Category: Homemaking

Prairie Quilting: My Favorite YouTube Tutorials and Online Shops

4/24/2018

While the children are outside doing their farm chores and I'm in between my naps... I watch quilting tutorials. In case you are a quilter or have ever considered quilting, I'd love to share these with you.

Life has been crazy hectic out here on the prairie. If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you know we've been fighting devastating wildfires again this year. It's been awful. Our family is usually wading through mud, packing bags, and preparing for tornadoes this time of year. But... for the past two years, we've been packing for evacuation from prairie fires. I have a job outside the home now, in emergency communications so the hours have been nutty and the stress high. I'm trying to stay on top of homeschooling, basic homemaking, and keep up with what the children are doing with the farm critters. I have to be real and say, I'm failing terribly.
All I want to do after night shift is sleep and watch YouTube videos!

Thankfully, a LOT of YouTube videos can work into our homeschooling. There are so many educational things on YouTube for them to learn, from documentaries to DIY. Of course, the children would prefer to watch Lego or Minecraft related videos and our youngest princess tortures the rest of the family with My Little Pony episodes any chance she gets.

While the children are outside doing their farm chores and I'm in between my naps... I watch quilting tutorials. In case you are a quilter or have ever considered quilting, I'd love to share these with you.

Shabby Fabrics

Jennifer Bosworth's shop in Idaho is on my bucket list to visit some day. She has FREE downloadable patterns with her tutorials. One of my favorite things about her store is her personal, exclusive Shabby Fabrics Collection. I love, LOVE shabby colors and prints. She also has exclusive "Shabby Shapes" which are pre-cut, iron-on fabric pieces in all kinds of shapes and sizes, perfect for fun applique projects. Jennifer's sweet Christian character comes out in her videos. In addition to quilt tutorials, she has a lot of fun projects for smaller, useful things. When I'm overwhelmed, sometimes a smaller project is nice. These also make wonderful gifts. (It's NOT too early to be thinking about gifts!) I'm subscribed to her email newsletter and am always delighted to open them and see what's new. (I generally hate email, so it's nice to have something to look forward to when I have to tackle that chore.) My only complaint is that her online store "search" is a little cumbersome and takes some time for me to find what I'm looking for sometimes. It's all worth it though for those beautiful fabrics! I've taken advantage of some of her awesome sales.

The Midnight Quilt Show

Angela Walters from Quilting is My Therapy shop in Missouri is hilarious! I don't drink wine, but am not opposed to some sparkly Kombucha tea while I quilt. Angela's specialty is machine quilting. She makes it look so fun and easy. I'm really looking forward to using some of her techniques on my long forgotten quilt tops that need to be finished. I have her videos set in the notifications on my cell phone so I know when each new episode comes out. They are SO much fun to watch. Angela usually offers a free pattern and quilting diagram with her tutorials. I'd like to eventually have a collection of her quilting books.

Missouri Star Quilt Company

This is one of the newest I found, yet one of the oldest out there. Jenny Doan has nine years of videos up on her channel. The story of their family business is inspiring. She's also a mother of seven children and homeschooled some. You can tell in her videos that she loves to teach and share. Sometimes she has her grandchildren on her videos as well, which is fun to see. Her shop is very easy to navigate. They have wonderful "Daily Deals", Flat $5 Shipping, and free shipping for purchases over $100. Jenny is also left handed, so she has tools for lefty's and shows using her left hand in her tutorials. That's really nice for left handed sewers. One of my favorite things is her Apparel & Aprons pattern page. I love sewing cute clothes for our family and the patterns she carries are modest and nice. I have quite a wish list.

There are other wonderful videos and YouTube channels, but for the moment these are my top three favorites. If you like this, check my Quilt and Crafty Fun playlists. Are you a quilter or crafter? I have to say that sewing and crafting are definitely part of my "therapy". I find it so relaxing and rewarding to create something beautiful for my family or friends. Hopefully now that we've had a little rain, I will have some projects to share with you soon. Please pray for the Prairie. We need a LOT more moisture before we'll be out of danger from the wildfires.

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Simplifying and Personalizing Time Management

4/15/2018

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Time management seems to be an issue for everyone. We either don’t have enough hours in the day or we don’t know what to do from one minute to the next.

I know especially when I had babies I felt like I could barely get from one meal to the next before it was time for bed. I wondered where my day went and felt like all I had accomplished was cooking, cleaning, and trying to keep up with those little hands and feet.

Now I have completely different dynamics but the same basic issues. It's also an issue I get the most questions about.

One of the keys to successful time management is to consistently reevaluate your season in life and the needs of your family. As your family grows and changes, so will the demands on your time. Make sure to stop regularly and look at what is going on and how things are working before you get overwhelmed. I do this at least twice a year, usually January and August. Also stop and look things over anytime there is a major event in your life. Think about how this event affects each person in your family and what each one will need to adjust.

