• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Monica Swanson

the grommom

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Blog
    • Parenting and Family
    • Health/Fitness
    • Encouragement and faith
    • Home School
    • Surf
    • Recipes
      • Breakfasts
      • Snacks and Smoothies
      • Lunches and Dinners
      • Desserts
      • Gluten Free
  • About Monica
  • Contact

Blog

Healthy, Sweet, Carrot Salad

by Monica Leave a Comment

Healthy, sweet, carrot salad recipe.  Perfect for spring, (Easter!) or anytime.Happy Easter Week!  I hope you are well, and that your week is both fun and meaningful.  Our week has been packed with Jonah's Hawaii Regional Debate tournament (he and his partner took 2nd in the final!) as well as church gatherings, and (more) guests in town.  :) It's all kinds of exhausting fun.  I'll be hosting for Easter dinner, and as I pondered the menu, I knew salad would be a

Read More

Categories: Health/Fitness, Lunches and Dinners, Miscellaneous

3 Ways to Make “Having The Talk” with Your Kids a Little Less Awkward…{with a printable conversation starter!}

by Monica 3 Comments

Tips for "having the talk" with your kids.  Before someone else does...There's just no way around it.Talking to our kids about S-E-X has to be one  of the most awkward things ever.  Even if you're comfortable going into it, the minute your kids figure out where you're headed you can usually count on them being all...But for the love of our kids, we simply must.  We've got to talk about this stuff, and we've got to keep talking about it.  Because if we

Read More

Categories: Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

With Kate Merrick, on her New Book: HERE, NOW

by Monica Leave a Comment

Hey Friends!  I'm here to share Kate Merrick's beautiful new book, HERE NOW, which I was blessed to get to read early and endorse.  Isn't the cover just gorgeous!?This book is SO GOOD you guys!  I want to share a few words of personal introduction, then Kate is sharing an excerpt from Chapter 4 with us!  (You're going to love it!)First from me:  If I'm honest, my book writing journey has at times been a lonely one.  Remember, I live on an island,

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Surf Updates and Inspiration from Son #3: Luke.

by Monica 35 Comments

Sooooo....It's been a long time since I've shared a "surf update" around here! Back in the day, I shared a lot of these, and many of you kindly endured followed along with them. ;)  I don't post as often anymore so I'm always hesitant to make things all about us.  But...But in the past few weeks a lot of people have asked questions about Luke's competitive surfing:  About his new sponsors and about his future plans.  And (maybe most importantly) "could he be

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family, Surf

End of Winter Coffee Date. Edition: We’ve got a Table with a View and SO much to Cover!

by Monica 30 Comments

Friends...Most of you know by now how I love a coffee date!  I try to do these seasonally, and by the time I sit down to write them I'm about to burst with all of the thoughts, questions, and stories to share.  I can't help but smile as I begin to type...imagining you right here, and I'm leaning in to ask:  Where should we even start!?  How are you?  What's new?  Can you even believe it's March already!?  Aand Shhh - We're gonna have this coffee date on the

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family, Travel

A Few Thoughts after 12 Years of Homeschooling.

by Monica 11 Comments

Homeschooling thoughts this year...(I usually do one homeschool post per year.  Here it is. :) ) --also a note on ads in the PS at the bottom....Recently someone asked me how long I've been homeschooling, and I calculated that this is my 12th year.  Wow!  That makes me feel tired crazy (so many things, but mostly) grateful.  In case you don't know my story, I'll begin by saying that I never dreamt of being a homeschool mom -- even up to the year that we

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

The Very Best 5-Minute Gluten Free Bread

by Monica 16 Comments

A recipe for delicious Gluten-Free bread.  I think we can all agree:  There's nothing like a loaf of home-baked bread, fresh out of the oven.  The smell that fills a home with comfort and happiness...The feel of a slice - familiar and warm in your hand (especially if there's a bit of butter melting into it.)  The taste -- which somehow can transport you back to Grandma's house, or a bakery tucked away in your memory (I'm personally transported back to the incredible

Read More

Categories: Breakfasts, Gluten Free, Miscellaneous, Recipes, Snacks and Smoothies

The Biggest Goal I have this Year

by Monica 16 Comments

How we can be world-changers.  You and me.Recently, I've talked a lot about New Years' goals and  all kinds of ambitious plans here on the blog.  If you're an Enneagram fan, you're not surprised that I'm an Enneagram 3...also known as "The Achiever."  And I confess, I love it.  I love dreaming, writing, creating, and sharing.  And when it's done, I can't wait to do it all again.But over the past few weeks I've been shifting my priorities a bit, and in case

Read More

Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Parenting and Family
  • Health/Fitness
  • Encouragement and faith
  • Home School
  • Recipes
  • Surf
  • Travel
  • Miscellaneous

Recent Posts

  • Healthy, Sweet, Carrot Salad
  • 3 Ways to Make “Having The Talk” with Your Kids a Little Less Awkward…{with a printable conversation starter!}
  • With Kate Merrick, on her New Book: HERE, NOW
  • Surf Updates and Inspiration from Son #3: Luke.
  • End of Winter Coffee Date. Edition: We’ve got a Table with a View and SO much to Cover!
Load More...Follow on Instagram

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 Monica Swanson · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy