Today's Housewife

A Safer Clean

noreply@blogger.com (A Diamond in the Rough) — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I always said that when I got pregnant with our first child that I would go totally green with our cleaning products. We all want our children to have the healthiest start possible and the thought of inhaling harmful chemicals or exposing the wee one to toxins needlessly in an effort to "clean" our home just didn't add up to me. The only problem was that so many of the green products out there cost a fortune and for a family on a missionary budget it didn't fit the budget. I had toyed with cleaning with vinegar in the past so it was natural (pun intended) for me to move toward the more frugal option of making my own cleaning products. It is easier than you might think if you have a couple cleaning staples on hand.

These are the top three reasons I went homemade with our household cleaners:

1) For my family- definitely my top reason! I want a home free of toxins and I don't want to trade clean in for toxic. I love being able to sling up my baby girl and clean without fear that she will inhale, touch, eat...something harmful.

2) Cleaning supplies are expensive and I was looking for a thrifty way to keep my home clean.

3) I hate running out of cleaning supplies. The great thing about homemade cleaners is that most of the ingredients last for a long time once you make the initial investment because you use so little in each cleaner.

I started with a basic all purpose kitchen cleaning spray and have slowly changed over to being nearly totally homemade in my cleaning products over the course of the past year. I will leave you with links to a few of my favorite cleaners, but the point of my post is to encourage you to make the switch for the health and safety of your family.

A few ingredients to get you started: white vinegar, baking soda, castille soap, olive oil, essential oils (grapefruit is my favorite because of its antibacterial properties), borax

A couple products to try:
All-purpose cleaner
Dryer Sheets

You can also follow my Clean and Green board on pinterest for all sorts of ideas!

I know it might seem like a lot to make your own cleaning products when you can buy them at the store. If you can afford to buy the safer, greener cleaning products than, "go on girl!", but if you can't making your own is a great alternative. It is such a great feeling to be able to clean and hold my daughter at the same time because I am confident that the ingredients I am using are safe for both her and me!

Do you make your own cleaning products? What are your favorite recipes?

Jessica is a grace lover, wife, new mama, motherless daughter, reluctant missionary and birth doula. She scribbles down stories of grace on her blog a diamond in the rough. She is currently working on her first e-book about finding God’s grace and discovering the heart of the Gospel when loss and grief are a part of your everyday life. Follow her on twitter @adiamondnrough.

Nanny Blooms are Blooming…. Inspiration for us all to Bloom where we are planted

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

You know the saying “Bloom where you are planted”, I would say my life experiences have had me blooming where I was planted. Fortunately the Tender of my garden of life is someone I can trust, beyond all trust, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have not always realized he was tending, but there have been some very gratifying times where it has been so evident. Nanny Blooms is one of those.

The other was when a young woman who was not crazy about being around children found a passion when volunteering with preschool children because help was needed at her church. I have worked with preschool children since that time, and until now nothing I have done has been more gratifying. God has grown me through the simple lessons I have taught them. My life has forever changed because of that part of my life.

The last few years while my passion for preschoolers has not waned my spirit has become weary (I think my physical being too). I have been holding on to my job (ministry) because what was I going to do with myself if I did not do that. CHANGE is so scary.

Nanny Bloom’s conception…….My middle daughter, Candace, was getting married, and was determined we are making felt flower bouquets, boutonnieres, and the works. Yikes, I had no idea what to do, I had never even seen any felt flowers except pasted on cards, and then I began to research and look. They were out there. I had to figure out how I was going to assemble and stem them, and then I had to add the little spark that made them my own. I LOVED making them so much I began to make little flower baskets and bouquets for friends for birthdays. The ladies liked their bouquets but wanted to wear them, so last Christmas I made pins for many friends and for the ladies that came to a couple of our Christmas parties. I was so hooked and the hook was not just making the flowers but seeing the faces of the friends light up with joy upon receiving them. I would love to just make them and give them away but my husband would not like paying that bill, especially when I leave my teaching job to make flowers. Selling them will allow me to give them.

Nanny Blooms growing……From there I began a blog. I talked about and posted them. I had my talented daughter create a logo to market them and Nanny Blooms was created. It is my little flower shop. It is my new direction, my new passion. May God use it and bless it as I believe this avenue is from him.

Nanny Bloom’s blooms…….I am making lots of pins and have made pins for corsages for little girls to go to valentine banquet, for ladies to wear on a sweater a scarf, a hat, a purse. I had in mind only to make little bouquets but the pins are the way I am headed. I still love the bouquets and will be making some in the future, for a special date, or wedding shower, or whatever the new challenge is.
The flowers I make are created from vintage and new buttons, wool or wool blend quality felt (with a surprise fabric added occasionally). They are assembled to last.

I would love to share a bloom with you. Check out my little flower shop at http://nannyblooms.blogspot.com, or my Facebook page nanny blooms. As of last week you can now find my blooms at Abby Lane home furnishings and gifts in Van Alstyne, Texas.

Looking ahead, I will be doing spirit blooms in the fall for some school spirit wear, baby blooms on head bands and little girl blooms for the hair. This summer I will be building a website for online sales. I also hope to do craft fairs, and add blooms to more little shops.

God has blessed me through these blooms, and given me a new passion for the future. As this year will end my teaching career, I now have a new exciting door opening to spread some blooms of joy.

Nanette is wife to Mike, mom to three grown girls and has two grandsons. She enjoys working on Nanny Blooms and sharing them with others. Be sure to check out her blog for more of her creations as well as how to make a purchase.

Laundry Part 2: Stain Removal 101

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

If you haven't seen it, check out Part 1 in my laundry series.

One of the most difficult tasks in laundry is trying to remove stubborn stains. And with 3 out of the 5 of us being age 6 and under, our laundry room has seen its fair share of stains. There are grass stains, chocolate stains, mud stains, popsicle stains, spaghetti stains, grape juice stains, spit-up stains, well, you get the idea.

I have 5 main ways of dealing with stains:

1. Extra detergent

I keep an extra toothbrush on the shelf above my washer with my detergent. When I'm loading my machine and see anything that might need a little boost I scrub it with a little laundry detergent. I find that this method works best on "light" stains. Chocolate, grass and poop are a few things that I often treat with this method. It's fast and simple. I doesn't require any extra ingredients beyond what you are already using. But it also isn't effective on a number of "tougher" stains.

