The Raw and The Cooked - Simple Rhythms for SAHM, Honest Motherhood, and Books Worth Reading
Dara Boxer is a stay-at-home mom to four kids six and under, committed to living a simple, well-organized, and beautifully functional life — mostly for her own sanity. A former personal chef and cooking instructor, she brings that same intention to her home: from seasonal meal planning to laundry systems, quiet time routines, toy storage, and everything in between.
Episodes release on Thursdays, and alternate between honest book reviews and practical strategies for managing the chaos of home life with little kids. Come for the rhythm tips, stay for the raw motherhood truths — and maybe leave with a better grocery list.
Episodes
220 episodes
#220: Seven Simple Ways ChatGPT Makes Home Life Easier
This week I’m sharing how I actually use AI in my real life as a stay-at-home mom of four—without understanding anything technical. From building flexible routines that actually work, to planning holidays, breaking down home projects, writing e...
#219: Why 'Vigil' by George Saunders Falls Flat for a 'Lincoln in the Bardo' Fan
I went into George Saunders’ Vigil with the kind of excitement you only get when an author has already given you a personal classic. Lincoln In The Bardo is still one of my favorite audiobook experiences, the kind that feels less like “listenin...
#218: Our Q1 Budget Reality Check
In this episode, I’m sharing a Q1 budget recap as part of our “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without” year. I walk through what worked over the past three months, including areas where we saved money, lowered recurring expenses, and lea...
#217: Three 5-Star Books + One Popular Letdown
Today, I'm sharing three recent favorites I can’t stop thinking about, then unpack one widely loved novel that surprised me in the wrong way. How To Read A Book by Monica Wood, a prison book club - fun! ...
#216: Seasonal Reset For A Rhythmic Home
We tie a bow on the rhythmic home series by zooming out to seasonal flow and the small resets that keep our routines working as life changes. We share how we review what’s working, adjust what’s not, and stay grounded as people so our home supp...
#215: You Don’t Have a Time Problem — You Have a Stuff Problem
In this episode, we continue the Rhythmic Home series by exploring the layer that often gets overlooked: what’s actually inside your home. Because even with strong habits and a well-planned weekly flow, your home can still feel ...
#214: Daily & Weekly Flow For A Rhythmic Home That Feels Calm
In this second episode of the series on building a rhythmic home, we move from micro-habits into structure — specifically, how to create a daily and weekly flow that actually supports your life. Because the truth is, even the best systems won’t...
#213: Microhabits - The Tiny Behaviors That Hold Your Home Together
This episode kicks off a special four-part series about what it really takes to run a peaceful, sustainable home. Before we talk about planners, weekly rhythms, and seasonal resets, we have to start somewhere much smaller: our habits. Be...
#212: What We Ate This Week, How I Prepped, & What I Spent, Part IX
In Part 9 of What We Ate This Week, I’m sharing a very full February week — what we ate, how I prepped, and what we spent as a family of six after returning from travel.This week includes:A full fridge reset after va...
#211: Stewardship Reset for 2026 - A Year of Enough
This year, I’m treating 2026 like a stewardship reset.In this episode, I walk through the discretionary spending categories I’m tracking — groceries, household sundries, kids’ gear, memberships, family outings, clothing, and more — and h...
#210: Choosing Morality When Culture Looks Elsewhere
This week, I’m talking about the Ten Commandments, and why I believe they are still a blueprint for human flourishing today. I share my thoughts on integrity, faith, and choosing what is right in a world that often celebrates the opposite.<...
#209: Winter Isn’t Forever - 10 Ways I’m Making It Through February
February can feel endless—especially when you’re home with little kids, battling cold temps, cabin fever, and low energy. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest, gentle “survival guide” for making it through winter without burning out. From at-...
#208: Beyond the Book: Living Good Energy as a Mom of Four
In this week’s episode, I’m sharing how I actually live a “good energy” life with four kids under seven—without biohacking or perfection. From sleep hacks, gentle daily movement, and mindful alcohol habits to whole-food meals, slow cooking, and...
#207: From Page-Turners to Passes: Eight Book Reviews
I’m sharing a no-holds-barred reading roundup: four books I couldn’t put down (even when I didn’t love them), and four that just didn’t stick. From edge-of-your-seat thrillers to impulsive library grabs that pleasantly surprised me, we...
#206: Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means | Metabolic Health Made Simple
What if fatigue, brain fog, cravings, and mood swings weren’t random—but signals from your cells asking for help?In this episode, we break down Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means and translate metabolic health into real life. We exp...
#205: Kisses from Hashem - Small Gifts in a Loud World
In Judaism, we sometimes call God ‘Hashem,’ which means ‘The Name.’ I love this word — it feels close and loving. In today’s episode, I’m sharing something a little softer and more reflective. Lately I’ve been feeling deeply aligned and blessed...
#204: Joyful Rhyming Reads for Babies 0–3 — Books You’ll Actually Love Reading on Repeat
✨ Happy 2026! We made it through the holidays and now get that beautiful fresh-start energy that January brings. I am so here for it.In today’s episode, I’m sharing my very favorite baby and toddler books — the one...
#203: Amazon Impulse Purchases from 2025 | The Wins and The Regrets
Today, I'm sharing the impulse buys that shaped a year at home with four kids, from sleep-regression gear that flopped to kitchen tools, kid storage, and one antique desk that changed everything. Honest wins, painful misses, and the small...
#202: My Favorite Books of 2025
I’m sharing my favorite books of 2025 — the ones that stayed with me, challenged me, comforted me, or simply pulled me through a heavy season.This year, I read 55 books (and counting), and today I’m narrowing it down to the 13 ...
#201: One-Pot Easy Winter Dinners
Today I'm sharing Winter Dinners that will save your sanity. One-pot and one-sheet-pan meals for busy, cold nights that'll make winter cooking easier. Recipes & Meals Mentioned:Slow Cooker Sunday• Simple...
#200: Top 5 Listener Favorites (and Why I Think They Hit Home)
We celebrate 200 episodes by tracing the path from a 2015 blog to a no-ads show, then unpack the five listener favorites that keep you coming back. Books lead the way, followed by kids’ reads, cleanup systems, family routines, and flexible budg...
#199: Children of the Book — A Memoir Full of the Bible, Motherhood & 92 Children’s Book Recommendations
Today, I dive into Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan, a memoir that ties parenting to the Bible's rhythm, and how I used it to build a curated list of 92 children’s books for our family library. I shar...
#198: Our Simple Laundry System: What Works for Our Family of Six
Laundry doesn’t have to be overwhelming, even in a big family. In this episode, I walk you through the system that works for us:Why one small load every morning is the backbone of my laundry routineHow I fit switching loads...
#197: Book Club | The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
In this week’s episode, I’m diving into one of my all-time favorite books, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer — a gentle but radical call to slow down and live with more peace, purpose, and presence. 🌿 I share how thi...
#196: What We Ate This Week, How I Prepped, & What I Spent, Part VIII
Fall settles in as we map a full week of family dinners, pack smarter school lunches, and share the exact grocery spend that made it work. From soup and meatloaf to salmon and chili, we show how one plan and a few batch tricks stretch flavor, t...