For instance, when there is a death in the family, I have one child who needs daily routine to stay in place as much as possible, so I know I need to plan visitations and things around our basic daily routine. This can be hard, but not impossible. Another child needs extra cuddle time and several need one-on-one time to talk through their grief, another needs mementos and keepsakes to ponder memories. I can take all that into account. Now, I don’t cater to my children’s whims, but I do take them into account as I’m working through this situation. I know it will be best for me to put as much of our schedule aside for a week or more yet keep our basic routine in place so our stability is not disturbed. This will apply to sickness as well.

Consider what are your family’s non-negotiables. What MUST happen every single day to keep peace in your home? Once you recognize what those are, you can work around those things depending on what’s going on in your life. Examples of non-negotiables:

When I was babysitting, I had to vacuum my floors every single day. I had little people playing on the floor every day and it needed to be clean.
A few people in our family MUST have a bath or shower every single night.
I must have a protein breakfast within an hour after I wake up or my blood sugar will drop.

Disclosure: Purchasing products through the affiliate links on this page contributes to the success of this site at no extra cost to you.

Exercise

Every day make sure to exercise your body, mind, and spirit doing something physical, something intellectual, and something emotionally encouraging.

Exercising your body doesn’t have to be a whole aerobic or pilates routine. Chasing children around the house is work. When you fold laundry and clean house, put on some music and move around while you work.
Exercising your mind can be reading or playing a game. Crossword puzzles and sudoku books are good brain exercise. Play dominoes or scrabble with the children. Watch a diy or documentary video. If you are creative, spend a little time each day with your favorite medium. I like to mix things up and learn new techniques.
Exercising your spirit is more than just reading your Bible. Prayer and action are both very important. Don’t just pray. Don’t just read a few verses or a chapter. Put some action into it, even if it is just sharing an inspirational thought with someone else or letting a person on your list know you prayed for them today.

Morning Routine

Drink water and take any vitamins or medications that need to be on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. I try to drink a whole quart of water. Hydration is so important.
Freshen up and get dressed for the day. Whether you bathe at night or in the morning, freshen yourself up. Dress as if you know you will have to go to somewhere. Last minute things happen. Be prepared. If nothing does happen, then you are much more apt to accomplish more at home if you are dressed decent. Your husband will appreciate it too.
Eat breakfast and take any supplements that need to be taken in the morning with food. Eat protein to help jump start your blood sugar for the day. Don’t start with high a starch or sugar meal. You will be more sluggish sooner. Listen to your body and feed it what it needs, not necessarily what you think you want or what is easiest to grab.
Coffee or tea will help jump start your adrenals. It doesn’t have to be caffeinated. If you’d rather, try a ginseng tea or a peppy mint flavored herb tea. Something inviting to welcome your day.
Devotions and prayer are a very important. I know some women consider devotions something that absolutely must be done very first thing but I can’t concentrate before breakfast. I have to be awake and alert in order to retain anything and to pray effectively.
Happy conversation to start the morning is one key to a happy day. Tease your husband about something fun. Ask your children what silly thing they dreamed about. Sit with a coworker and listen to them finding something positive to encourage them about. Find a blessing and share your gratitude with someone.
Do something. Find three things to do before lunch. Even those seemingly mundane things are accomplishments.

School - Check the Tools & Schedule page for my homeschool routine…

Home Business - Check my article on "How to Use Evernote" at BloggingSuccessfully.com. The site has lots of wonderful articles on running a home-based business.

Evening Routine

Clean and shine the sinks. If you are not familiar with FlyLady.net, please check her out. I’ve been following her homemaking techniques for nearly twenty years now. In those seasons in life when you are overwhelmed and just don’t know what to do next, she has the answers. She has everything from “Baby Steps” to get you started and emergency cleaning for company to complete household cleaning and maintenance lists. The main thing you need to do each evening to get ready for the next day is clean your sinks. Nothing makes a homemaker feel better in the morning than NOT having to look at a sink full of dirty dishes. It also lifts the spirits to be able to brush your teeth at a sink that is shiny and welcoming in the morning. You might be surprised what a difference it really can make.
Take a fiber supplement, magnesium, and drink some Hot Herbal Tea. This is relaxing and makes sure your body cleanses itself through the night.
Make a list for the next day. What will your focus be? Do you have any appointments or activities planned? If you need to take a trip to the store, make your shopping list and put it in your purse. List three things you would like to accomplish, only three. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a long list of things to do. If you finish those three things, anything else you accomplish is bonus points!
Set out your clothes for the next day. Consider your plans for the next day and lay out clothes accordingly. If you have little ones, set theirs out as well so everyone will be ready for the day. If you have library books that need to go back, set them by the door. Make sure socks are in shoes and shoes are in place to cut down on any ‘out the door chaos’.

