Today's Housewife

Wishing you lots of...brokenness for 2012!?!?!

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Willis) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We are already wrapping up January! The New Year really snuck up on me and the thought that we are already almost a whole month in...is just crazy!

Did that title get your attention? Let me explain...

2011 (and 2010 if we are keeping track) hasn't been an easy year for us. It has been trying...and overwhelming...and down right hard more often than I would have liked. And to be honest...I really hope that your 2012 can look a lot like that.
Have I lost it??? Am I wishing bad things on you and yours? Of course not!!! I hope that you can get out of 2012 what we got out of 2011 as painlessly as possible. But, I do hope that you can gain an understanding of what we learned and obtained through these times.
Because when I say that this past year has been rough...I have to follow that up with saying that it has BY FAR been the most amazing, beautiful, blessed year of my life. My husband agrees...and (depending on the day you ask), I'm pretty sure my kids would too. I think that this new way of understanding living started when we traveled to Uganda to adopt our son (October 2010).
It continued as we started the transition to becoming a family of 4. It has continued as we have walked through my almost 5 year old's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and treatment. Then when my husband fell through a church's ceiling while working (as a firefighter) on a structure fire. Through his surgery and 8 months of rehab - and working a desk position. Through the financial burden that put on us. When we realized that our transition to "normal" life with our son would last far longer than we anticipated due to the things he went through before we got to him. Lots of things have happened...and we have just sort of sailed through. Put our heads down and trudged forward. Didn't always do it right, but for the most part...we have been thankful for it all. With every hard time...there is triumph to celebrate. And we have (again, for the most part...nobody is perfect) chosen to focus on the triumph.
And there have been these incredible moments...that I really can't explain...the kind of moments that make me tear up with joy to think about them. The moments where my son looks up at me (despite his history) and says that he loves me. When my daughter sits in my lap, takes a deep breath, takes her shot like a champ, and shows this pure, brave, proud smile...cause she knows that she. is. amazing. The moment I found out that my husband caught himself with his shoulder and was dangling above church pews...then pulled himself up with ligaments and tendons that were shredded. The moment our friends came together to bless us and help us make ends meet.
I am sharing this with you for a reason. I want you to understand that this life we live isn't easy (who can argue with that???). There are people I know who are going through things right now that I can't imagine going through. They make my year look like a walk in the park...yet they have peace. Sure, they hurt and cry, BUT they know that as long as you KNOW JESUS, everything is going to be OK. In fact, it will be so much better than OK. It will be perfection.
So, what I am really saying is that I hope your hear is filled with HIS peace, HIS joy, and HIS understanding. Not your own. Because HIS love isn't circumstantial. And HE will carry us through every moment of every day of 2012. We need only to be still.

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.

Wishing you lots of...brokenness for 2012!?!?!

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Willis) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We are already wrapping up January! The New Year really snuck up on me and the thought that we are already almost a whole month in...is just crazy!

Did that title get your attention? Let me explain...

Faith Life

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

It is not characteristic of our modern culture to know what it means to wait. I mean to truly wait. If there has been a demand for speed on any facet of our human existence, someone has created a "convenience" to gratify our exigencies. We are born and raised in a fast-paced environment in which we learn to thrive off of accessibility. Convenience, by definition, means "the quality of being suitable to one's comfort, purposes or needs." (Yahoo Dictionary) Who wouldn't want to live a life of comfort by having your needs met at the snap of your fingers?

I naively thought at one time that I was living a convenient and comfortable life. I was 27, just married, bought a beautiful home and had a great job. Things seemed to be flowing effortlessly for my husband and I. We were happy, in love and ready to begin a family. I always thought that I would quickly become a mother. You see up until this point of my entire 27 years, most of my life had been fairly easy. I had a few minor set backs every now and then but nothing that really seasoned me. I look back now and see how unintentionally shallow of a life I lived. I had not been put in a circumstance that truly tested my faith. I always knew that I had faith but I rarely lived by it on a daily basis. The funny thing about faith, is that it is typically grown out of having to wait. Faith can best mature when you find yourself inconvenienced and uncomfortable. Now, after almost three years of struggling to get pregnant, I have found myself inconvenienced and uncomfortable. I have found myself relentlessly waiting on something that my heart yearns for day in and day out. I am having to learn how to wait in a society that glorifies everything that is "on demand."