2. Dish Detergent

Almost any grease-based stain can be removed with a little dish detergent. Any brand will do. I usually try to dab a little soap on as soon as I notice the stain. (It's usually while I'm still wearing the clothing!) And conveniently dish detergent is kept in the kitchen, where these kinds of stains happen most often. Try pretreating with a tiny bit of dish soap and the stain should come out whenever you get around to washing the item. This method is most convenient for those stains that happen in the kitchen, where you keep this soap.

3. "Miracle" Spot Remover

No, seriously. This stuff is miraculous when it comes to "hopeless" stains. This cleaner uses dish detergent but is a little more specific when it comes to the recipe.

1 part Dawn dish detergent

2 parts hydrogen peroxide

I first saw the recipe a few months ago on pinterest. I pinned this article on removing armpit stains and finally got around to trying it. After a great deal of success, I decided to try it on a variety of stains and have been incredibly pleased with the results.

Mix the dish detergent and peroxide. Use a small scrub brush to apply to stain. For particularly difficult stains, try sprinkling on some baking soda for extra scrubbing power. Allow to sit on stain for an hour (or more.) Launder as usual.

This is the "before" picture of my husband's undershirts. Notice the underarm stains.

I also tried this mixture on dingy collars.

Can you see the difference? The brown armpit stain is almost completely gone!

A few helpful hints:

*You must mix a new batch every time you need it. The peroxide loses its power as it sits. But you can mix as little as a tsp. together if you only have 1 small stain.

*Also, if you are washing a load of laundry with a large number of treated items, you might want to add an extra rinse cycle. I've noticed my HE front-loader doesn't always get all that soap out the first time around.

*This isn't as quick and easy as the first two methods of removal. Honestly, I usually try those first. But it's a great "go-to" cleaner when things don't come clean the first time.

4. Keep it Wet

Don't stick any piece of clothing with a stain in the dryer! The heat from the dryer can set the stain, making it almost impossible to remove. Let the garment air dry and try treating the stain again with one of the above methods. (This is a great reason to use the dry erase marker so that you don't forget the items with stains!) Also, it's important to note that a stain might not be visible when the item is wet. I would avoid drying clothing in the dryer until you are completely certain that the stain is no longer visible.

5. Sunlight

When all else fails, stick that stain out in the sunlight. This often can be used to fade tomato-based stains on clothing (and even plastic - like highchair trays!)

This was a darling "hand-me-down" dress that had a terrible stain that had appeared while in storage. (Have you noticed that stains often come out on baby clothes after being stored a while?) The label specifically instructed "No Bleach" so I almost tossed the dress a few weeks before I found this stain remover. However, I thought I'd give it a whirl before I got rid of it. I pre-treated with the Miracle Cleaner, laundered, then placed the dress in the sunlight after washing. The stain disappeared completely!

Now here's where I need your help! How do you get mud out of clothing? Even the miracle cleaner doesn't seem to make a difference on deep-set mud stains. (My son gets them on his uniform pants at recess!) Do you have any tricks I could try to help save these pants?

Alicia is the Home Editor for Today's Housewife. She's a military spouse and mother to Mark, Luke and Caroline. You can follow her on Twitter @crazysublady.

Gluttonous to Glorious

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

In January, I ate an entire double batch of cookie dough over the course of three days. My son’s teachers at school had not gotten their Christmas presents from us before the winter break, so I was trying to make them something after the fact (yeah, at no point am I going to be nominated for Mom of the Year)! And, honestly, what’s the point of making cookie dough if you can’t eat at least some of it?!!?

And as I sat there eating the last bit of that huge batch of cookie dough, I came face-to-face with the fact that I was completely addicted to food and that I was out of control and could not stop eating. I finished the remainder of it through tears… oh the irony of shoving yet another spoonful of cookie dough in your mouth while you cry and pray to God to free you from the addiction to food! But I knew the only place to find freedom from this addiction was in Christ. And, a verrrry long story short, I decided to make a covenant with Him to eat vegetarian for a year and to completely cut out sugar as well (which was the major thing to which I was addicted… obviously) and I decided to write my own devotionals on a blog www.thecovenantdiet.wordpress.com for accountability.

Cutting out sugar proved to be relatively easy. Dessert is just one of those things that doesn’t have to be part of a meal at all. But, for a rabid meat-eater to become a vegetarian, well… it was no easy task for me. Cooking every night without meat is… well… different! Don’t get me wrong, I love it now, but it took some getting used to. I found some favorite recipes that could have chicken or meat for my husband in part of it, and just veggies in the other part… like the Vegetable And Feta Foil Packet and Easy Vegetarian Crockpot Stir Fry.

And even though a lot of the change has been based around what I eat, even more of the change has come from renewing my mind about eating. about food. about gluttony. about God. I knew that the only way that I would be able to resist these foods is if I made a covenant agreement with God to stop. He was the only thing that I loved more than ribeye steak. more than breadsticks. yes, even more than chocolate.

And if I had to pick just one lesson out of the many, many, many that He has shown me over the past four months, it would be based off of these verses:

“I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Through those two verses, I have learned that it’s not just about what I eat but about eating only when I’m hungry, eating what I think would please God, and not eating what I think would disappoint Him. For example, I know that eating when I’m not hungry although it might be “allowed”… it is not beneficial. And if I want to truly make God my focus and for eternity to become the drive of my life, then I must eat for the glory of God… yes, even simply the act of eating must be to His glory. Even if no one ever knows that I am eating (or not eating as the case may be) for the glory of God… I will know my reasons for eating. He will know my reasons for eating.

Sure, it has been great to be forced into discovering new meals and recipes that I had never tried before.

Sure, it has been awesome to fit back into clothes that I haven’t worn since before I got married.

Sure, it has been a great thing for me to write about my life every single day.

But all of that is… nothing… nothing compared to knowing Him better. nothing compared to being changed by Him every minute of the day. nothing compared to having Him write His Word deeply onto my heart. and absolutely nothing compared to knowing and living in His Power.

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. Philippians3:7-10

January Rowe is the stay-at-home mom of two rambunctious boys. Her favorite hobbies are reading, acting in her church’s drama team, and blogging about her Covenant Diet at thecovenantdiet.wordpress.com.

