Welcome to my kitchen!

Hi there! I’m Olivia, 34 years old, and I live in the wild and windy heart of Wyoming. If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be known among my friends and online community as “the Mug Meal Mom,” I probably would’ve laughed while scrambling to get my toddler to nap and my coffee to stay hot for longer than three minutes. But here I am, stirring up one-minute miracles in a mug and loving every second of it.

Cooking wasn’t always my strong suit. I used to think a hot meal meant microwaving a frozen burrito and calling it dinner. But after my second child was born and the days got shorter while my to-do list got longer, I realized I needed meals that were fast, foolproof, and didn’t leave a mountain of dishes in their wake. One night, in a flurry of desperation and leftover ingredients, I made my first mug mac and cheese. It wasn’t pretty, but it was warm, cheesy, and made me feel like I had just discovered fire.

That little mug changed my life. I started experimenting—breakfasts, desserts, even savory dinners—all in the same trusty oversized ceramic mug. Eventually, I began jotting down my favorites, tweaking the timings, testing with different microwaves (don’t even get me started on how temperamental some of them can be), and sharing tips with other moms at school pick-up. Before I knew it, my quick mug meals were helping busy parents like me get food on the table—okay, sometimes just the couch—without the stress.

What I love most is the freedom mug cooking gives you. You don’t need fancy tools, expensive ingredients, or culinary training. Just a microwave, a mug, and a little curiosity. I’ve had my fair share of flops—one time I forgot the baking powder in a mug pancake and ended up with something resembling a hockey puck—but that’s all part of the fun. It’s about trying, tasting, and sometimes laughing at the mess.

If you’re new to cooking, especially as a busy mom trying to feed yourself while juggling a million things, I promise: mug meals can be your saving grace. I’m here to share what’s worked for me, what hasn’t, and to cheer you on as you whip up five-minute feasts between soccer practice and bedtime stories. So grab your favorite mug—we’re going to make magic, one microwave meal at a time.