(Disclaimer: I’m not a health care professional so do your own research and ask your doctor…) See more ideas on my “Routine” page…

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Insider Secrets for Building and Managing a Healthy Family Pantry

1/15/2018

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My friend Alina Joy has received the same question. She has decided to put her knowledge and experience to work in a wonderful new website. I'm so excited to introduce the Pantry Insider: The Inside Scoop on Real Food for Today's Families. To celebrate, Alina Joy is offering a Free Resource Library of Tools including checklists, cheat sheets, and printables to help you organize your pantry and meal planning.

"How do you do it?" is the question I receive most from young mothers. It's a hard question to answer. I asked my grandmother the same thing once, "How did you do it?" Her answer was, "You do what you gotta do." I was a bit deflated by her answer. Looking back now I realize how simply true her answer was. Most things I don't think about, I just do what I need to do when it needs to be done. Someone could have given me a list but I would have still been stuck. I could only do what I could do. Face it, motherhood is overwhelming. You can make schedules and lists and menus all day long but one catastrophe after another will mess up the best laid plans. In the end, we just do what we gotta do.

Feeding a large family is probably one of our biggest challenges because we all have to eat every day. We can easily spend all day cooking and doing dishes. A young wife with only one or two children may see a mother of six or seven and say, "How do you do it?" She doesn't realize that mother was once a mother of only one or two. (Except for those rare sets of triplets, quadruplets, or quintuplets or those who adopt a sibling group.) You grow with your family. Mommies adapt to each new child God adds to her family. We adapt to their growth as they eat larger meals. We adapt to special dietary needs and our finicky eaters. If you are expecting your first child, don't worry about how you are going to feed a dozen. Just start with what God is giving you right now and trust that He will help you along the way.

"People were asking me "how do you do it?" and I had no idea what to tell them! lol! I was thinking to myself, "Ummmm... I don't buy junk?" But now I realize that what people were asking for was not a single, instant answer. They were asking for someone to mentor them. I can do that." ~ Alina Joy

My friend Alina Joy has received the same question. She has decided to put her knowledge and experience to work in a wonderful new website. I'm so excited to introduce the Pantry Insider: The Inside Scoop on Real Food for Today's Families. To celebrate, Alina Joy is offering a Free Resource Library of Tools including checklists, cheat sheets, and printables to help you organize your pantry and meal planning.

If you are interested in organizing your pantry and feeding your family more efficiently, pop on over and visit Alina Joy at the Pantry Insider: The Inside Scoop on Real Food for Today's Families. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest & Twitter. Let her know I sent you!

More Prairie Dust Trail posts you might like:

Routines are key to keeping life manageable. You can make the best laid out schedule with lots of breathing room, but one unexpected visitor or event can throw it to the wind. Routines are different though.

I suppose every housewife has her favorite tools. I have a few things that I've loved since before I married and still love today. There are also a few things I've been introduced to that I wonder how I ever got along without. Tools can really make a difference on efficiency in the kitchen.

I’m looking forward to this year. It has to be better than last year. At least I’m choosing to have a positive attitude about it. I have some ideas and a few things to help me start the year off right. Planning is important. Not just planning, but goal setting is an important part of success.

atie Hornor's newest devotional book, In Spite of Myself, touched my heart right where I am. I spent the first week of this devotional in tears. Katie has a loving way to share the difficulties she's been through that God has turned into beautiful testimony.

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Planning Tools and Ideas for 2018

12/29/2017

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I look forward to seeing what 2018 has in store for us. I know, no matter what happens, God is with us. He helps, provides, and protects us every day. I will set my goals and make my plans, but in the end it is always HIS plans that are best. What big plans do you have this year?

I’m looking forward to this year. It has to be better than last year. At least I’m choosing to have a positive attitude about it. I have some ideas and a few things to help me start the year off right. Planning is important. Not just planning, but goal setting is an important part of success. In order to stay inspired and motivated, we must have a visual representation of our goals. Making lists, budgets, and detailed descriptions of our goals is helpful. I've always liked the idea of making a vision board but have never designated a spot in the house for one. Maybe I'll do that this year. It would probably be a good project for our whole family. We have a lot of things we are wanting to do and this is the year I really want to see productivity this year.

Purchasing products through the “affiliate links on this page contributes to the success of this site at no extra cost to you.” Click here to find out more or to read our full disclosure.

While I'm trying to figure out where to put a vision board, I'll share with you what I have already planned for 2018.

Business

The Blog Well Planner by Katie Hornor - Having a plan and goals is the first step in successful business practice. My struggle though is to have a beautiful plan and schedule made out then I get discouraged and totally lose my motivation to actually step up and do what it takes to accomplish my goals. Katie has made a quarterly planner that really breaks things into bite-sized pieces. I seldom use daily planner pages, but the way she works each month of the quarter up to it, I think the daily pages will be much more workable. I intend to have this open on the table when I’m home and to carry it with me when I’m not so I can utilize it to it’s fullest. I’ve always called my planner, “My Brain.” I need to reestablish my relationship with writing everything down in one place again.
The Blog Connection Community - This is a community of mostly over forty ladies who are supportive, motivated, and encourage productivity. This is an active community of mature Christian women who have drive to accomplish their goals.

