle ideas with cost savings in mind. LEARN MORE >
Use What You Have: Crafting a Simple Centerpiece
I love having people over for dinner, lunch, holidays, movies – I like being in a group with people I love. I think my favorite part is eating and laughing with my friends. It is also fun to plan the menu and set a table that is interesting or pretty. Creating a centerpiece for different occasions without breaking the bank…
How, What, Wine?
Now that the holiday season is upon us, there will be numerous occasions for which you will need to bring a gift. For dinner parties and the proverbial foodies in our lives, the gift of a bottle of wine is the most obvious choice. My problem is that I don’t drink. I know nothing about wine. I stand confused and…
Perfecting the Flourless Chocolate Cookie
Cookies are easy to bake – a little flour, a little sugar, an egg, and maybe some chocolate chips. Bake in the oven for a bit and presto! Simple, right? If the cookie you are talking about is Eric Kayser’s Flourless Chocolate Cookie, then no, it is not simple nor is it basic. It is difficult, so you should go…
My No Good, Very Bad Hair Day
It was the best of days, it was the worst of days…Have you ever had a bad hair day that you will remember for the rest of your life? A bad hair day that was so bad that if you think about it you start feeling that sense of panic and dread all over again? My worst bad hair day…
Spreadable Deliciousness – Butter Makes it Better!
Butter makes recipes delicious. I’m talking about the genuine, from-the-cow, whole dairy ingredient. Yes, butter is high in saturated fat, so don’t eat the entire stick. The alternative to butter is the trans fat laden and chemical filled margarine. Margarine and all its cousins are science experiments that someone turned into a food, and they aren’t good for you either.…
My Brush with Bullying
I was an awkward pre-teen, teen, and maybe sometimes even an awkward adult. I’ve struggled with self-esteem most of my life. It’s better now, but the monster still whispers ugly nothings from time to time. I grew up in a sheltered place away from what young people today face with the Internet and 24 hour media. It is hard to…
Effortless “Hummus” – Less than 2 Dollars and Under 10 Minutes
Hummus is the new ‘it’ food. It is all the rage with foodies, vegans, vegetarians, dieters, and snackers because it is delicious. Hummus is made in many different flavors and lots of fun ingredients can be added to spice it up. I love hummus but not all of the ingredients are readily available in a typical pantry, so I thought…
The Effortless Aunt
I finally have permission to tell you….I’m going to be an Aunt (again!!) next year!!! This Effortless Girl is over the moon! My sister B. is going to have a baby. I’ve known and waited patiently and quietly for weeks now. I was busting with excitement, and I hate, hate, hate keeping surprises a secret. She and her husband E.…
Amped Up Game Day Nachos!
Weekends in the Fall mean one thing for many people – FOOTBALL! The sports season brings gatherings of all types from the neighbor next door coming over to a giant group of screaming fans watching the game together. One thing is certain, you should have plenty of game food ready. I decided to create a bigger and better version of…
Farewell to My Friend
My sister’s dog passed away today. Obie was a rescue puppy that my sister adopted from a raided puppy mill years ago. He was in horrible health when we got him. Obie couldn’t bark or make sounds for months. His teeth were completely rotten and had to be pulled, he had congestive heart failure, and arthritis to name some of…
