The SavvyCast

 The Family Savvy holiday gift guide for 2020 has a wide selection of gifts for any girl or guy on your list. Listen on the podcast or shop in the blog post! I share some of the best gifts for 2020 in the podcast below. You can find all the gifts mentioned linked in the blog post. You are sure to find something for the person in your life. Family Savvy Gifts for Him My top picks for gifts for him...

Here are my favorite sides for Thanksgiving and how to make them ahead of time so that you can spend your time with family (not in the kitchen).   Hello friends!!! This post is for those of you who have asked for easy, make-ahead sides for Thanksgiving. So, here are our family favorites. You can listen to the podcast for a "talk through" of the recipes. You can also link directly to the recipes be...

In this podcast, I talk about how I make slow cooker Brunswick stew and the tips and tricks for making it easy and delicious.   Brunswick stew is Southern comfort food that everyone needs to try. It is absolutely delicious, and I share my tips for making it easy and delicious in a slow cooker. In addition to listening, you can find the Brunswick stew recipe here along with more tips + a video.   I...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, you'll learn why Babypalooza is the BEST resource for any new or expectant mom.    A Family Savvy "Best Resource"  Family Savvy is all about sharing fabulous resources related to home and family. Babypalooza is one of the best resources I have found for new and expectant moms. When I was pregnant, the options for moms were few, and mostly local. My community was b...

This week on The SavvyCast, Dr. Ben Pearce talks about breast cancer awareness and the many surgical options women have today. T Who is Dr. Ben Pearce? Dr. Pearce received his undergraduate degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, graduating manga cum laude from the honors college with a degree in Biology He attended medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, completing rotat...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, we learn about pellet grills generally and RecTeq pellet grills specifically. I share why I am thrilled with my pellet grill and why you might want one too. NOTE: This post is not sponsored by RecTeq, nor am I receiving any compensation. I am just sharing this from personal experience:-) Why I am thrilled with my pellet grill.  My pellet grill is the BEST purchase...

Follow these 10 tips and you'll brown ground beef that has the best flavor, texture and color (not bland, grey and boring).   Browning beef is a basic kitchen skill. This week, I decided to go back to the basics by discussing how to brown ground beef. Anyone who cooks at all can use this skill to make good meals better.  Ground beef is the basis for many entrees, and browning it should not be haph...

Here's why a cast-iron skillet is the best thing you'll ever buy for your kitchen and the smartest investment you'll ever make in cookware.     What is a cast-iron skillet? A cast-iron skillet is made from molten metal that is poured into a cast that forms it into a one-piece pan. Cast-iron is made mostly from Iron ore that has a high carbon content. The only company still making cast-iron cookwar...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, you'll learn how the Buddys app was borne through grief and how it helps support others in times of hardship or loss. In this episode of The SavvyCast, James and Caitie Morgan share the inspiring story behind their newly released app, Buddys. After experiencing the devastating loss of their one-year-old baby boy, Caitie and James found comfort in surrounding thems...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, I share some of the beauty treatments and procedures that I consider worth the time and money.   Beauty Treatments Worth the Money In this episode, I share the beauty treatments and procedures that I personally feel are worth the time and money. I discuss the things that make the biggest difference to me personally and offer tips on deciding whether something is w...

To make cooking easy and efficient,  here are the top 4 kitchen appliances I recommend and why.   Slow Cooker First, I recommend a standard 6-quart slow cooker for things like roasts, spaghetti sauce, chili, soups and stews. The recipes that I make almost always in my 6-quart slow cooker are below. The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Meat Our Family Favorite Turkey Chili with Beans Smokey Beef...

Here is all you need to make a perfect charcuterie board~from step by step instructions and a shopping list for all the ingredients. Note: more tips + tricks + photos can be found in  this blog post on Marie's charcuterie board .    Who is Marie Marino? Marie is one of my dearest friends. We first met in the '80s at Auburn University where we were sorority sisters. Fast forward to today. After yea...