Homebased business is hard and discouraging. Success requires support and accountability.

Homemaking

Purge - I’m seriously considering budgeting for a dumpster for a few months and doing a major purge. (We are in the boonies and it is about $100 a month to have a dumpster out here…) We’re short on consignment shops and the ones we have are severely overstocked. I’ve sent some things off to Goodwill through Amazon's Give Back Box program but it is a hassle and I’m not sure I can buy enough from Amazon to have enough boxes to get rid of all I should, besides that brings things in instead of just sending things out… Kinda counter productive. LOL. I hate preparing for garage sales. All that hard work sorting, cleaning, and pricing just to have a few people show up, swap or lose the prices, and only want to give me pennies for the hard work. I’d rather provide dumpster-divers with quality junk to rummage through.
Minimize - I’ve been reevaluating our possessions since the wildfire last March. Clothing is something I’m working on minimizing. We do need at least two weeks worth of clothes because we can easily be out of electricity for that long any time of the year. I have enjoyed some YouTube videos by Justine Leconte about minimizing wardrobe and have come up with a personalized plan for myself. I’ve been replacing older items with more versatile items in natural fibers.
FlyLady - As I reorganize and purge, I’ll hopefully get back on a FlyLady type routine again. I have used FlyLady for nearly 20 years now and it has been the best system. If you’ve never seen her material, please visit her website. Her book would be a great gift for a new homemaker.

I love homemaking. I enjoy making our home cozy and inviting. I love having things neat, clean, and organized. It is much easier with planning.

Homestead

Garden - I want a garden this year. Period. I’ve started fermenting sauerkraut and would love to grow my own produce.
Greenhouse - I also want to get plastic of some sort on our little green house and get things growing in it. I’d love to be able to juice all year long.
Soap Making - I want to start making goats milk soap. I got the supplies last year just as the children were drying our nannies up for the year. I can hardly wait for fresh milk again. The stuff from the store just isn’t the same.

Water Management - I’m praying for lots of moisture. Hubby is having to haul water once a week this winter and was hauling it at least twice a week over the summer. I’m about ready to designate this parched land as a desert. We need to install some kind of rain collection system and garden in a way that makes the best possible use of the least amount of water.

I’m seriously ready for Earthship living. Has anyone ever seen an Earthship barn for the critters? I think that would be awesome!

Homeschool

Graduates - We have two working to graduate this year. I’m struggling with a change in perspective on academics. The gap between our first two and the rest of our children has provided an insight I definitely didn’t have with our first two graduates. Kathryn concentrated on writing through her high school. She is now a published author with two of her own novels and one coauthored novel. Kristyn concentrated mostly on her animals which she happily makes her living from now. I really struggled with their attention to other assignments. I realize most of those other things really haven’t made any difference or been any benefit to their further life or education. Anything I stressed over feeling they ‘missed’ has been easy for them to catch up on, research, or learn about since their graduation. If anything, they have more motivation now since mom isn’t assigning it. Self interest or need seems to be the best motivation.
Character - Something I’m very glad I diligently pursued teaching is Biblical Character Qualities. They’ve helped them grow and overcome struggles beautifully. My favorite reference is The Power of True Success.
Boys - I have loosened my concentration on non-basic academics. Our study has been more interest oriented. I still worry, especially about the boys since this is my first experience with boys. I have to keep reminding myself, where I fall short God will fill in and take up the slack. Still, it’s hard not to worry what others will think about my quality of education when the boys go into the workforce. I always hoped they would have businesses of their own but I’m not sure if that will work out. It has been so hard for us to make a living from our various businesses. At this point I’m not sure the boys want the headache of their own businesses. They’ve seen the struggle four-fold and it hasn’t been pretty. Working for others isn’t always a good answer either. Kathryn and their dad have both had employers and customers who haven’t paid which is disheartening and discouraging, not to mention leaving finances in a real bind. I’m praying fervently for God’s leading for both our boys.
Society - Another thing I’ve changed is our concentration on social interaction. I found friends to be a distraction that ended in harsh lessons. The friends Kathryn and Kristyn have made since the maturation of graduation have been lasting and true compared to pre-graduate society which was extremely selfish and insensitive. I have found the more we concentrate on good working relationships within our household, the more confident they are around others of all ages. Except for an extremely shy one that takes after me, none of our children could be accused of being socially inept. I am confident the shy one will step forward when the time is right.
Portfolios - I’d like our graduates to have a few things to “show” for the effort other than a paper transcript. Though I’m not sure what difference it would really make. Had the wildfires burnt our house down last year, the older girls’ portfolios would have gone up in smoke and I don’t think they would have missed them as much as I would have missed their scrapbooks. It’s funny how our priorities can change.

If I look back and count the things I’m glad I learned in high school, it would be a fairly short list. When it comes down to it, I learned what I was interested in and wanted to learn. I have used what has been needed and learned the rest along the way.