T.V. Time vs. Family Time

noreply@blogger.com (A Diamond in the Rough) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

As my family grows I am constantly thinking about how to create a home where my family not only lives, but thrives. I won’t lie. My tendency after a long day is to sit back and chill on the couch…with the t.v. on. We’ve never had cable so my viewing choices are limited to say the least, but I don’t really mind. However, as I look down the road to children getting bigger and what I can do to be intentional about the time we spend as a family I am trying to figure out ways that we can kill our t.v. or at least kill our tendency to end our day in front of the t.v.

I am willing to guess that most of us have a television somewhere in our home- maybe even two or more of them. I am also willing to guess that the television is the center of our family rooms. Isn’t that odd? A television is the center of our family room. Currently we are in a rental home, but in the next few years we hope to have a more permanent residence that we can make our own. I am hoping if the space allows to make our family room separate from our t.v. room. I want the center of my home and the center of our time spent together to be focused on one another and not on a blinking box.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy television. I don’t think it is inherently bad. I mean who doesn’t want to curl up with a cup of tea to watch Downton Abbey? My hand is raised high! The point I am trying to make is that television can't provide the kind of meaningful interaction and bonding that we all want with our families so why would we make it the center of our homes and the way we end everyday together?

A few ideas that I have for "killing our television" are:

moving the television to a location other than the center of our home/family room
read books together {real classics like The Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables or gasp...even Harry Potter}
debriefing the day by asking each other questions, ya know, real conversation!

What are ways that you and your family make family the focus in the evenings rather than television? Have you chosen to get rid of your television and "kill it" for good?

Jessica is a grace lover, wife, new mama, motherless daughter, reluctant missionary and birth doula. She scribbles down stories of grace on her blog a diamond in the rough. She is currently working on her first e-book about finding God’s grace and discovering the heart of the Gospel when loss and grief are a part of your everyday life. Follow her on twitter @adiamondnrough.

Crafting with Bible Verses

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night or getting up in the morning. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

I am taking this command seriously this year and planning to teach my children Bible verses. I have gone through a few websites and created an alphabetical list of 80 verses that I plan for all of us to learn this year.

For each verse, we go over it a few times. I try to come up with a craft to do with the boys to teach it to them (3 1/2 and 2 1/2). Then if we can come up with motions for the verse, we'll try them out! We hang the craft on the wall where we eat dinner so we can see them every night. We also regularly go over the verses and offer rewards for being able to say them with very little help.

Here are the projects we have done so far to memorize Bible verses (click to see the list that will take you to each project). They hang proudly on our wall and we look forward to adding more to it! A-I done!

Do you have a way that you help your children learn to hide God's word in their hearts?

Kama is married to Ben, mom to 2 crazy boys ages 3 and 2 and a sweet baby girl who was born at home. She loves to craft, quilt and play outside with the kids. She also likes to save money and use coupons (when she finds time to cut them).

Laundry Part 1: Managing the Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:05:00 +0000

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the piles and piles of laundry will disappear all too soon and that you will, to your surprise, miss them profoundly." - Thomas S. Monson

Have you seen this quote floating around Pinterest and Facebook lately? I'll be honest. I don't believe it. I know that I will miss this stage of my life one day, but I will not miss the mountains of laundry. I might miss the tiny socks, but I will not miss the endless loads of potty training messes. I'm guessing that Mr. Monson didn't actually do a lot of those piles of laundry at his house. I'd be willing to bet that Mrs. Monson took care of most of it. And she probably had a system that made Mr. Monson not even realize what an overwhelming task laundry can be at time.

Laundry is one of my least favorite chores. More than any other chore it feels like I'm always fighting an uphill battle. It's never completely finished. You are always wearing clothes that are dirty and waiting to be washed. This year, however, I've found a method that makes me feel a little bit more in control of this task. I know that not everyone likes to wash every day. Some people like to save up their laundry and do several loads once or twice a week. But that doesn't work for me. I usually do one load every day. But sometimes that load would sit in my dryer waiting to be folded. Sometimes it would sit folded on my couch waiting to be put away. I never had a consistent method for getting it done and out of sight.

But recently I discovered a handy setting on my washer. I have an "8 hour delay" button. It has simplified my life so much! In the evening after the kids are in bed I gather up the laundry from the day. It all goes into the washer together and set to run first thing the next morning. First thing when I get up I transfer the wash to the dryer and then it's ready to fold while the kids are finishing breakfast. When they go upstairs to get dressed and do their chores, they take their laundry and put it away. AND THE LAUNDRY IS DONE FOR THE DAY BY 8 AM! Whew!

I have found a few little tricks that help me with my new schedule.

Shout Color Catchers - I don't think I've written about them before. They are fabulous! You can toss all your laundry together in the same load with one of these sheets and not worry about color transfer. It makes washing 1 load a day very simple.

Dry Erase Marker for Non-Dryables - I saw this idea on Pinterest a while back. (The pin I have does not have the proper credit, so I apologize for that. Let me know if it's yours!) I simply write a one - two word description of the items that shouldn't be dried in the load. I don't have to worry about forgetting since I load the dryer when I'm half asleep.

Proper Washing Machine Care - I can't stress this enough! Especially if you have a front-loading machine! This is a previous post on ways to keep your machine clean and running well.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks. I'll be featuring several posts on laundry and managing this large task that we all have. If you have any great tips and would like to be featured here, please send us an email.

What about you? Do you do laundry every day? Do you prefer to save it up and do it all at once? Any tips to share with us about managing laundry so that it doesn't take over?

Alicia is the Home Editor for Today's Housewife. She's a military spouse and mother to Mark, Luke and Caroline. You can follow her on Twitter @crazysublady.

What’s Weighing You Down?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I love the Olympics and I am looking forward to watching it this summer. One of the exciting events is the races. Have you ever seen the athletes dressed in heavy clothes and boots, running in each other’s lanes, and looking at those around them?

No, they are trained athletes, prepared to run with the lightest clothes and shoes they can possibly wear. They stay in their own lane and are focused on the finish line to win the gold medal.

I am reminded of all the men and women in Hebrews 11, examples of faith, who ran the race before us. We can be intimidated by all these examples, and think,” how can I ever measure up and run my race”?

Well, one little word that caught my attention in Hebrews 12:1 is also. It says, “let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely”. That little word tells us that they had to lay aside the sin and weight that would keep them from running just like we need to. So instead of being intimidated, we can be encouraged by their examples.