I could describe all the emotions that infertility has loitered me through. I could tell you how depressed I have felt over the last three years. I could go through all the highs and lows of pursuing fertility treatments. However, what is most important about this season of my life, is that I have been given a "faith lift." God is carrying me through an incredible and purposeful journey that has led me into a deeper relationship with him. As, I reflect over the last few years, I see this beautiful tapestry of testimonies that have been sewn together. My life has been changed in remarkable ways because of divine appointments that God so cleverly arranged. If I would have had a child on my terms and in my time, I would be lacking in so many qualities that God has been nourishing. While the waiting is still not easy, my spirit remains resilient. I have learned that when you believe, God will reveal his desires and plans for your life. When you believe, you see. I think in the past my faith was based on circumstantial evidence. My faith would widen when God gave me what I wanted but it lacked depth. Now, while I wait to be a mother, praying for God to fill my empty arms with a child, my faith is as deep as the ocean. I know God wants to give me the desires of my heart. However, those desires are in his time, not mine.

God has placed so many influential individuals on this journey. Many of them have struggled in far worse situations than mine and have shown me how to gracefully keep my head above water. They have transparently shared their testimonies and my own has been built upon their vulnerability. They have helped to change my perspective on waiting. I have decided that if I am to walk the road paved "reproductively challenged," then I am going to do it with dignity. I want to walk by faith knowing that on the other side of this storm we will find a rainbow. I want to cherish every lesson along the way so that I am prepared for the next season.

You may not be able to relate to the struggles of infertility, but I am sure you can find some commonality in waiting for something. Maybe you are waiting for a job or to meet the man of your dreams. You could be waiting to overcome an illness or waiting for your teenager to respect you. At some point, we must choose to quietly wait with God or get lost in the bustling chaos of the world. At some point, we must choose to live our life with conviction or with convenience. One builds faith, the other can destroy it. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1

by Cara Holdman
For the full story please visit: www.caraholdman.wordpress.com

Valentine's Day Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We've rounded up some Valentine's Day treat ideas!

Click on the links below each picture to find out more!

Brown Sugar Brownies from Baked Perfection

Chocolate Strawberry Heart-Shaped Ice Cream Sandwiches

from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Covered Pretzels from Love from the Oven

Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls from Poppies at Play

It's Love Cookies from Pikadilly Charm

Candy Cane Hearts from Nest of Posies

What a Birth Doula Really Does

noreply@blogger.com (A Diamond in the Rough) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Several years ago I started down the path to becoming a birth doula. I was working with women at a crisis pregnancy center and saw it as a way to connect more deeply with the women I was serving. I have since fallen in love with all things birth! Doulas are becoming more mainstream, but there is still a good bit of confusion and misinformation over the role of a doula. Doulas are a great resource and are worth knowing about if you or someone you love is preparing to welcome a new addition to the family.

The number one question that I always get when people hear I am a birth doula is, “How is a doula different than a midwife?” The biggest difference is that as a doula I am considered a non-medical birth professional. Doulas do not do exams on their clients and only offer non-medical advice. In the case of a medical issue the doula always defaults to the client’s midwife or doctor. A doula is strictly a labor support person who is there to offer continuous physical, emotional, spiritual and educational support to the birthing mother and her partner. Physical support means being present continually for the birth and offering suggestions on ways to cope with labor. Emotional support can be serving as a sounding board for the mother both prenatally and during the post-partum period. Spiritual support is an element that, as a Christian, I integrate into my practice through prayer and encouragement to my clients. Educational support consists of answering questions, assisting in the writing of a birth plan and offering books, DVDs, and even personal childbirth classes to clients to help them prepare for birth.

The second biggest question that I hear is, “Why does a woman need a birth doula if her husband is with her during labor?” I love answering this question because I have had great experiences working not just with mothers during labor but also with fathers. It is unfair to assume that because a couple took a childbirth class that they are prepared for all the ups and downs of labor. The average man has had no experience with birth before stepping foot into a labor and delivery room. Doulas have that experience and knowledge under their belt and can provide a calm presence that will help both mother and father be fully “there” for the amazing experience of welcoming their child. Doulas come armed with an arsenal of techniques and expertise to soothe mama and help her cope with labor. I love being able to provide support that allows dad to feel like he is really helping his wife bring their child into the world.

The next question that usually pops up is, “Aren’t doulas only for women who want to have their babies naturally?” The answer to this question is a definitive “No!” The motto of DONA International, the world’s oldest and most respected doula certifying organization, is “A doula for every woman who wants one!” Whether you want to go au natural or you are anxious to get your epidural placed as soon as labor starts a doula can be lots of help both prenatally, during labor and through the post-partum period. It is true that doulas are primarily trained to help women cope with the pains and struggles of a non-medicated delivery. However, we also receive training on positions and comfort measures for women who are having medicated and/or epidural pain relief as a way to augment labor. The biggest gift a doula can give her client is walking her through the facts and reality of all of her different birth options and helping the mother to be make the right decision for herself and her family.

