Your cart is currently empty!
About
About Wild Pine Family
Hi! I’m Jen, and my husband Matt and I live in Texas with our three kids—Raspberry (3), Bay Bay (2 in December), and Alien (8 months)—plus a rotating crew of foster cats and our resident trio: Jinx, Lola, and Chatty. We share real-life systems for small spaces, tight budgets, and busy weeks—no perfection pressure.
What we believe
- Small beats perfect. Tiny wins, repeated, change everything.
- Money clarity calms the house. We aim for ~$100/week in groceries (never more than $500/month) with simple, repeatable menus.
- Life-schooling works. Gentle rhythms + curiosity + the occasional structured activity.
- Rescue matters. We foster and rehab cats; love + routine + vet care can work wonders.
- Adventure belongs to families. We’re preparing for a long stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand (hopefully sooner than later)—with Jinx & Lola traveling with us.
What you’ll find here
- Family Meals on a Budget — 7-day menus, slow-cooker rotations, aisle-by-aisle grocery lists, and honest pantry math.
- Cats & Home — litter/odor routines for small spaces, vertical play, foster updates, gear that actually helps.
- Homeschool — relaxed rhythms, 10-minute setups, printable trackers, and learning woven into daily life.
- Travel Prep — visas, budgeting, housing research, and the logistics of moving abroad with cats.
- Life at Wild Pine — the real stories: donut-run joy, messy days, and everything between.
Our foster & rescue note (TW)
We sometimes share rescue/medical details to help other fosters. We’ll add clear trigger warnings at the top of those posts so you can choose when/what to read.
Free stuff for you
I’m building a members-only Freebies Library with one-page helpers:
- 7-Day Meal Plan + Grocery Checklist
- Weekly Planner
- 60-Minute Small-Space Reset
New downloads show up there first.
Button: Get the Free Printables → /start-here#freebies
Already a member? Log in to the Library → /freebies
Money & transparency
This site uses affiliate links sometimes. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only share products we use or would confidently give to a friend. Read our Disclosure → /disclosure and Privacy Policy → /privacy-policy.
Our tools
- Kitchen: slow cooker, oven/stove, microwave, toaster, blender, mixer, food processor, coffee machine.
- Creative: Canva Pro for all graphics/printables; shop expansions on Etsy; tutorials & traffic via Pinterest.
The road ahead
We’re preparing to world-school in the next couple years with a five-year stay goal in Chiang Mai. Expect posts on long-stay visas, budgets, neighborhoods, cat travel requirements, and schooling on the move—plus what we learn as we go.
Say hello
Have a request or question? I read every message.
Contact → /contact
Quick FAQ
Are those your kids’ real names?
We use nicknames online for the kids (ages are real).
Do you show foster medical photos?
Sometimes, and always with TW and context so you can opt in.
Can I use your printables in my classroom or group?
Yes, for personal or classroom use. Please link to the post instead of uploading the file elsewhere.
How can I support the site?
Share a post, pin a tip, grab a printable from Etsy, or use an affiliate link when it genuinely helps you. Thank you.