Running the race is literally living the Christian life. Sin is rebellion against God’s rule, putting ourselves in the place of God as Savior, Lord and Judge.

Weight is anything that hampers our forward motion, to get in the way of, or to obstruct and interfere. It is any habit, attitude or belief that keeps us from experiencing God and all He has to offer.

Can you even imagine trying to run a race weighed down?

I can. Weights I have to throw off are fear and insecurity. I know that these weights can keep me from following the path God has called me to, allowing Him to use me and fulfill His purpose in me.

We have to run without the weight, and God tells us in verse two how we can do it.

It is only by looking to Jesus who is the founder and perfecter of our faith. It means “fixing our eyes- to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else”

This reminds me of when I taught childbirth classes (and the birth of my babies). During labor the mom has to “fix her eyes” on a focal point with a single minded focus, looking forward to the end result, the birth of her baby.

In the same way, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, looking to Him to show us the sin and weights in our lives that keep us from running to the end. When we get our eyes off Jesus and look at ourselves and our circumstances or even others around us we are weighed down and can’t enjoy the race.

When those fears and insecurities come, I look to Jesus to be reminded of who He is and who He says I am in Him. By focusing on His word in passages such as Ephesians 1 and Romans 8, and dwell on what it says, then I can confidently throw off those weights and continue the race.

Do you have weights you need to throw off?

Spend time with the Lord, asking Him to reveal the things that weigh you down and keep you from running your race. As you become aware of any sin and weights, throw them off. Then you will experience the freedom and fullness that only God can give. He is the one who started us on our race and He will help us finish.

The finish line is eternity with Him and so much better than winning a gold medal.

"To hope in God is to fix your eyes on Him and His promises rather than your own personal circumstances, no matter how difficult they may be. If God is the source of your hope, it will never fail because He never fails “ Nathan Busenitz

“Lord, thank you for putting us in the race and that we are not in it alone, you are right there with us, leading and guiding. Please show us the sin and weights that weigh us down, keeping us from experiencing your freedom and joy in the path you have for us. As we become more aware of our sin and weights help us quickly throw them off, and run with endurance our eyes fixed on Jesus, Amen”

(For further study a great book is “Life Unhindered” by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.)

I have been married to Dave 34 years; we have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. My passion is teaching women the Bible, and helping them to learn how to study and apply it for themselves. God and His Word have made all the difference in my life and I want to help women realize they too can have their own relationship with Him as He changes us from the inside out.

Kim’s blog, Inside Out: kimlenon.wordpress.com

Shall We Gather?

noreply@blogger.com (kd) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I grew up in a very small church in a rural town in the central part of the state of Florida. When I say small, the largest gathering on a weekly basis I ever remember is 40 and that includes children. So, small may be an understatement. One blessing from being in a small church in the south was 5th Sunday dinners.
5th Sunday dinner I really think helped facilitate my weight problem, but that's neither here nor there. Needless to say, there was some phenomenal cooks in that church. We had more than enough food every time we sat down to eat a meal together. The by-product of these great meals were the two cookbooks that this church published and I still have both of them.

Unfortunately, this recipe is not one of them. But, this is a recipe that can probably be found in many of your church cookbooks. It came out of a church cookbook from the church my husband attended in high school. It is definitely a winner asI tried it out for our church's small group when I was assigned to make dinner one night. Everything with cheese has to be good, right?

Spaghetti Casserole

1 medium onion, chopped
1 lb lean hamburger (you can substitute turkey or italian sausage)
1 can tomato soup
1/4 cup ketchup
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 can cream of celery soup
2 T worcestershire sauce
Seasonings: salt and pepper, garlic powder, italian seasonings
1 8 oz pkg whole wheat spaghetti noodles

Saute onion in olive oil. Add in hamburger and cook until done. Drain. Cook spaghetti noodles, drain.
Mix together the tomato soup, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Mix with meat.

In small casserole layer in: spaghetti, sauce, celery soup, cheese, layer again (2 layers). End with cheese - which is always good.

Bake for about 25 minutes at 400 or until the goodness of the cheese is bubbly!

Serve with a salad and/or bread. This is a staple in the Campbell home now!

Kimberly Campbell is a wife, mother, and freelance writer - who just happens to love to cook. She blogs regularly at http://kd316.com/

The lost art of writing...

noreply@blogger.com (Sherri) — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Several years ago I was teaching social work to bachelor's level students, something I had always wanted to do. Very soon, however, the task of grading papers became one I dreaded for one horrible reason: my students couldn't write.

I had one or two who did very well, but for the most part they were just terrible. And these were students who had two years of college behind them!

The amazing thing is that we communicate with the written word so much more than we used to, and we do it every day:

emails
blog posts
tweets
Facebook
texts

We also do it worse than we ever have!

Does it matter? Call me old-fashioned, but I believe it really does. In business, the ability to express yourself clearly, appropriately and with well-chosen, properly spelled words is essential. People do it badly every day, and while nothing may be said or done IT IS NOTICED.

So, what do we do about it?

Write!!

Get some fun stationery and colorful pens and pencils and get your kids busy writing the old-fashioned way. What to write?

thank you notes for gifts
notes of appreciation to teachers and ministers
letters to grandparents
cards to soldiers deployed overseas
letters or cards to people in the hospital or in nursing homes

Be creative. The point is to get them thinking about other people and writing things appropriate to all different kinds of situations.

Check their work and correct as needed. Get some books from the library about writing for various occasions.

Besides improving their writing/spelling skills, something else amazing might happen. They might start getting mail in return. I love getting personal letters or cards in the mail! Always have. When I was in college I lived for letters and cards from my family.

Emails and texts are great, but cards and letters can be held and savored and pinned on a wall or door. They can fill a box that becomes a treasure trove of memories. A hand-written note can touch us in ways that electronic media cannot.

Learning to write well doesn't have to be tedious. It can be fun and reap some great rewards for a lifetime.

This summer while the kids are out of school and have some extra time (maybe??), make it a point to have some time set aside to write. Make it fun. One day, they will thank you for it, and until then they will benefit from it as much as the recipients of their creations do.

Your turn: Do your kids hand write letters and cards? Do you?

Sherri is a medical social worker for hospice, wife to Jeff and Mom to Riley, a 3 year-old terrier who thinks he's human. She is an aspiring writer of fiction and inspirational/devotional works. It is her greatest desire to be used by God to encourage others in their walk with the Lord. She blogs about Christian living and service at SherriStone.