I look forward to seeing what 2018 has in store for us. I know, no matter what happens, God is with us. He helps, provides, and protects us every day. I will set my goals and make my plans, but in the end it is always HIS plans that are best. What big plans do you have this year?

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In Spite of Myself by Katie Hornor #Review

11/5/2017

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In Spite of Myself book will make a wonderful gift this holiday season. I encourage you to get it. We will be having a special Bible Study with it in December if you'd like to join us. I'd love to have some of my readers involved in this special time!

Katie Hornor's newest devotional book, In Spite of Myself, touched my heart right where I am. I spent the first week of this devotional in tears. Katie has a loving way to share the difficulties she's been through that God has turned into beautiful testimony. I choose praise in spite of myself through all the hard things. It's hard. I often fail and complain first. I rant and rave at the injustices. Then God wraps His arms around me and reminds me that it is all in His control. No matter what criticism, slander, rejection, isolation or betrayal I'm going through, and believe me I've gone through some terrible mudslinging, God knows. Yeshua (Jesus) received it even more undeservedly. He knows.

"Maybe you've been trying to find a song of praise in the midst of criticism, slander, rejection, isolation or betrayal? Friend, God is there. And he is standing by with his promises of peace in the storm and healing to come."
~Katie Hornor, InspiteofMyselfbook.com

I love the analogy of the boiling water. When the boiling water of life's hardships are poured over you, don't be like a carrot and get all mushy. Be like a coffee bean and spread the aroma of God's love and praise throughout the hot liquid. That can be applied in so many ways. I thought of when I let my coffee sit too long and it gets cold. If the grounds set out in the air very long before brewing, they lose their flavor. We pray for health and safety but He knows sometimes we need rain to grow. We need some animal to come pooh on us to fertilize us for growth. We need to have our fruit plucked and our branches pruned before we can ever even make it to the delicious drink. Coffee beans also have to be roasted and ground. God often used grapes as an analogy, after all the fertilizing, rain, pruning and picking, they have to be stomped and pressed to get the flavorful juice. So do olives to get olive oil. There's nothing wrong with praying and hoping for health and safety but we need to remember to praise, maybe even more gratefully, during the hard and painful times.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee."
Psalm 84:11–12

We need to be regularly reminded that God is our provision. He is our protection. He loves us and keeps His promises, always. The best way to make sure you get the reminders you need is to keep reading the Bible. God tucked promises and love notes throughout His Word. If you want to thrive instead of just survive, you can't live by bread alone, but must have the Word of God to help you and guide you.

In Spite of Myself book will make a wonderful gift this holiday season. I encourage you to get it. We will be having a special Bible Study with it in December if you'd like to join us. I'd love to have some of my readers involved in this special time!

Katie’s social media are:

Facebook Paradise Praises: Christian Parenting, Homeschooling & Healthy Family Living
Instagram @KatieHornor and @ParadisePraises
Twitter @Katie_Hornor and @ParadisePraises

In Spite of Myself is a deeper dive to help your heart take every thought captive, help your thinking take an upward swing and ultimately help your attitudes, heart and home be transformed!

I received the book IN SPITE OF MYSELF by KATIE HORNOR free in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. See our disclosure policy for details.

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How To Deal With Female Hair Loss

6/21/2017

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Hair loss, or alopecia, has been something I have struggled with over the years. It was something I was ashamed of for a long time. I thought my vanity was a sin I needed to overcome, yet I tried all kinds of things to cover it up. Most people around me would never guess I've worn some kind of "helper hair" for years. There are lots of causes and differing degrees of alopecia and each woman has to find her own way in the journey. There are definitely some tips that can help. Even though it is a personal struggle for me, it is something I feel at a loss to write about. Today I have a guest to help. Even if this isn't a struggle for you, you will find the tips helpful in your health and beauty regime:

Hair loss is a natural part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to accept it. There are plenty of ways to deal with hair loss, and plenty of reasons hair loss may occur that might not be from natural aging. If you want to deal with your hair loss gracefully and love the look of your hair again, try these tips.

The Perfect Cut, Color, and Style for Hair Loss

Cutting your hair short when it's thinner than ever may seem counterintuitive, but it's probably one of the best things you can do to regain confidence and conceal hair loss. Short hair is more voluminous. Layering will give you more scalp coverage. And framing the face will give you a young, fresh style.
Coloring your hair might not seem like the best idea when you're already losing it, but depositing color makes the hair cuticle swell and open up, adding volume and thickness.
Lightening your hair a few levels above its natural color will make the visible areas of your scalp much less noticeable. It also makes it easier to blend with white hair, allowing you to go longer without touchups, protecting your hair from unnecessary damage.
Style your hair with a volumizing root boost spray or mousse and work it into the base of your scalp more than the ends to keep it from weighing down. Hair fiber powder helps thicken your hair and hides any visible scalp by blending it in with your hair color. The best hair dryers for fine hair utilize ceramic instead of ionic technology which can oversmooth hair and make it appear more flat. Aim the nozzle at your roots and blow dry with your head upside down in order to create more volume and texture.

