CREATE A FAMILY COOKBOOK FULL OF LOVE AND FLAVOR A TASTE OF HOME
In most families, holidays, special occasions, and Sunday dinners usually revolve around laughter and food — lots of food. Whether it’s Grandma’s famous biscuits or that secret chili recipe your uncle swears he’ll take to the grave, these dishes are part of what makes your family your family. So, why not gather all those delicious memories into one place by creating a family cookbook? Know your why. Before you dive in, decide what your cookbook is for. Is it a holiday gift? A legacy project? Or a fun way to organize weeknight favorites? Knowing your purpose will guide the tone, design, and care you put into it.
stories, tips, or funny kitchen mishaps. That’s the good stuff that makes your cookbook meaningful. Choose an organizational style. You could go the traditional route with categories like appetizers, mains, and desserts, or get creative with sections like “Grandma’s Greatest Hits,” “Cousin Potluck Favorites,” or “Holiday Classics.” Just pick a format that feels natural, easy to follow and best relays information. Test and tweak as you go. Some family recipes live in the land of vague directions — “a dash of this” or “cook until it smells right,” etc. If needed, test the recipes and jot down more precise measurements or instructions. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Add a personal touch. Photos can take a cookbook from good to unforgettable. Include pictures of the dishes, handwritten recipe cards, or candid
family cooking moments. Even simple design details — like using someone’s handwriting or a family saying — can make it feel special. Pick a format. You don’t need to be a professional designer to pull this off. Tools like Canva, Shutterfly, or even Microsoft Word can help you create a layout. Decide whether you want to print physical copies, go digital, or do both. Don’t forget to embrace imperfection. Remember, it doesn’t need to be perfect! A little mess here and there adds charm. What matters is preserving the joy, tradition, and flavor of your family’s kitchen.
Gather the goods. Now comes the fun (and sometimes
chaotic) part — tracking down recipes from relatives. Send a group text, email, or social media post asking for their go-to dishes. Encourage everyone to include personal
Free FERS Retirement Workshops Through September 2025 From Pension to Paperwork
We know things are shifting fast for federal employees, like tighter agency budgets, changing personnel needs, and evolving retirement rules, all of which are creating a lot of uncertainty. You deserve clarity, and we’re here to help make things as easy as we can for you. Through September 2025, Federal Benefits Made Simple is offering our in-depth FERS Retirement Workshops for free. Though this is usually a paid program, we understand that many agencies aren’t in the position to provide this beneficial training to their employees right now. We want to continue to be a resource about retirement benefits and a place to get your questions answered. As federal employees, you have very robust retirement benefits, but they’re complex. Our workshops are designed to help simplify them and get you to a place where you have everything you need to make confident decisions about your future. Our free workshops will cover how to prepare for a smooth retirement, starting with what you need to complete your retirement application. We spend a lot of time on your pension options, whether full, reduced, deferred, or postponed. Your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is the area you have the most control over, so we’ll discuss strategies to maximize this benefit. We’ll also talk about Social Security and the FERS supplement, as well as other related information.
No matter what stage of your federal career you’re in, our workshops can help you more clearly understand your benefits, how to maximize your retirement potential, and create a clear plan for the future. Space is limited in these classes to provide more time for questions and answers. Please RSVP by contacting us at BenefitTraining@federalbenefitsmadesimple.com or call 303-922-4304. FREE FERS RETIREMENT WORKSHOPS When: Aug. 5: 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Denver Federal Center Aug. 20: 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. MT on Zoom Sept. 24: 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. MT on Zoom Limited spots are available. RSVP at 303-922-4304 or BenefitTraining@federalbenefitsmadesimple.com
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