Today's Hobby: Hunting with Kimberly

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

When I was asked to write a blog about a hobby and Kama told me they have never had anyone talk about hunting; then I was sold. Of course, I want to say that we do not hunt to just hunt, but we use it as a source of food for our family.

My husband and I went hunting together for the first time back in December 2005 (he's an avid hunter!). I had never been myself, but I went to learn his hobby. While sitting out there with him as the sun rose, it was amazing to see God's creation to come alive. I was in awe from the very first moment. We watched squirrels come out from the night's rest, the crows awoke, and other animals just danced around us like we weren't even there. It was just so neat watching everything come to life as the sun arose.

For Mother's Day 2010, I received my very own rifle. I had never actually hunted the last several years, but went and sat by his side. So, as hunting season approached, I learned to shoot my rifle; which I am a pretty good shot. I actually learned to shoot when I was a summer missionary through NAMB (North American Mission Board) up in Montana. I was on a traveling team of 4 girls in the Rocky Mountains of MT; one of our pastors taught me to shoot. The power of a gun should always be respected!

Anyways, my first year to hunt by myself, I was actually 5 months pregnant with our 2nd child. I remember sitting out there that opening morning and that feeling that I first had when I sat out there for the very first time with Les came flooding back in.........it was still just as amazing! Just as the sun came up, I remember hearing something, I looked up and there were 2 does right in front of me. They were only about 30 feet or less from me. As I had my gun on the doe closest to me; I couldn't shoot because of her beauty. It was my first time to see a deer so close and outside of a petting zoo! :) Her and I locked eyes for several seconds and I just stared into her eyes with amazement. I let her go and just watched her sprint away.

Les and I live off the land the best that we can to save money and allow me to stay home with our kids. We have a garden; this year we're growing yellow squash, zucchini (first year), okra, pumpkin (first year), black eyed peas, and pinto beans. My husband also hunts hogs. One way that we save money is by processing all the meat ourselves (we do steaks, ground meat, etc). We use this meat throughout the whole year and we also fish (my FAVORITE!!!!) in the spring/summer. Do we buy meat at the grocery store??? Yes, especially chicken since I haven't gotten around to having a chicken coop built yet; which is a possibility later on down the line. We thank God for the ability to provide for our family by living off of the land and using the resources that He gives to us.

Kimberly is a stay at home mom to Zachary (3 yrs old) and Sadie (14 months old). She is a Consultant for The Pampered Chef; which she just loves (www.pamperedchef.biz/kimberlyskitchen10). Her biggest hobby is cake/cupcake/cookie decorating. She and Les will be celebrating our 5th Wedding Anniversary this October! You can follow her blog at www.lkzscornelius.blogspot.com.

A Few Oldies...

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! I was spoiled by my husband and family and decided to treat myself by rerunning a few older posts of mine.

My three little monkeys

Check out a few of my practical favorites from the last several years!

Closet Organizing

Easy Decorating with a Hurricane

Cleaning your Makeup Brushes

I also wanted to announce the winner of their own copy of "That Works For Me". Kimberly's comment was chosen by a random number generator. I will be in touch with her soon!

Alicia is the Home Editor for Today's Housewife. She's a military spouse and mother to Mark, Luke and Caroline. You can follow her on Twitter @crazysublady.

Reflecting His Light

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

“You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.” – 2 Samuel 22:29 (NIV)

I am a very light-affected person. In a discussion with my husband regarding our first home, I adamantly stood against any darkly-lit houses. I thrive off of natural sunlight pouring through bright windows into our home.

Photo credit

As a little girl, I feared darkness. I would race down the stairs to my parents in a bright, inviting living room as fast as my feet could step without slipping just to beat the darkness of the empty rooms behind me.

Even now, when I ache at night over worries or condemn myself for the day’s failures, even the smallest hints of light bringing a new morning remind me of God’s constant presence and His gift of a new day.

Knowing how greatly light affects my mentality, I wonder, too: how do I shine to others? Do I shine brightly, inviting others to God’s arms? Or do I emit a dull light, depending on my circumstances or needs? C.S. Lewis said, “We are mirrors whose brightness, if we are bright, is wholly derived from the sun that shines upon us.” I am broken. I need Christ. But rather than focus inward on my darkness, I can renew my heart to fulfill my purpose of being a vessel for God’s will. Relying on God transforms me into a mirror that shows not my own self to onlookers, but reflects God’s loving, grace-filled light.

God, cause me to shine brightly with Your light and love, inviting others into your warmth. Amen.

How does God's light shine through you? How do you refocus on His light?

Blueberry Multigrain French Toast Bake + Mother's Day Brunch Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

This Sunday, May 13th is Mother's Day, in case you were unaware. I'm guessing most of you are not, but just in case I thought I'd remind you. :) I hope and pray that this Mother's Day is special for all of you, as you celebrate moms, families, and special women in your lives. One way that we like to celebrate is with food! So what better way to celebrate than with an arsenal of tried and true brunch ideas?

If you're looking for some new pastries and muffins, be sure to consider these:

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing

Royal Berry Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Carrot Muffins

Sunrise Muffins

Perhaps you need a side...

Brown Sugar Bacon Twists

Honey Lime Fruit Salad

Or do you need a main dish?

Sausage, Apple, and Egg Casserole

Although I would love to dine on any of those tried and true dishes that are straight from my kitchen, I must share with you one last gem: Blueberry Multigrain French Toast Bake! I made this breakfast bake when we had family in town last week and it was a huge it.

I love French Toast Bakes because they're all the great taste of the classic breakfast dish, but with a small fraction of the work [not that you moms should be working in the kitchen on Sunday anyway though!]. My version has some healthy ingredients like hearty multigrain bread and plump blueberries, and is flavored with fragarent cinnamon for that authentic French Toast taste. Plus, as an added benefit, you make it the night before so it takes next to no work when brunch time rolls around! Hope you enjoy, and Happy Mother's Day!

Blueberry Multigrain French Toast Bake [adapted from Ours to Yours]click to print

Ingredients:

1 pound day-old multigrain French bread, cubed
8 eggs, beaten
2 cups skim milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ cup flour
¼ cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries

Directions:

Grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, then spread bread cubes in pan.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs then stir in milk, vanilla, flour, sugar, and cinnamon until mixture is smooth. Add half of the blueberries then pour mixture evenly over bread.

