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
233 episodes
#233: My Accidental Lily King Binge
This week on The Raw and the Cooked, I'm sharing my completely accidental Lily King reading binge.After walking past Heart the Lover at the library for over a year, I finally picked it up—assuming it was a light rom-com...
#232: Going from 3 to 4 Children | What the Transition Was Like
Our fourth baby turns two very soon, and I can finally come up for air, now that the dust has settled in the transition from three to four children. So I figured, today I'd share the sequel to the episode I recorded, back when I only had t...
#231: Ten Things Simplifying My Life This Summer
Summer can easily become a season of chaos, so I’ve been focusing on small systems and simple changes that make our home run more smoothly. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 things simplifying my summer — from a bread slicer and better food stora...
#230: Is Abby Jiminez the New Queen of a Summer Rom-Com?
Looking for the perfect summer read? ☀️📚 In this episode, I'm sharing why Abby Jimenez has become my go-to romance author. After finishing Say You'll Remember Me, I realized I've loved every one of her novels I've picked up—a rar...
#229: Recent Library Hauls
One of my favorite rhythms we've added to our summer is a weekly trip to the library.In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've borrowed over the past few weeks—from books I absolutely loved to the ones I returned after only a few chap...
#228: Whistler | Ann Patchett's Best Since Commonwealth?
Ann Patchett has done it again. In this episode, I'm sharing my spoiler-free thoughts on Whistler, why I think it's one of her strongest novels to date, and the surprising ways it echoes my all-time favorite, Commonwealth.&nbs...
#227: What I'm Studying in 2026 | Healing, Faith, and Growth
This week I'm sharing the non-fiction books I'm exploring in 2026 and what they reveal about the season I'm currently in. From marriage and communication books like Fight Right and You're Not Listening, to health and healing t...
#226: Before You Replace It, Ask This Question
In a culture that constantly encourages us to upgrade, replace, and start over, there is something deeply countercultural about slowing down long enough to ask: Can this be repaired?From fixing a stand mixer and restoring outdoo...
#225: Book Club | The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
This week I'm sharing my thoughts on The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan. We talk about audiobook narrators, friendship, reinvention, second chances, and why I kept inventing household chores just to listen to one more chapter.&n...
#224: Camp Mommy - Planning a Simple Summer
Summer is here — and this year, we’re embracing a slower, simpler rhythm. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how I plan our “camp mommy” summers with four little kids: creating gentle structure without overscheduling ourselves, organizing outings,...
#223: Why I’m Done Chasing Reading Goals
This week, I’m talking about something that’s been quietly changing the way I read: slowing down.For years, I chased ambitious reading goals and measured my reading life by numbers — how many books I finished, how quickly I moved onto th...
#222: Book Club | The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
A book shows up in the mailbox and suddenly I’m reading a format I normally avoid. That’s how The Correspondent by Virginia Evans landed in my hands, and it’s why this review turns into something bigger than a thumbs up or thumbs down. When a t...
#221: The 2pm Reset
In this episode, I walk through what I call the 2 p.m. reset—those moments in the afternoon when the day starts to feel like it’s slipping away. I paint a realistic picture of that mid-day overwhelm: a messy kitchen, kids needing constant atten...
#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-...