From Carleigh's Kitchen: Batch Cooking, Thrifting & Baby Prep

and the homemade frosty I can't stop drinking

Hey friends, Carleigh here (and King Tut sitting beside me)… This is my once monthly personal newsletter where I share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my life, thoughts, and whatever’s cooking — literally and figuratively.

If you missed last month’s newsletter, you can find that here. And a quick reminder: when you join the Plant Cooking Club, you get brand new plant-based meal plans every Thursday complete with a curated shopping and prep list. It’s pretty rad!

Your Sign To Start Thrifting (This Month’s Treasures)

First, we need to geek out on this month’s thrift finds because they’re truly stellar. We moved into our house in November, and it’s finally starting to feel like home as I slowly fill it up with some Facebook marketplace treasures. Here are my favs this month:

This pink stained glass light Jesse found for me on Facebook Marketplace for Valentine’s Day. I love it so so so much this has quickly become my favorite corner in our home.

This wall tapestry from Peru (scored for $25… I KNOW! I love how it plays off of my great grandmother’s furniture)

Last but not least, this handmade kitchen island base and FREE Facebook marketplace stone top for my studio?! For the last five years I’ve been working on a tiny Home Depot rollable island, but we have officially upgraded.

There is something deeply satisfying about thrifting for your home. Between scoring a deal and knowing that you are breathing new life into a piece, I just find it so much more meaningful than buying new. Of course there’s some places this is unavoidable, but if you’ve never thrifted before, this is your sign to start!

Batch Cooking For Baby (Or Other Life Events!)

Ok so I’m officially 23 weeks pregnant. I’m not sure how this is possible, but the pregnancy is simultaneously going by slower than molasses and at the speed of lightning. I feel like I’m finally getting an urge to nest, and am starting to drive Jesse crazy with the mile long to-do list of house projects I want done before this baby makes their grand entrance.

By far the biggest piece of advice new parents have been passing along to Jesse and I is to have a freezer stocked full of grab and go healthy meals. Luckily for us, I can kind of work that into my day job, and have already started a freezer stash.