How To Treat It and Feed It

The best type of shampoo for thinning hair is volumizing shampoo. Your shampoo shouldn't have any added sulfates, which strip the hair of its natural oils.
Hair is mostly protein, so eat plenty of healthy protein in your diet. Chicken, fish, and beans are great sources of protein.
If you have an itchy scalp you might be over-shampooing. Scratching your hair is bad for the hair cuticle. Try using Head & Shoulders or a tea tree oil-infused shampoo for one week per month.

Protecting Your Hair and Scalp

Most people take hot showers whenever possible, but hot water and steam dry out the skin and hair tremendously. Skin sweats in heat and so does your hair, causing dehydration. Use lukewarm water when washing your hair and try to rinse it out with as cold a temperature as you can.
Another shower mistake many women make is brushing wet hair or rubbing it dry with a towel. The hair is most elastic when wet, so it's very likely to snap if it's treated roughly.
Blot your hair softly, let it air dry, and use a comb before the shower, not after. Try to keep from putting it up tight. Let it flow!
The sun is very damaging on the hair because of UV exposure. Try to wear a UV protectant hat, or use a UV-protectant leave-in conditioner in the sun.
If you follow these tips you can maintain a young full looking head of hair for many more years to come.

Jacqueline C. is the founder of Her Glow Up, a beauty blog dedicated to providing the latest trends and insider scoops on beauty, hair care and makeup tips.

Author Bio : Jacqueline C. is the founder of Her Glow Up, a beauty blog dedicated to providing the latest trends and insider scoops on beauty, hair care and makeup tips. You can visit her here on Pinterest.

Thank you Jacqueline for a very informative article. I've tried these tips and they really do help!

If this information has been helpful to you or touched your heart in some way, please consider donating so I can keep publishing. See our disclosure policy for more details. I dearly appreciate all my readers and Pray that God blesses you in a special way today.

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Do Women Want Convenience Over Health?

10/17/2016

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Do you think you would like to attend a class on learning to cook simple foods like this and make them into simple meals? Do you know a young mother or a teen with several younger siblings who might appreciate learning more? I'd like to know how much interest there is. Please leave a comment.

I'd like to start here by saying that I think there are times that conveniences are a big blessing. I am not against using paper plates during stressful times or whipping up a quick treat from a box mix. I don't always carry Ball jars around. Sometimes I buy water bottles. I have even suggested to overwhelmed mothers of young children utilize some of these conveniences. Seriously, I prefer cloth diapers but when I had three in them at the same time my husband insisted we purchase store bought diapers. I don't in any way feel guilty about that. We also used mostly paper plates at that time and ate a lot of boxed macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Rather than spend all my time cleaning I enjoyed my babies.

In my homemaking, it's been important to me to learn how to do as many things as natural and healthy as possible. As I got busier I needed to become more economical. I wanted to keep things healthy but I needed to conserve energy so I wasn't absolutely exhausted all the time. It was also very important to save as much money as possible. Sometimes we were even living off food from a local food bank. Food banks don't always carry convenience foods.

Contrary to some opinions and ideas, it is possible to be healthy without wearing yourself out. Here are a few ideas to help. Learn to streamline your meals and cook simple things:

Eggs - Fried, Scrambled & Boiled (You can boil a whole dozen eggs once a week and keep them in the frig to pull out throughout the week. Good nutrition.)
Oatmeal - Quick oats can be bought cheep and in can be purchased in bulk to save even more. Boil some water. Put 1/2 a cup of oats in each bowl and pour a little boiled water on or microwave the oats with milk for a minute. Add a spoonful of sweetener and sprinkle with a teeny bit of cinnamon and you have a wonderful breakfast.
Rice - You can cook a large pot at one time and warm up helpings through the week for lunch or supper by adding different meats and vegies to mix things up.
Beans - Another large pot to put with the rice or wrap in a tortilla.
Biscuits - The Rumford Baking Powder can has a wonderful and very simple recipe. Everyone loves fresh biscuits right out of the oven. It really doesn't take any longer to whip up than a box mix and tastes so much better than refrigerated. I do splurge on frozen sometimes though.
Yeast Bread - It took me years to get up the nerve to learn how to bake homemade bread. It was so intimidating. Now I kick myself for not learning earlier. I can make a loaf or a pan of buns faster than we can run to the grocery store and get back home. As a matter of a fact each of our girls could do the same before they turned 15. It's easier than you think.
Fruit - Rather than spending the extra money on packaged treats keep fresh and dried fruits around for snacks.

My biggest challenge nutritionally has always been in getting more vegetables. We seldom garden and not very successfully so we are dependent upon canned and frozen most of the time. Keep your grocery shopping simple. You don't need fancy or complicated recipes for these things to make yummy and nutritious meals.

Most modern conveniences aren't a detriment to health, but nutrition is very important. Don't skimp here. Children growing up on pop, chips, and boxed cereal end up with a myriad of health problems besides behavioral issues from erratic blood sugar. Save these things for movie night treats and birthday parties.