Top with remaining blueberries.

Cover and refrigerate overnight [or at least 1 hour, but no more than 24].

When ready to bake, remove from refrigerator, uncover, and place in cold oven. Then turn oven to 400 and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and set on top. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with additional berries, syrup, or powdered sugar as desired.

Time: 15 minutes active + 35 minutes baking + time to refrigerate

Yield: 8-10 servings.

Notes: If oven is preheated, just let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking.

Sarah began blogging at The Pajama Chef in order to chronicle her adventures in and love of cooking and baking. Sarah is currently a graduate student at Indiana University working towards a Master of Library Science and a Master of Arts in African Studies. Sarah's efforts in the kitchen would not be possible without the assistance of her husband, Ben, and his stellar dish-washing and sous-chef skills. Sarah and Ben were married in May 2009 and enjoy running, reading, involvement in a local church, and spoiling their kitty, Sheba. You can also find Sarah on Pinterest.

Dear Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:27:00 +0000

"Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you." (Proverbs 23:25)

Dear Mom,

People can tell just from look at us that we're mother and daughter. In fact, from behind, we've been mistaken for one another! But I hope that people can tell we are mother and daughter, not just by how alike we look, but by how alike we are. Here are just a few of the qualities I want to emulate from your life:

First, your endless patience and sacrificial spirit as a mother. I know that raising three daughters (the oldest one with Down Syndrome) has not always been easy. It started with battles with the school system to get them to provide more opportunities for Syble. You battled with me over my, um, low grades and stubbornness ("Grades don't really matter Mom, it will be ok"). And then battled with Sarah over spending too much time on the phone and out the door ("But Mommmm...."). But you always showed us love and patience. You would go over my spelling words with me one more time. You would drive Sarah to yet another game so she could cheer. And you are still sacrificing to make Syble's life a full and fun one. Thank you for your example of patience and sacrifice.

The second quality I hope I exhibit is being honest about myself. You are so transparent about the ways you have learned and struggled—wanting to be a better wife, better mom, and better Christ-follower. "I wish I had..." you start to tell me. From how to be a more affectionate wife, to a loyal friend, the openness you have with me about your life encourages me to be a better person. Being a pastor's wife, there aren't a lot of women I can open up to about my struggles. But you are always there to listen and support. Thank you for showing me how important it is to evaluate myself, and continue to become a better me!

Finally, I hope to be like you in the little things. From being a good cook, to being successful at Real Estate, I hope that like you, I remember to be faithful in the small things. You are good at the small things beause you are motivated by love. Love for the family who gathers around your table to eat. Even love for helping people find the house that's just right for them. Love motivates your passion and energy.

I love you Mom, for lots of reasons big and small. Thank you for being such an example to me!

Sandra is the family editor for Today's Housewife. She's a pastor's wife, mom to two boys and is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. She is the author of the e-book Speechless: Finding God's Grace in My Son's Autism.

When Life Catches Up.

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Tonight, I am sitting here trying to figure out what to write, and the words don't come. My creative juices are dry, my heart is a little cold, and my faith just seems a little old. So, today, there isn't any sewing, no hand work, not even a list of helpful hints. It's just me. On my knees. Being silent before the Lord. And so I bring you this post. I'll be honest, it is something I wrote some time ago, and maybe you have read it before. But it is where I am this night, and maybe you are there, too.

It's just heavy around here. There is so much pain, hurting, suffering, and such, and it just makes the heart heavy.
In our personal family, we have a sick baby. It's just a cold, but poor Georgia is miserable. Friends of ours are moving away, and another is talking about giving up on their marriage. Futures are uncertain, emotions are drained, and families are seemingly standing on ashes.
In our church family, we have a dear member who's life is in the last throngs of its struggle with cancer. His unsaved family is standing by watching him succumb to the pain and agonizingly slow process of this disease's course. Other church member's parents are fighting this same curse for all they are worth, and aren't getting the upper hand.
In our world family, there is chaos. Fighting, wars, disease, famine, death, and other monstrosities. It's enough to weigh a person down. What is a person to do?
I don't know how the unredeemed manage to get through the day. I only get through it because of these promises my Redeemer has made.

...because the creation it self also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:21

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

So may I offer this prayer today: Lord, You alone are the Creator. The author of my life, and all that is around me. Lord may I find strength in You and You alone. Trusting only on You, not my self. That You will set my paths. Paths that may be in valleys and shadows, but that are led by You. For we cannot set foot on the mountain tops without walking through the valleys, and traversing the steep climb. And I will not fear. I will not be dismayed. For You are my God. You will strengthen me, You will help me. And You alone will uphold me in Your righteous right hand. All glory and honor are Yours, oh God. In Your Son's precious name..

Beth is a pastor's wife, mom to five boys and three girls. She loves to sew, crochet, read, and bake in her spare time. You can see what her family is doing at Sew Anyhow and follow her on Twitter at @BethSewAnyhow.

Summer Chores For Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Marci Goodwin) — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:08:00 +0000

Summer vacation will be upon us in just three short weeks! School work will be over along with most of the extra responsibilities that come with it. When the school year is in full swing, we have a routine. The kids know what we are doing at what time. There is a lot to do, so we need to keep some sort of a schedule. When summer gets here, there is a lot less happening on a day to day basis, but the kids still need to now what is expected of them.

One thing that is expected from our kids is chores. During the school year, the kids have simple daily chores and one big afternoon of chores. We can spread things out in the summer. Having a chore schedule helps.

Our kids are 11 and 7, so there are lots of things the kids can do around the house. I even wrote about how well they clean toilets! This is my first draft of our new chore list that I will eventually put on a chart because my kids love checking things off!

Kids' Daily Chores

make bed
clean out dishwasher
fold any laundry
set table
clear table

Kids' Chores To Spread Out During The Week

clean the kids' bathroom
vacuum
water plants
dust
clean rooms

I'm sure I'll add more chores as we go and of course...put them on a chart. That little incentive to check something off is often all they need to get the job done. If that isn't a good enough motivator for them, I just remind them that they can't do anything fun until the chores are done. And since summer is full of friends, swimming, zoo trips and bike rides, the chores usually get done pretty quick!

What about you? Do you have a chore list for your kids? Do you have a daily list or a schedule?

***************************

Marci is a wife and homeschooling mama trying to keep the busyness out of her life so she can spend time on what really matters. You can find her at Overcoming Busy and The Homeschool Scientist.