There is a ton of research to support the role of a doula. Studies show that the continuous presence of a trained support person can reduce the rates of intervention (pitocin augmentation, cesarean section, vacuum extraction, forceps delivery) during birth. Studies have also shown that women rate their birth experiences more positively when they have had the continuous support of a trained labor partner. As a birth doula I cherish every opportunity I get to support women and their families through this uncertain, unique, and awe-inspiring time in their lives.

I have only scratched the tip of the iceberg as far as the benefits that are offered by having a doula by your side during labor. If you have any additional questions about the role of a doula please feel free to leave them in the comments and I will be happy to respond (bear with me as I have a newborn of my own!).

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.

Guest Post: Christmas Come Early

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Now that the harried days of Christmas gift-buying, hiding, wrapping, labeling, and bowing are over, I find myself just remembering the sweet moments of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. The cookies out for Santa, reading the story of Jesus from Luke 2 Christmas morning, the screeches coming from each child as they saw their Santa gifts out in all their glory.

But I will not allow myself to be deceived… the Christmas gifting season will be on me again in no time and along with it I will be rushing about looking for deals, attempting to locate some random gift that Uncle Bill will like, and checking my list and then checking it twice… because no one wants a repeat of the year that I forgot to get my boss a gift.

With that being said, I have found a nifty little way to help with 2012 Christmas shopping starting… now. It helps me to budget each month for how much I will spend on gifts. I finish my Christmas shopping very, very early. And I don’t have to endure watching our bank account drain away in November and December.

Here’s what ya do…

1) Type out the names of the months of the year.

2) Under each month, add the names of family members that have a birthday during that month.

3) In parenthesis, note their birthdate.

4) After that type out any ideas you might have for gifting.

Here’s an example:
February
* Cupid (14) – new bow and arrow, sunglasses

5) Now, clean out a decent sized area in one of the closets in your home. Trust me… I know closet space is like gold in most of our homes, but it is sooooooo worth it when you’ll be able to laugh at all the people that go out for Black Friday while you’ll be in your PJs sipping hot chocolate!

6) And the most important step: whenever you go buy a gift for someone’s birthday, get two gifts. One gift for their birthday and one gift for Christmas! There. Now you’re done shopping for that person months early!

7) Finally, make a note of what you purchased for that person so that you don’t accidentally buy them two gifts for Christmas!

Here is the list that I keep on my iPhone in OneNote so that I always have it with me.

Hopefully this will help you to enjoy the Christmas Season of 2012 a little more… of course, that is, unless the world ends before then! haha

January Rowe is the stay-at-home mom of two rambunctious boys mom who’s favorite hobbies are reading and acting in her church’s drama team. You can find her blogging her life’s every moment at Rowe The Boat or on her most recent endeavor The Covenant Diet.

Linked up to Works for Me Wednesday!

Playroom in Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Carol) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Back in July, I posted about painting Rainbow Dots in my playroom, which you can read about in this post. Well, I am continuing to work on the playroom and thought I would show the progress. Sometimes it takes forever to get a room to come together - especially with little ones under foot. I think slow and steady may help us find completion on this one.
We bought rugs from Land of Nod to define some areas, and they have a lot of the same colors from the wall. Also, we found this really fun, round oversized chair on clearance at Furniture Row and snapped it up, so now there is a place for adults to sit in the room as well as kiddos.

Here's the craft corner of the room, which is completed.

The craft table was our girls' main Christmas present last year, and the little tuffets are from Land of Nod. (Clearly, I love their stuff.) I did spray paint one of the tuffets to make it match. The art display is simply trim from Home Depot, spray painted cream. I added clothes pins that I painted the same yellow from the wall and super glued them in place. The hooks are for craft aprons that I have yet to purchase. I got the letters for "CREATE" at Michael's and painted them with another of the dot colors, and then added a few more dots above the letters for good measure.

I was in love with the dripping crayon canvases that I saw all over Pinterest and did my own take on it to make it a color wheel. I sat a bowl in the middle of the canvas and lined the crayons around it and hot glued them on. Then, based on a tutorial I saw on the blog, Whatever, I used a hair dryer to melt the crayons. Easy and fun. Very gratifying as well.