Do you think you would like to attend a class on learning to cook simple foods like this and make them into simple meals? Do you know a young mother or a teen with several younger siblings who might appreciate learning more? I'd like to know how much interest there is. Please leave a comment.

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Our Favorite Chicken Recipes

9/25/2016

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Howdy Friend! I hope this finds you in health and high spirits. My new job is going well. I'm almost done with my training and the family is adjusting. Poor Pistol puppy still isn't quite sure what to think of it all. He's so very happy to see me when I get home. I MUST play with him first thing. We've changed the chore routine a bit so the children can take turns keeping up with trouble areas. Our entryway/bathroom/utility room can become a mess very quickly. We often have puppies, baby chickens & muddy boots littering the way. I had a week off and did some much needed dusting. The children did a lot when they changed the seasonal decor. It looks like Fall inside our home, even if it's not quite there outside...

With the cooler evenings comes a craving for chicken around our house. I thought I'd share our favorite chicken recipes with you this week. There's nothing like a broiler and celery boiling on the stove on a cool Fall day.

Chicken & Dumplings (I use the recipe on the back of the Rumford Baking Powder Canister instead of Bisquick.)
Homemade Noodles (Hubby prefers noodles over dumplings. I've never used oil in mine so I'd just omit it from this recipe.)
Chicken Pot-Pie (This recipe used to be on the back of the veg-all can. Someone made this for us after one of our babies and we have loved it every since. We usually use frozen mixed veggies instead of the expensive can though...)

We also love fried chicken any time of year with a big pot of mashed taters and homemade rolls. I try not to make it too often though because I tend to go overboard. Yummy! I may not have much of a figure anymore, but I want to be careful. My knees and ankles get to hurting really bad if I put on much weight. (I could stand to lose some as it is... Oh, menopause why dost thou ruin my metabolism?)

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Early Autumn Recipe Roundup

9/12/2016

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Meals were something I really felt we needed to overhaul. It's too easy to get to the end of the day wondering what's for supper. I don't want to be tired from work and have the same problem. I certainly don't want to use this extra income on take-out, though our options here are extremely limited, it is still too expensive for a family of eight.

It's actually beginning to look like Autumn here in the OK panhandle. I'm thrill we've been blessed with enough rain for things to still be relatively green. Now that the evenings are cooling down, things are slowly starting to change colors. Rather than going from dead brown to more dead brown... We might actually have some golden fall colors this year. The mornings and evenings have been beautiful!

With the change of weather this year has also come a change in our family life. For the first time in our marriage, I have a job outside our home. It's bittersweet for me because, though I'm excited to start this new endeavor, I have always loved being home with our children.

With the job comes a multitude of adjustments. I'll be working 8 hour shifts morning, evening, or night. Since we have 3 other adults in our home, we will be able to continue homeschooling the younger four children. I'm very grateful they are all fairly self motivated and can accomplish most of their school work independently. When I work mornings, they'll have their school out waiting for me to review, check and help with anything they had questions on that day. When I work afternoons, we should be able to get most of it done before I leave. When I work nights, we'll do it between my naps.

Housework is already something we are in a relative routine on, though it always needs diligent reminding to stay on top of things. No doubt we'll have times we get behind, but I find that to be normal. If you come visit just ignore the extra dust bunnies, pile of unfolded laundry and the messy counter top. We'll get to it... LOL.

Meals were something I really felt we needed to overhaul. It's too easy to get to the end of the day wondering what's for supper. I don't want to be tired from work and have the same problem. I certainly don't want to use this extra income on take-out, though our options here are extremely limited, it is still too expensive for a family of eight. I decided to ask for some recipes and ideas from friends and this may end up being part of my regular blog schedule. I hope you find something you like.

With Feast of Trumpets coming up, I really appreciated DanielleTate.org putting together this wonderful list ofApple Recipes. Our family loves picking fresh apples in the fall. Our favorite ways to eat them are in Apple Crisp or just sliced up and dipped in honey. YUM!!! We also enjoy sparking apple cider.

Katie at Paradise Praises has shared some excellent ideas on How to Preserve Favorite Recipes for Future Generations. Someday I'd like to try making recipe scrapbooks for my girls.

Marie shared this yummy sounding French Canadian Sugar Pie recipe on her blog. I love that she gives step-by-step instructions with pictures. Marie has also published a cookbook that's on my holiday wishlist this year, A Cabin Full of Food.

One of the ways I'm simplifying right now is with our menu. Each day of the week has a general theme. Like "Meatloaf Monday". I'm experimenting with recipes. Phyllis has this Sicilian Meat Loaf recipe on her blog. I'll omit the ham when I try it, but the cheese and seasonings in this one sound really good.

