The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden

It seems that all the bloggers I follow are back in business big time. Things have been pretty quiet for the past weeks while everyone took a well deserved break, but I have lots to share this week.

I have picked the items that I felt were interesting… plus, omg, a whole bunch of healthy eating recipes (I post them here so that I can go back to them later ; )

This past week, for me, has been all about getting back to business….

• I have started back on my elimination diet with Lyn-Genet Recitas’ new book. Her plan worked so well for me last time. No more bloating, allergies subsided, weight loss stayed off, and best of all, chronic pain was almost gone. I felt great. (I’m only a week in, have lost 3 pounds, and starting to feel so much better already).
• This 20 day reset is not for the feint of heart though. If you aren’t desperate for a solution, it might not be for you. Oh, while it is great for anyone who is really suffering, it is directed at women over 50 as our metabolism takes a kicking with menopause.
• I have also started taking iron supplements as I am anemic and have been dragging. No energy whatsoever. This is just the starting point, will see how I feel after a few months and see where I go from there.
• I have also gone back to doing some light exercise each day. The holiday season kind of threw me right off track, but now I am back in business.

I have also started my clean and purge. Do you get like that in the new year? I want to get at everything. All the closets, the kitchen cupboards, the pantry… then I will start on the deep cleaning for spring.

I have finished the kitchen pantry. It is not bougie, not staged and fancy like you see on influencer blogs. This is my actual pantry and these are all the items in my pantry. How they really look. I am thrilled with how organised and tidy it all is. It has been two years since I last did this, so it was time.

I was looking for more of these bamboo lidded jars on Amazon, as I only had 4. They are atrociously priced. Went to the dollar store and picked up 10 of them for less than half the price that Amazon was asking!

I also have a bunch of the clear bins to hold like items together, which really helps with anything in small packaging. I love the small baking bin one the best. It holds yeast, vanilla, baking soda, and baking powder. These are the items I use all the time when baking. I also bought these at the dollar store (two years ago).

I used my old Dymo label maker to make the labels, as I did for the spice jars I bought for seed keeping, back in the fall.

How to organise a wardrobe: the tricks and tips you need to know – this is on my list, too.

That is what I am up to this month… cleaning, organising, and focusing on my health : ) What does your January look like?

Gardening Inspo

Kevin’s Pennsylvania Garden in 2025 – this is a stunning zone 7 yard, from front to back, just amazing. So many ideas to be garnered. Love the hellstrip planting.

Here is my latest post with all Canadian seed houses. These are seed companies that I will be buying from again this year. The shipping is very reasonable as most of them offer letter mail as an option if you are only buying under a certain amount of seed packets. Makes it affordable to shop/support several shops instead of trying to get everything from one source.

See last year’s list here. I added more information about all the companies and their shipping policies.

• When to Start Seeds Indoors: Planting Calendars for Every Zone ~ Homestead and Chill
• 7 Pollinator-Friendly Perennials to Plant in January – this is for you west coasters living in warmer zones. We are buried in snow here (though Calgarians may be able to sow these seeds this weekend, with this chinook). These seeds all need cold stratification (cold/freezing).

Vegetable Container Garden Layout Plan for Patios & Small Spaces – Garden too shady? Need to grow in pots so you can capture the sun? Here are some great ideas.

Homey Decor Inspo

I found these super cute ‘shelfies’ (pictures of flowers on a window shelf) on Instagram, a blog, and also on Pinterest by Lobster and Swan. Makes me want to put up shelves in my window… somewhere! In the house? In the kitchen? In the nook? In the potting shed? She posts new shelfies each month.

What a nice way to showcase each month’s flowers.

This Characterful Kitchen Proves Pink Is Actually the Perfect Base for This Year’s Biggest Trends – Isn’t this pale pink so very pretty? A pink that works for (nearly) everyone.

• The Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas That Make The Most Of Every Inch
• 6 Kitchen Trends That We Are VERY Confident Will Be Big In 2026 – well, this is interesting. What do you think of the first one? I did love the green and wood combo, but then again, I am on a big green kick lately.
• A Sensational and Stylish Boho Bedroom Full of Charming Details – that amazing shandy though!I found it online. It comes in beige, pink, or blue. Super cute, but above my budget.
• Nate Berkus Reveals His Number One Design ‘In’ for 2026 – I love Nate’s style and thoughts on this… and I love Nate, too : )

Benjamin Moore’s Most Sampled Paint Colors of 2025 – I love most all of these colours, I can see why they were chosen.

This summer, we will have been here for 4 years. Meaning it will have been 4 years since the walls were painted… see where I am going with this? Yep, I really want to get them all repainted to freshen things up. My walls are currently the very first white one they show in this post. Not sure if I would stick with the same one or make it one of the other two whites. I kinda want to paint my office that sage green, too.

Ps, I know someone who has her main living areas repainted (same colour) annually. She has two boys, a busy home, a minimalist style.

In My Shopping Basket Right Now

• Adidas Court Bold runners – love these.
• Adidas Court Bold runners in pink!
• Dearfoams bootie slippers
• This amazing Canvas Tote bag
• 3 piece reusable grocery bags – come in a myriad of colours. I want something that looks more put together than the assortment of grocery store bags.
• Tank top with graphics
• Dressy velvet palazzo pants
• This set of 5 grocery totes. Collapsible with a reinforced bottom.

*Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase any items from one of my links, I earn a wee small commission to support my blog. Rest assured, it does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item on your own.

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DIY’S & Crafting

• DIY these super cute seed packets.
• 30 Easy Spring Crafts for Adults You’ll Love Creating

Recipes & Foodie Bits

• 10 Delicious Ways to Eat Broccoli Stems (I personally prefer the stems to the florets)
• How to Meal Plan by the Month
• Are Smoothies Healthier Than Juicing? – I have grown to love my smoothies.

• whole wheat chocolate oat cookies
• How To Make Caramel Sauce
• Epiphany Tart (Victorian Jam Tart) – I know Epiphany is over, but this looks so good.

Some people are doing Veganuary and others are doing dry January. I am a veggie at all times but always on the look out for new recipe ideas…

• 25 Quick Vegan Dinner Recipes
• Hummus Pitta Pockets Recipe Ideas
• Mushroom crostini – self explanatory and just sounds yummy.
• Air fryer vegetable fritters – I really want to try these… but all that grating? How badly do I want it? That is why I rarely make carrot cake, hahaha.
• Air fryer loaded sweet potato skins
• Panzanella recipe – this salad is one of my most favourites. It is an especially fabulous summertime salad, with fresh veggies from the garden.
• Beetroot, potato and shallot salad recipe
• A vegan loaded nachos recipe – nachos are my go to comfort food on splurge days.
• The Veggie Burger – as a veggie, I am always on the lookout for a good, but easy to make veggie burger.
• Chickpeas with Butternut Squash

Happy January, friends ~ Tanja