I have this shelf on the wall outside of my own Craft Room that I intend to paint one of the colors from the dot wall and use to house kid's craft supplies. Clearly, I have not gotten to this project yet.

I have done a little more work on the play kitchen, but I still have a few finishing touches. I have some antique handkerchiefs and embroidered tea towels that I want to use to make a bunting of sorts to give a little more pizzazz to that corner, and I have some yellow gingham fabric to make little curtains to go over the very faux window over the sink. I hung up an old crate that I got thrifting and spray painted creamish and added little canisters painted to match the wall. I labeled them as well, and sprayed clear acrylic paint over them so little fingers couldn't peel off the labels. The girls' main toys for Christmas this year were little kitchen utensils and bakeware, so now they are enjoying the play kitchen even more. Those cookie sheets are used for magnets that Lily has cleared off - another idea I saw on Pinterest that you can read about on this blog.

Here's the last corner of the room. We have a TV down there for Wii and movies. So far, we only use it when we have other people over and are trying to corral the kiddos downstairs while the adults are partying upstairs. I love their little chairs, and they do too (also from Land of Nod). The dollhouse/bookshelf was Lily's birthday present this year. Part of the present was that she got to help John assemble it, which she LOVED.

If you have ever looked at cute decorated doll houses online, you will hear me when I say that it is easy to go overboard decorating a doll house. I have told Lily that she can help me, and we can make it a project together, but I think I may have a hard time keeping it simple. We shall see. The prints under the word PLAY are by the artist Katie Daisy that I purchased from Etsy. I mounted them on canvases painted blue - I was trying to bring the blue and teal over to the side of the room that ended up more pink that I would have wanted.

So, that is where things stand downstairs. I need to get some baskets to corral the toys in the bench seats under the window, and I think John and I may try our hands at building a cornice to go over the window to dress up that side of the room a bit. All in good time, or maybe not - it may take another 6 months. We shall see. We are loving the room and so are the girls.

Carol is the wife of a small business-owner, mother to two little girls, crafter, very-amateur decorator, and occasional cooker. She blogs at the John and Carol Show - wanna watch?

Family Fun with a Book Club

noreply@blogger.com (Sherri) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES ALLOWED!

(Mom and Dad, this means you, too!)

Here's the plan:

STEP ONE:

Choose a night when everyone can be home at a reasonable hour. (Reasonable is subjective here; whatever works for you.)

STEP TWO:

Whether you do this weekly (which is great) or monthly (still good), each person gets a turn to be in charge - the President - of the night. Set your order and decide who goes first.

STEP THREE:

Mister or Madam President chooses a book for the night AND gets to choose what's for dinner AND gets to be served and pampered by the others (within reason of course, we don't want to creat any monsters here!). This includes what to have for dessert! The president may also choose where to eat: at the table, under a tent made between beds, chairs and blankets, in the backyard...the possibilities are endless and, depending on the president, potentially scary. Parents use discretion here, but please allow for fun and little imaginations.

STEP FOUR:

Cooking, or whatever you do for dinner should be a family time. If you get take-out go as a family to pick it up for a little extra together time. While you put dinner together talk to your kids. Ask questions designed to draw them into a conversation. Ask them what they like best about their friend or their Sunday School class, or which superhero they like best and why. Anything that gets them talking and interacting with you is good.

STEP FIVE:

After dinner, choose a cozy place where everyone can snuggle together and read. Take turns reading and helping your kids with words. Talk about why this is such a great story. And, if you're kids are like most, you may read it again. And again! Enjoy.

STEP SIX:

Before you stop for the night, choose the President and the date for the next time and mark it on your calendar so everyone is reminded. Keep this time sacred. It is important to show your kids that family comes first, and that the world doesn't end when the cell phone is turned off.

**Don't think you can turn your phone to silent and hide it from your kids. They'll know, and you will lose the power and magic of the moment.

Don't forget to take pictures of the night or video tape your family night. Kids love to see themselves in pictures and videos and you will be making some great memories to share and remember.

Remember, for most families this takes planning and effort. It won't just happen. If you get tripped up, don't wallow around in guilt, just try again. You'll get it, and you and your children will benefit from the uninterrupted time you spend together. They're only little once. Make the most of your time with them. Your most important job is Mommy or Daddy and you are so precious to them and to God. Which brings me to the final but most important point: ask for God's help and blessing here. Relax and take a deep breath. You get to do this with God's power not your own! Whew!

Cashew Whole Grain Waffles

noreply@blogger.com (kd) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:01:00 +0000

One of the great things I inherited when I got married was a husband who loves whole grains. And what more does the American food experts want for all Americans than to have a diet rich in whole grains!