The Importance of Quiet Time

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

5 minutes, that's all I ask for. Between cyber schooling my younger two kids, all three kids living at home, a busy husband preparing for deployment, military families calling me with questions, scouts, ballet, jazz, driving lessons for the oldest, church, Awana, need I go on? Sometimes, 5 minutes of quiet time is hard to come by in my house.

Even Jesus knew the importance of getting away for a time. In Matthew 4, Jesus went into the wilderness to pray before beginning His ministry. He also prayed alone in Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46 before His betrayal. Jesus knew the importance of getting away to a quiet place to recharge your soul and be with the Lord.

Trying to find that 5 minutes each day to get away and connect with the Lord isn't always easy. Maybe it's in the morning before the kids wake up, after they go to bed, or a few minutes in the middle of the day between classes. Whenever it is, I try to make the time to pray, read my Bible, and just have some fellowship with the Lord.

Is there a special place you go for your quiet time? What works best for you to be with the Lord?

Elizabeth has been married to Seth for 12 years and they have three children. She is a full-time mom and cyber-schools the youngest two. Elizabeth is active in her church, loves to bake, and read. You can find her blogging at Elizabeth's Treasure Chest and happily pinning away on Pinterest.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:49:00 +0000

Need to give your family a few ideas for what to get you for Mother's Day? Have a mom or mother-in-law who is hard to shop for? Here's a few cute and/or functional things to add to your "must-have" list!

(If you want to pin a gift idea to Pinterest, please click the link below the item and pin from the original source! Thanks!)

On Etsy

from Lisa Leonard

via Amazon

to support Mercy House Kenya

from Williams-Sonoma

Bring Joel Home I-Spy Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I got a sewing machine one year for Christmas and I knew the first thing I wanted to learn to do on it was make a quilt. I knew the best way to learn would be to take a quilting class at a local quilt shop. I ended the class with a finished quilt top and I was determined to turn that into a quilt, so I found tutorials online to show me how to make a quilt "sandwich", quilt it and do the binding. I enjoyed the process so much! That was three years ago and I still love making quilts.

This is a recent quilt I made for Sandra's blog. I am going to donate it to her so she can sell it on her blog and raise money to Bring Joel Home (click to go bid)! This is an I-Spy quilt and one of very few that I've made for someone outside of my family. My kids just love looking at it to see what they can find. It's up now, so go bid! Check out my other finished quilts too!

What do you think of the quilt?

A Book Giveaway that "Works For Me"!

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Have you ever browsed or linked up to the "Works For Me Wednesday" blog carnival? Odds are that you have at one time or another. It's a fantastic place to get all kinds of great ideas and even find new blogs that you love to read regularly. Unfortunately, it has become so successful over the years that it can be overwhelming to look through the posts that people link up each week. I don't know about you, but I don't have the time to sort through 200+ links each Wednesday to find the ones that are most useful to me. And then there's the remembering them for later task, when you are ready to actually use the great ideas.

Well, fear Wednesday no more! There's a great new e-book featuring the "best of" tips from the carnival organized in a single, easy-to-use format. "That Works For Me!" is a solution for everyone looking for new ways to be a better cook, housekeeper, wife, mom, gardener and more. There are over 800 "tried and true tips" that are organized into 24 useful categories. Not only does this make the book easy to browse, but it makes it easy to find a solution to a particular problem in an efficient manner. The book is easiest read on the computer or a device that has internet access. The table of contents lists each tip by title under its particular category. Then each section has a brief one to two sentence description of the tip with a link to the entire blog post.

Each e-book is only $8 and a portion of the profits go to support Mercy House, a maternity home in Kenya. The book features several tips from our blog and our very own Marci, from Overcoming Busy is a featured WFM Woman for the Time Management category.

We are also excited to be able to offer an opportunity to our readers to WIN THIS BOOK!

- Simply leave a comment telling us which category you'd find most helpful to browse for tips.

The contest will close on Sunday, May 6th at midnight. We will announce the winner next week.

But that's not the only giveaway! Visit That Works For Me! today and submit your own "Works For Me" tip for a chance to win a housecleaning (valued at $150.) Who couldn't use that?!? But check it out TODAY! The housecleaning giveaway ends on April 30th.

In the meantime, if you just can't wait for your very own copy of That Works For Me! you can purchase the book here.

*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this book to review, but the opinions expressed are completely my own. As an affiliate, Today's Housewife will receive a small portion of the profits from any books purchased through our link.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering!

Alicia is the Home Editor for Today's Housewife. She's a military spouse and mother to Mark, Luke and Caroline. You can follow her on Twitter @crazysublady.

The Power of a Single Gospel Tract

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

500,000 villages in India alone have never heard the name Jesus Christ.

80,000 people die each day in Asian countries without knowing the love of Jesus Christ.

But one Gospel tract can literally reach dozens of people in Asia as they are read and passed on to family and friends.

Sandeep was a man who had it all. He devoted himself to the worship of many gods and goddesses, had money, good health, and lots of friends, but he felt empty inside. He was lacking peace in his heart. In this turmoil, Sandeep decided to take his own life. On his way out of his village, Dayashil, a Gospel for Asia native missionary handed Sandeep a Gospel tract. Sandeep took the time to read the tract and learned for the first time of the Savior who loved him and freely offered redemption. Instead of taking his own life, Sandeep wanted to learn more about Jesus. Now Sandeep is attending church regularly and trusts Jesus as his Savior. He has abundant life, all because of a simple Gospel tract.

Gospel for Asia publishes more than 30 million pieces of Gospel literature each year, which are distributed by missionaries, Bible college students and believers throughout Asia. Thousands have chosen to follow Christ after coming face-to-face with the Gospel message in these tracts. Each Gospel tract costs less than one penny, for just $1.00 you can supply missionaries with 200 Gospel tracts!

We have all heard the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." but not all of us are called to go out to the mission field and serve. But we can equip those who are called. Visit Gospel for Asia's donation page to see how you can help.

A simple question...

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Willis) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:46:00 +0000

“How are you?”

I get this question several times a day. Some people know we are struggling when they ask it, and some don’t. And I always reply with the same thing. It seems to catch some people off guard.

“I can’t complain. So much to be thankful for. Life isn’t easy, but it is so good!”