The SavvyCast, Jordan Jones interviews three female enneagram 8's and helps others get a better understanding of how many 8's think, feel, and relate to others. In this episode of Enneagram 8's Can Be Misunderstood The enneagram 8, also known as "the challenger," can be one of the most misunderstood enneagram types. In the South, and in the church, being a female enneagram 8 can be especially chal...

This episode of The SavvyCast is a Q & A with Congressman Gary Palmer, who answers questions from Family Savvy followers on topics from politics, current events, the election, and more. Who is Gary Palmer?   Gary Palmer grew up in Hackleburg, Alabama, and was the first on either side of his family to attend college. He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a walk-on member of the footba...

 I share my cheat sheets of the best things to buy at Costco and Trader Joe's, along with a few recipes using my favorite items.       In this episode of The SavvyCast, I share my favorite things to buy at Costco and Trader Joe's. With Fall knocking at the door, I am gearing up for a big Costco haul.  I share all the details in the podcast, but I'll also share my cheat sheets below. The Best Thing...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, Christiana shares how her 40-pound weight loss gave her a new beginning in her health, self-esteem, and career.               Christiana began her weight loss journey in July 2018, and she lost 40 lbs. in 6 months. Now, she is a certified health coach, assisting others in their journey to a healthier lifestyle. Christiana's journey turned out to be more than just...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, we talk about the electoral college, how (and why) it started, how it works, and how some states are trying to turn their electoral votes into popular votes.   Jordan Jones joins The SavvyCast to discuss the electoral college, how it works, how it would be changed (if it ever does), and more.   Who is Jordan Jones?   Jordan Jones received his law degree from Flori...

In this post, I'll share my favorite easy & healthy weeknight meals with recipes, videos, and even a podcast to help you make these for YOUR family!!! Some of my favorite weeknight meals. Do you have a few favorite meals that are your "go-to" during the week when you need an easy dinner for the family? I have a handful of those that I've made so many times that I can almost make them with my eyes...

Christiana Rousssel shares how she overcame crisis upon crisis~from divorce to cecal volvulus~in the midst of a pandemic. Crisis upon crisis On this episode of The SavvyCast , my friend Christiana shares how she endured crises upon crisis but came out better and stronger.  While adjusting to a recent divorce, Christiana had a medical emergency caused by a rare condition~cecal volvulus. This happen...

In this Q & A episode of The SavvyCast, I share the beauty products that I love, how I take care of my skin, and some beauty products that some of you love.     This episode of The SavvyCast is a Q & A on beauty based on questions asked on  @family_savvy Instagram . I did an "ask me anything" Instagram story recently, and these are the questions that were asked. I also asked my insta friends to sh...

Ellen Italiaander joins The SavvyCast to talk all thingsPilates~from how it helps a body, how a reformer works, how Pilates differs from yoga, and more.   Ellen Italiaander has been a Pilates instructor for more than 20 years. She is one of my instructors at Club Pilates, where she is definitely a fan favorite. In this episode, Ellen shares information that will help us have a deeper understanding...

In this episode of The SavvyCast, enneagram expert Jordan Jones helps Sarah Shea Hill determine if she is an enneagram type 6 or 9. In this episode of The SavvyCast, our enneagram expert Jordan Jones helps guest Sarah Shea Hill, try to discover her Enneagram type. Sarah Shea is stuck between an Enneagram 6 ("The Loyalist") and Enneagram 9 ("The Peacekeeper").  In this episode we talk about: How Sa...

Zane Tarence answers questions about buying and selling businesses and companies and shares tips from his book 17 Reasons Your Company is NOT Investment Grade and What to Do About It.     Zane Answers Questions about Investment Banking, and Buying and Selling Businesses   Who is Zane Tarence? Zane is a partner and managing director of Founders Advisors , and he authored a new book~  17 Reasons You...

Enneagram expert Jordan Jones talks with my daughter Ellie Hiller, an enneagram 3, to help her determine her wing.   What is an enneagram wing? The wing is the number either before your enneagram type or after. It flanks your enneagram type number. For example, an enneagram 3 will be either a wing 2 (helper) or wing 3 (individualist). In this episode, I talk with Jordan Jones, our Enneagram expert...

Marie Marino shares how a pandemic and hard times affect an enneagram 7 (an enthusiast).