A few years ago I got King Author's Whole Grain Baking. It will be the cookbook I bake from in 2012 - trying new recipes, seeing what we like and what we don't like.

The first recipe, with slight alterations, was a definite SUCCESS! And I love pleasing my husband's taste buds at breakfast!

1 cup spelt flour (found at Whole Foods or other natural food stores)

1/3 cup oat flour (I ground rolled oats in my food processor)

1/2 cup cashews (crushed in the food processor, but just ground fine, not making cashew butter)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp soda

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

4 T unsalted butter, melted, cooled

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredient (spelt flour through soda) and set aside. Mix sugar and eggs, then add in the butter, buttermilk, and vanilla. Stir until combined. Add to the dry ingredients.

Let mixture sit for 15 minutes. Otherwise, your batter will be too liquidy.

While waiting, you can unload and load the dishwasher, fry some bacon, make the coffee, chop a fruit salad, set the table, warm the syrup, mark off many things from the kitchen to do list!

Then, when the batter has rested and the waffle iron is plenty hot - pour about a heaping 1/3 cup into you waffle iron and let the magic begin!

You want to follow your waffle maker's instructions as to when the waffles are done - my general rule is when you don't see anymore steam coming from the contraption.

Enjoy with butter and syrup, or fig preserves, or powdered sugar, or whatever you fancy. These will be our new "plain" waffles - that we can top with whatever!

Be healthy in 2012 - eat more (delicious) whole grains!

Guest Post: Making Hair Bows

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I was fully expecting to have a boy, but I found out at 14 weeks it was a girl! After a few days of mental adjustment (and a few shopping sprees I will admit) I had fully embraced the lifestyle of glitz and glam that came along with having a girl! E’s closet was very quickly filled by her Nana. She had been waiting for a baby girl to spoil and this being the fourth grandchild her anticipation had built! I was faced with a problem: either learn how to make hair bows or go broke buying one for every outfit. I must admit I was a self proclaimed uncreative, non- crafter. (My title has since changed to still uncreative, crafter in training.) I attempted a few bows on my own and they did not turn out so well. I texted a friend a picture of my creations; she politely replied with the typical, supportive friend response “Very pretty.” She was with her mom that day and must have shown her my sad attempts, because she quickly emailed me a link her mom had found on making bows. http://www.girlythingsbows.com/

This link and a free brochure from Hobby Lobby (found in the ribbon section) are the only reasons I have been able to make the bows I now make E on a regular basis. The directions are broken down in a clear easy way to understand and there are pictures!! Most important for visual learners such as I. As I practiced the basic bows and got better at making them, I began to combine bits and pieces of different bows to create new ones. For example, it is very easy to stack the basic bow and boutique bow. The brochure from Hobby Lobby has many of the same bows as the website, but also directions for a “Three Tiered Bow” and “Four Layer Loopy Bow” which are a little more complicated. But, with practice they become very easy. I have seen these sold for $15.00 in the store, and I now can make them in 15 minutes! The measurements for the ribbon on both the website and brochure can be very long. I adjusted the length based on how big I wanted the bow to be in ratio to my daughter’s head. As she has grown so have the bows!

Tips for bow making:

Cut all your ribbon before beginning and fray check the ends that will be exposed so they will dry while you are working

Thread your needle before folding the ribbon on each step (hard to do when your hands are full holding ribbon :)

For a sharper looking center ribbon use a French knot or 7/8 ribbon folded in half

To get perfect v tails fold ribbon in half and cut

Use a rotary cutter and mat to cut and measure ribbon

Where it calls for wire I find it easier to use a needle and thread

pinterest.com can also be a great reference for bow making instructions.

Lydia is a stay-at-home-mom to E who is 7 months old. She loves dressing up her precious baby girl in adorable clothes and bows.

Lists and Schedules

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I recognize that this post won't be for everyone. Just like we are all in various seasons of life, we all have different personality types and different approaches to our household duties. I'm a huge fan of lists and schedules in my daily life. If its not written down, it's pretty likely that it won't get done around here. And while I've used a cleaning schedule with some success before, I had never really gotten us into a good routine with our weekly tasks after moving last summer. I would simply do things as they came to mind or as they became absolutely necessary. (i.e. not cleaning the guest bathroom until someone was coming over.) This approach just wasn't working for us anymore.