Here is my simplified Menu:

Stroganoff Sunday - I simply mix browned hamburger, condensed cream of chicken soup, cooked & drained egg noodles and sour cream.
Meatloaf Monday - Last week I used the recipe that came with our Instapot. It was very good.
Taco Tuesday - This could be any Mexican meal. Soft tacos with flour tortillas are our favorite though.
Whatever Wednesday - Open for Biscuits and Gravy or Waffles or... whatever. LOL
Italian Thursday - I couldn't think of any words beginning in "Th" and we love Italian. Spaghetti is the easiest, but we also like pizza and lasagna so I wanted to leave it open in case we feel ambitious.
Fry Friday - Chicken Fried Steak, Fried Chicken or Hamburgers and French Fries.
Soup or Stew Saturday - Easy-peasy for Sabbath.

So far, this is working out well. Our only hitch has been remembering to set out the hamburger Sunday evening for Monday's meatloaf. I'm sure we'll get the hang of it all soon.

Do you have some favorite recipes and meal time ideas? I'd love to hear them!

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Ladybugs and other Creepy-crawlies

7/10/2016

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I'm NOT a bug person. I can count the bugs I like on one hand. But here are some good resources for the children and the garden.

Summer is upon us. The panhandle of Oklahoma is hot & humid. (Well, more humid than we've been use to... I'm sure people in Southeastern OK would argue the point.) I've been neglecting the internet & blog lately. I wish I could say I have been busy in the garden, but we didn't plant one this year. I have helped my dad on the farm some. I love plowing fields, especially when I have air-ride, AC & stereo... I also enjoy swathing Alfalfa. The gorgeous green and lovely purple flowers and the smell are wonderful. Mostly though, I've been inside avoiding the heat, fighting allergies & enjoying our children. I homeschool more in the heat of summer since we're stuck inside anyway.

I've also been planning. I'm really enjoying my Hey Mama! Planner from The Old Schoolhouse. I like to reevaluate & plan twice a year. I've added some things to our schedule that will be keeping us a bit busier than our normal. My health has limited our participation in outside activities for a number of years. Now that I'm feeling better, I'm really looking forward to doing some fun things in our community.

This year we are getting more involved in 4-H club. We'll be having summer workshops soon. The children are looking forward to making fun crafts for the county fair. Our club is also planning to join some fun activities that will compliment our homeschool nicely this year. Hopefully I'll be posting more about them as the year unfolds.

Summer is an excellent time to study bugs. Here are some great books to help study creepy-crawlies:

There are thousands and thousands of different types of bugs in the world. Find out all kinds of creepy-crawly things about them in this fascinating book.

From an amazing stick insect longer than your arm to gigantic spiders as big as a dinner plate, this book's huge fold-out pages let readers discover how big some of the biggest bugs in the world really are.

Spot beetles scurrying across desert dunes, butterflies flitting through the jungle, caterpillars munching on cabbage leaves, and many, many more bugs. Little spotters can keep track of all their finds using the stickers in the middle of the book.

Watch as the bug whizzes around the tracks in this delightful interactive book. Wind up the bug by pulling it backward, place it on the tracks and watch it wiggle around the garden.

I've joined a different Home & Community Education club this year which I'm really enjoying. Most of the members have known me all my life and are very supportive. This group is very involved and dedicated. I'm hosting the meeting this month which is about (free printable information from OKstate) Beneficial Insects & Conserving Beneficial Anthropods. I'm NOT a bug person. I can count the bugs I like on one hand. But I'm planning some fun snacks and an informational video:

While I'm sharing bugs, I'd like to share some of my favorite hair accessories. Lilla Rose flexi-clips and bobby-pins are so strong and durable. I use them all the time. The ladybugs are some of my favorite designs. I wear a lot of red and these accent great. The clips come in SEVEN sizes, so even if you have very fine or very thick hair, there is a size that will fit. They are made with flexible wire and a heavy duty notched rod which makes them adjustable. The bobby-pins are the best I've ever used. I can put them in our 10 year old's hair and never worry about her losing them. They HOLD! If you have a summer birthday girl, these are a delightful gift. Stop in my little Hair Pretties shop or let me know if you'd like to host a party.

A beautiful Ladybug adorned with crystals, alights this Flexi-clips with harmonizing beadwork of red and black. Nickel, enamel, glass. 7 sizes plus bobby pins!

While I'm looking forward to more activities this year, I also know I need to continue to pace myself carefully. Please help me pray for guidance in this area. I tend to get very excited and then end up exhausted. Is there anything you'd like me to pray for you about? I'd love to add you to my prayer list.

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. ... Proverbs 16 (KJV)

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Howdy Y'all! I’m Dawnita, 5th generation Oklahoma Panhandle Pioneer, mother of six young'ns and author of Star Chronicles: A Bible Based Study of the Stars. I love hot drinks, sewing & crafts, and very old books.

Welcome to Oklahoma's Prairie Dust Trail! Generations of Panhandle Pioneers have braved Dust Storms, Tornadoes, Wildfires and more. Join me as our family endures and thrives in God's country. ~Dawnita Fogleman~

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