You see…I like to be honest. But, I also try to be positive. Things really aren’t easy right now. We are working through a lot with our son, Owen. Josh just started a new job that keeps him away from home even more than usual (which is A LOT). Our daughter, Gracie, is on antibiotics in combination with a medication that makes her health a sticky situation when the two are taken together. And I am…well…desperate for a slower pace and some time alone.

Still…I have a shower that sprays out warm, clean water. Children who are somewhat healthy and not the REALLY scary kind of sick. A husband who loves me and works hard for us. I get to stay home with the kids and be present in their lives. They love me.

And then there is my savior…Jesus. That one constant in my life. The one who LOVES me so much I can feel it in the most inner parts of my soul. The one who blessed me with everything I have that is good. The one who sent His son to die so I could have eternity with Him.

When I think of my life…all I see are things I should be thankful for. It isn’t easy to actually BE THANKFUL for them though. When things are all busy and hectic. And I just don’t know how to keep up. I know it is all good…but it is just so hard to remember that IN THE MOMENT. In the day to day…the time to brush the teeth fighting, the missing the potty clean ups, the kids coughing (again), the dirty kitchen floor, and sibling rivalry. This list could, of course, go on…and on…

So…when they ask how we are…I have to tell them AND remind myself.

I CAN’T COMPLAIN. SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR. LIFE ISN’T EASY, BUT IT IS SOOOOOO GOOD!”

Perhaps I should ask others that question more. How are you?

Courtney is wife to Firefighter/Paramedic Josh. Mommy to beautiful, strong-willed,, full of life, biological Gracie and handsome, rough n tough, sweet, adopted from Uganda Owen. She has a passion for family, orphan care, photography, Africa, and writing. She reminds herself daily to live one day at a time and is determined to get used to her new status as “stay at home Mom”. She thinks life is best lived with a good sense of humor and daily time with God in prayer. You can follow along with her more at thewilliscrewadopts.blogspot.com.

Recipes Using Pizza Dough

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:11:00 +0000

I recently discovered the magnificent treats you can make using pizza dough. I put together a little list from recipes I've found on pinterest and wanted to share it here. (Click on the name under the picture to be taken to the site for the recipe to make each of these tasty treats!)

Try something new with these easy to carry Pizza cones

Donuts out of leftover pizza dough sounds like a match made in Heaven!

I just love Cinnamon Rolls!

These Parmesan Pull-Apart Dough Balls sound delicious!

Made in a waffle iron, this Calzone looks tasty and easy!

I bet you could add any ingredients to make these yummy Pizza Pinwheels

If you don't want to go to the store to buy refrigerated dough, try this recipe for Homemade Pizza Dough

Although this doesn't say it's made from a pizza dough, I'm sure you could use one. It looks so tasty.
You'll surely want S'more

I have made this and it's delicious! It even met the approval of my young kids and husband!
Homemade Calzone

How do you use pizza dough in your recipes?

There is No "Right" Way

noreply@blogger.com (A Diamond in the Rough) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

This post is a bit of a departure for me. I’m not going to share any tips. I’m not going to pontificate about my favorite this or that. No, this is a post for all the mamas and mamas-to-be out there. I want to say something that I hope will make us all feel just a little bit freer.

There is no right way to do this.

It is easy to think that if we find the right book or buy in to the latest, greatest philosophy that our children will be happy and healthy and that we will be fulfilled, worry-free mamas. DISCLAIMER: I haven’t been a mama long. However, I’ve been a mama long enough to know that everyone out there has an opinion on how to birth, bathe and burp a child. Moreover, those opinions are often asserted as being the “right way”. I’m not saying that there aren’t better or worse ways of parenting and raising kiddos. What I am saying is that worrying about if you are doing things the “right” way can make you half crazy.

Right now I am dealing with a wee one who has decided that eating on a regular schedule, or even a somewhat predictable schedule, is not what she wants to do. She also has made the decision that going to sleep is something to be fought tooth and nail each night. These are fun times in the Hoover house. All these speed bumps in babyland have led me to launch an investigation to figure out the source of her issues.

Is it a scheduling issue?

Is she getting enough to eat?

Is she over-tired?

I’ve talked with other moms who have made suggestions. I’ve consulted my library of books to no avail. I’ve examined her poop inside and out (which unfortunately has lacked the information I was hoping to find) as to the source of her eating woes. I’ve blamed myself for not being disciplined enough in scheduling. I’ve let anxiety get the best of me at times thinking that her issues are a reflection on my ability to mother. None of this is true by the way. I have a healthy, happy, beautiful baby girl. That is the truth. I work my behind off every day for her and any issues that she has are (more than likely) simply normal baby stuff. That is the bottom line.

Isn’t it easy to overreact and let our insecurities get the best of us?

Let me hear ya ladies. I know I’m not alone. I see those hands.

Whether you are a breastfeeding, Babywise, cloth diapering mama or a bottle feeding, co-sleeping, baby-wearing mama or any variation along the spectrum it is important to remember that this motherhood thing isn’t about doing things just right. Our God-given responsibility is the little lives that he has birthed from within us (whether birthed from our bodies or from our hearts – for all my adoptive mama friends). If you want to know the “right” way to approach motherhood let me give you a few words to live by; love,joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,self-control.

These words should be our first guidelines in mothering. If you don't feel like you are a naturally motherly person that is ok. Mothering requires heaps of those Spirit planted fruits that I just named off and guess what? Those things aren't natural! They take our hearts being submitted each and everyday to the call of God on our lives. That call is first and foremost as a follower of Christ.

You can quote research all day about the best ways to nurture a baby, but if you aren’t putting the fruit of the Spirit into practice in your day to day mothering then I dare say the best practices out there aren’t going to accomplish much in the hearts of your children.

I hope that all of you will let out a collective sigh with me *whew* and let yourself off the hook. The fruits of the Spirit aren’t something that we can conjure up or something that we can read a book about and through osmosis acquire. No, we have to work at them and by grace let the Spirit work in us. Any parenting techniques that we use have to go through this filter in order to really work. The truth is that when I allow the Spirit to work in my heart I find that my ability to cope with the day to day issues that having a child brings is multiplied exponentially and peace reigns in my heart and home. Now isn’t that what we’re all looking for when we are so desperately trying to find the “right” way to do this?

How do you find ways to center your heart and mind on the fruit of the Spirit in your day to day parenting? Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t do things the “right” way as a mom?