So, with the start of the new year I decided that we needed a more defined weekly schedule. I started plugging in the things that I needed to get done each week, along with some things that I wanted to make more time for. The result is a schedule that seems to work for us. It's flexible enough for us all to work with, but also directed enough that our days seem more organized and purposeful. Even better, I actually put these items on my calendar as weekly repeating events so that I see them each time I check our schedule.

Here's what I've come up with:

Daily Tasks:
Dishes
Laundry - I prefer to do 1 load per day than doing many loads once or twice a week.
Sweeping the floor
Make Beds
General Tidiness of Living Spaces

Weekly Calendar:
My oldest is in afternoon Kindergarten, so each day has a major cleaning task that can be completed in less than an hour. This is usually accomplished in the morning when my kids are playing. Each day also has a task for the afternoon. This is usually completed while my youngest naps and my middle has "quiet time". My daily tasks are fit in wherever they make the most sense during the day.

Cleaning Tasks:
Kitchen and Mopping - Disinfecting all counters, cleaning the sink and stove top and mopping.
Dust and Glass - Dusting all flat surfaces and cleaning the glass doors.
Vacuum
Bathrooms
Sheets and Bedrooms - Wash and change the sheets, generally tidy up the bedroom.

Afternoon Activities:
Grocery Shopping
Freezer Cooking - I bake or cook one thing that can be frozen and eaten at a later date.
Crafting and Creating - I'm going to make time to actually do some of the things I pin on Pinterest!
Writing - This is for blogging and also for written correspondence to friends and family.

Do you already use a cleaning schedule? Does it work for you? Are you able to stick with it? What suggestions do you have for making my schedule more practical?

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.

Remaining Open

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Sitting in a hospital reveals how little is in my control.

Most of my motherly nature longs to fix every ailment my children endure and wipe out every negative influence surrounding them. But I can’t. In this age, it is impossible.

But I am not without hope.

Image from http://office.microsoft.com

While I cannot control an infection attacking my child or what a relative might inappropriately say around our family, I can trust in a God who covers my children’s hearts constantly. But, that doesn’t mean I sit back and take no action in my parenting or care for others. There exists a thin space between trust while acting responsibly and attempting to over-control a situation.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

Any goodness I show is all God acting through me. God issues a call to do what we can, but keep our hearts and thoughts open to Him in any and all decisions.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)
“Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.” – Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)

The Proverbs 31 woman reminds us we can work eagerly to serve our family and community, avoiding indifferent idleness. We can do so because we love, follow, and serve our God, not ourselves.

While I sit here in this hospital, serving my son to help him heal however I can, I fight these negative thoughts swarming my heart about the “what-ifs” and sorrow and uncertainty. I pray to remain open to the possibilities God gives to serve others:

a sincere thank you to hospital staff loving wholly on my son,
a prayer spoken to a father waiting for his baby to have heart surgery,
eyes open for me to see God constantly working in severe circumstances.

And, oh, how He does work. He offers joy through a sleepy, bed-ridden boy reaching his arms out hug his momma’s neck. He inspires gratitude through hard-working staff working 12- or 30-hour shifts (really, 30!). He shows His provision through just the right words at just the right time, leading to honest discussions and needed treatments. And, yes, He heals when it’s His will.

Because of one act, we have the constant opportunity to remain open to His goodness filling all our broken places. “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.” (Romans 5:18, NIV)

I pray to continue through each day with eyes and heart open to God’s presence – both subtle and obvious. Open to the hope only He can provide.

How can you remain open to God’s love and provision for your family?

Author bio: Caroline is a wife, mother of a beautiful and charming toddler son, avid reader, and writer. She is honored to write with Today’s Housewife. You can also find Caroline at her personal blog (Under God’s Mighty Hand) and on Twitter.

Hot Soup for Cold Nights

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Though I am not the biggest fan of snowy, icy weather--that is literally just accumulating outside my door at this very moment, I am quite fond of the comfort foods that make up winter eats. Most people think that comfort food equals lots of fat, sugar, and calories. I don't think it has to. Comfort food is all about flavors that are familiar and welcoming, and oftentimes that can be accomplished with less of the "bad" stuff when combined with the herbs and other seasonings or offset by loads of vegetables. Soups are one of my favorite ways to enjoy my favorite "comfort foods" and flavors without sacrificing nutrition. They are also a great way to warm up on cold nights. Here are links to two of my favorite soups that I have previously shared on my blog... as well as a new one for today.

Lasagna Soup... spinach, tomatoes, beef, noodles, and plenty of cheese to make things happy! This is a must make.

Turkey, Black Bean, and Sweet Potato Chili... a new take on an old classic.

