Category: Homemaking

Planning Tools and Ideas for 2018

12/29/2017

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.

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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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Insta-Crock Pot Giveaway #Homemaking

6/5/2016

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In searching for fun vintage homemaking images I found a lot of bad attitudes against the idea of happy homemaking. "Why does she look so happy?" "She's probably gritting her teeth." ...and even some derogatory remarks about what husbands use to expect of their wives. Unfortunately there are a LOT of bad attitudes about Biblical relationships. Serving my husband is a delight. Sometimes I DO enjoy housekeeping. I'm not "under his boot" nor does he treat me like a "doormat". Yes, sometimes there is drudgery, but I love having a clean home, and the aroma of a meal cooked totally from scratch. I also enjoy having homemade clothes for myself and my children. I love making homemade curtains, quilts & crocheted hats...

I realize not all homemakers enjoy all these things. Some women enjoy cooking gourmet meals, I don't. I prefer very simple recipes with simple ingredients. Some women enjoy decorating their homes in updated styles. I don't. One neighbor has commented that I keep our home like a dollhouse. I'm sure that's true. Most women enjoy shopping. I occasionally do, but it's not my favorite thing. I get bogged down looking for the best deal. Whether you use a box mix and buy name brands or make things by hand, you can still be a happy homemaker.

One way to encourage happy homemaking is to have the right tools. Each homemaker has her favorite tools. I usually prefer old-fashioned tools like Cast Iron, Stoneware & stainless utensils with wooden handles. Sometimes new inventions are nice. I love my Bosch Kitchen Machine. When I started making homemade bread and realized how much I enjoy doing it, I asked Hubby for a kitchen machine. I was blessed to have found a mom at the Homeschool Convention with an awesome sale going on. The Bosch makes 4-5 loaves of bread at a time. Talk about making things easier with a big family to feed!

When we married, we were given FOUR crockpots! It was awesome! I love using a crockpot. It makes dinner so easy. The only problem is remembering to get the food in it early enough in the day to have things ready at the right time... I'm kinda scatter-brained sometimes, so I do forget. ....drum-roll.... In comes the Instapot to the rescue! One of my neighbors has been using one of these for about a year now. She LOVES it! I was telling some of my sweet bloggy-friends that I have one in my wishlist. They decided this is something every homemaker should have so why not chip in together and give one to one of our awesome readers?!?! Did you know how much we LOVE you all? We really do! Our readers are such an encouragement to each of us and we wanted to have a special "Thank You Party" for you!

I'm so excited about this! You are so important to me & I pray this gift is a great help to whichever one of you wins. I also pray all the rest of you have a lovely summer, that God keep your families safe and work some special miracle in your lives. You are such a blessing!

Now for our giveaway!

TERMS: Must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Winner will also be posted here. Prize if valued at $119.95. No purchase necessary. Prize is sponsored by Katie Hornor, Virginia George, Dawnita Fogleman and Danielle Tate. By providing your information in this form, you are subscribing to giving permission for Katie Hornor, Danielle, Tate, Virginia George and Dawnita Fogleman to contact you and providing your information to these entities alone. Your information will not be shared or sold. Winning entry will be verified. Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address.

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Exploring Herbs: Cloves #AfterMyCoffee

5/19/2016

2 Comments

I bet you didn't realize you could do so much with Cloves? I'm amazed at how wonderful God's Creation is!

I'm exploring herbs again this week with another breath freshener, cloves. Cloves or Clove oil have also been used for tooth ache. Constituents in the oil also cause warming and increase the production of hydrochloric acid, which can be very soothing to the digestive system.

Cloves smell so nice cooked. My favorite use is in Wassail in the winter time. The Wassail simmering on the stove smells so good!

I need to try making a Pomander which is poking dried cloves in an orange and hanging it up for an air freshener and bug replant.

Be careful searching for recipes or instructions. The witches like to use these for rituals and such. You'll also find some beautiful wedding ideas, yummy recipes. Just be discerning... Here is a sampling of what I found:

Coconut Chai Tea
Cinnamon Clove Coffee Cookies
One Bowl Spiced Gingerbread Muffins
Ginger Clove Anti-inflammatory Liniment
Christmas Pomanders (Which would work for summer bug repellent as well.)

I think we have the makings of a wonderful tea party with all this. Even a nice liniment for Granny. (Or the daughter who just got bucked off her horse...) I bet you didn't realize you could do so much with Cloves? I'm amazed at how wonderful God's Creation is!

Last week's After my Coffee favorite:

Chores teach our Kids Character by Life with your Kids

After My Coffee Blog Hop Linky Party at Prairie Dust Trail

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.prairiedusttrail.com/blog/category/after-my-coffee" title="After My Coffee Blog Hop Linky Party at Prairie Dust Trail"><img src="http://www.prairiedusttrail.com/uploads/3/9/2/2/39225855/442505.jpg" alt="After My Coffee Blog Hop Linky Party at Prairie Dust Trail" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please also follow my lovely co-hostesses:

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Kathryn @ Depths Of Imagination
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Chores #WhatToRead

4/6/2016

4 Comments

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

Getting children to do their chores is a tough task. Getting them to enjoy chores is something else completely. There are always tasks in life that we won't enjoy but it's important for all of us to get to a point of being able to accomplish what needs to be done with a good attitude. As a mom, how do we accomplish this? There are so many charts and ideas, but I need something simple and easy for me to use.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

The one program I have used is Managers of Their Chores Titus2.com. I really enjoyed Managers of Their Homes for helping with my homemaking and homeschooling schedule, so I figured her chore program would be good to try. The children enjoyed the Chore Packs.

Another program I think is worth mentioning is my friend, AlinaJoy at Good Old Days Farm's Easy Peasy Chores. It is a printable system using a baseball card type approach with games and unique incentives to keep family chore time joyful. I love the idea. If my children were younger, I'd definitely consider buying this system. She even has an edition for homeschoolers.

Children love knowing what is expected of them each day. The important thing in keeping a chore system working well in the family is for Mom to continue to check the progress of their children's work. They need affirmation for doing the job & the effort they put into it and further instruction on improving their performance. This encourages the children to take pride in their work, which is so important. If a homemaker isn't proud of her clean kitchen, living room decor, and homemade meal... well, it just won't be that good will it? If a man isn't proud of his work, it won't be his best. This is a good kind of pride to encourage. It builds confidence.

Last week's favorites:

Literacy Musing: Encouraging Emergent Literacy in Baby

Author Interview: Debbie W. Wilson

Our Hostesses:

Katie @ Paradise Praises
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& Your's truly...

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