And last but not least, Cream of Broccoli Soup with Cheese. This soup does not disappoint. It is plenty creamy and cheesy to feel indulgent, but is also filling without feeling heavy, thanks to the use of fresh broccoli, skim milk, and flavorful Swiss cheese.

Cream of Broccoli Soup with Cheese [from Rosemary Perry, Lafayette Journal and Courier]

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken broth
2 medium heads fresh broccoli, chopped [can also substitute 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped broccoli]
1 tablespoon onion, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
generous amount coarse ground black pepper
2 cups skim milk
1 cup cubed Swiss cheese

Directions:

Place chicken broth, broccoli, onion, and bay leaf in 3 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes or until broccoli reaches desired tenderness. [I like to leave it with a little bit of bite so that the rest of the cooking doesn't make it mushy.]

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter then stir in flour and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, always stirring. Gradually add milk, always stirring to make a smooth sauce. Remove from heat.

Remove bay leaf from broth and slowly stir sauce into broth. Add cubed cheese. Heat gently on low until cheese melts.

Time: 30 minutes.

Yield: 4-6 servings.

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.

When do you find the time?!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:40:00 +0000

As a mother of eight, I am most asked if they are all mine (or something a little too personal). But second to that question, I am always asked "How do you have the time for...". Let me tell you a little secret. There is never enough time for it all. Just as Alicia spoke of yesterday, I am living in a season of little hands, big messes, and constant chaos. I cannot have an immaculate house nor do I want one. And in order to sew, bake, craft, and read, I sometimes just don't fold the laundry that night. And guess what! It is still waiting for me in the morning!

But, with all the distractions throughout the day, I often start a project, think of a project, mess up a project, and never complete them. I am good intentioned, but this my poor mind is in the marathon of it's life right now. Extra sometimes just get dropped on the floor of my mental office. So here are some tips to organizing your hobbies, and actually finishing one or two!

     1. Have a journal dedicated to hobbies. I constantly am writing down new sewing ideas, favorite patterns, recipes I want to try, books I'd like to read, etc. I can come back to this to plan out new projects.

     2. Make a wish list on Amazon. This is where I keep a list of ALL books. Books for school, the kids, me, field guides, how-to books, you name it. Whatever you think you would like, put it in your list. As you get Swagbucks, extra money, or catch them on Kindle for free, you can mark them off your list!

     3. Take one evening a week for your hobby. After the kids are in bed, instead of folding clothes, scrubbing floors, or washing the dishes (scandalous!), take the time for your hobby. Sew, read, bake, learn a new photo technique. It's just one evening.

     4. Schedule your crafts!! I know it sounds crazy, but I already have a calendar made up for 2012's Christmas gifts. Each month from now until October, I know what I am making for whom. No more staying up for 72 hours straight trying to finish it all before Christmas morning!

     5. Involve your child. I have been really sneaky, and added sewing lessons to my 11 year old daughter's schooling. So while she is working on sewing straight lines, hems, pajama pants, or quilt tops, I can get in some time cutting out patterns and fabric.

     6. Television and movie time is perfect for multi-tasking. I cannot seem to keep my hands idle, so I crochet, embroider, fix clothing, or plan a baking schedule while watching T.V with my husband.

     7. Stay current on your daily work! I use Simple Mom's Daily Docket to help me stay on track. Being diligent in my work throughout the day leaves me some extra time for hobbies.

     8. Be flexible! If you were planning on making a new door wreath today, but the phone rang all day, the dog ate a plastic toy, and the baby threw up all over the couch and floor, it's okay. Tomorrow is a new day. Put this day to bed, and wake up refreshed and try again!

     9. Have a place set aside for your hobbies. A basket full of yarn and hooks, a shelf of unread books, a desk drawer with sketch pads and pencils. It doesn't have to be a whole room, it could just be a small sewing basket kept by your seat on the couch. But having your craft at your finger tips makes it far easier to spend 10 minutes working on your hobby.

     10. And of course, last but not least, if you do not have a Pinterest account, GET ONE! This has been such a huge resource for me, and a second place to keep all my ideas and wish lists.

So, can I do it all? Nope, but I sure enjoy working with my hands, keeping my home, and staying busy. Now if anyone can help me work on my procrastination issues...

Linked up to Oh Amanda Top Ten Tuesday!

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.

Household Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:57:00 +0000

What season is your home in today? I'm not asking if it's winter or how cold it is outside your door. I'm asking what season of life is it in your home. It is different for everyone. Is your home filled with little mess-makers? Or are you working outside your home? Are your children older and spending their time at school or off on their own?

I struggle with contentment in my home all the time. I'd love for my home to look like the pages of Southern Living magazine, but I'm in the "Cheerio and Laundry" season at my house. That means that there is hardly an hour of the day that doesn't have a load of laundry waiting on the couch to be folded or put away. And at any given time there's a Cheerio (or 10) on the floor somewhere. No matter how hard I work, there's always something else to be picked up or cleaned with young kids. Erma Bombeck once said that "Cleaning the house while the children are growing is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing.' And I'd probably add - in a blizzard! I could work all day at cleaning and keeping an immaculate house, but I'd never get there. My windows are smudged, my pillows never stay neatly arranged on the couch and the laundry is unending.

It doesn't mean that I should give up and start to live like we are auditioning for Extreme Hoarders. But I have tried to shift my perspective a little bit lately. There will be a day when my living room couch doesn't always have the surprise army man or matchbox car in the cushions. And there will be a day when I walk by the kitchen table without hearing the crunch of a Cheerio under my shoe. But it's not today.

Today there will be more than one load of laundry that must be washed and folded. But there will also be games to be played. There will be cars to be picked up, but I think I'll try to stop and race them with my boys before I drop them in their basket. I've heard that I'll miss the mess and the noise. I'm not totally convinced that I will, but I don't want to wish it all away either.

Maybe one day my home will look like a magazine cover. But until then, I think I'll try to embrace this phase of my life. Will you join me in learning to love whatever season of life God has given your home?

Alicia is the Home Editor for Today's Housewife. She's a military spouse and mother to Mark, Luke and Caroline.

Our 1000th Post Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000


Used under Creative Commons from jopoe

This is our 1000th post and we want to celebrate by giving away a gift card to California Pizza Kitchen! The gift card is valued at $10 and the giveaway is open to EVERYONE (including our writers)! We are so happy to have such great readers (and writers)!

To enter to win, please leave a comment below with your e-mail if it's not in your profile. Tell us what your favorite channel is from the blog!

The contest will close on Saturday at 12:34 pm and the winner will be announced Sunday evening (1/14/12). Good luck and thanks for reading!!!

*CPK is in no way associated with our blog.

*Giveaway closed*
Congratulations Nikki! I'll be e-mailing you for your address!

Chuck E. Cheese Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Kama) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Used under Creative Commons
by twofivethreetwo

Get FREE tokens and tickets online for Chuck E. Cheese. The tokens require printing a certificate, filling it out, taking it in and a food purchase. My favorite certificate would have to be "No Nose Picking." The tickets require you to play an online game and print off your ticket voucher. This is a great way to have some fun without having to spend much money if you get one of their coupons!

Kama likes to look for deals in her "free" time. She also blogs at Kama's Korner. Her other interests include couponing, Spanish, her 3 kids (age 3 and under), quilting and doing other crafts.

Be a Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

On December 30th, Sandra asked if you had a one-word resolution for 2012. Last year was the first time I tried this and my word was loyal. I spent the year praying and gearing my actions toward being loyal to God, to my family, and my friends. This year my word is blessing.

The Bible is full of examples of women blessing others. Ruth was a blessing to her mother-in-law by remaining with her even when her husband had died. Ruth 1:16-17. Ruth remained with her mother-in-law to help provide for her when they moved back to Naomi's homeland. Dorcas was a woman who created clothing and gave it all away to charity. She was a blessing to others around her with her talents. Acts 9:36-39.

Being a blessing doesn't just mean giving of hard labor or money. John 4 tells of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. She listened to Jesus, was convinced that He was the Messiah, and proceeded to tell everyone about Him. She was a blessing to all around her by spreading the word of God.

In 2012, you too can be a blessing. Here are just a few ideas:

Mentor a youth in your church. Teach a younger woman about how to be a godly woman.
Visit a shut-in within your community.
Send encouraging notes to friends, family, and church members. Don't forget your pastors and their wives! They need encouragement just as much as we do!
Go on a short-term mission trip, or a long-term one. Spread the word of the Lord.
Make a meal for someone who is sick or who just had a baby.
Take time to pray with someone who needs it, right then and there.

There are many ways you can be a blessing to those around you. Just remember to love one another, as Christ has commanded us (1 John 3:23) and be a blessing to everyone you meet.

Oh, want one more way to be a blessing? Keep reading this blog! The writers at Today's Housewife are blessed by having YOU as a reader. In fact, we are so blessed by you, we are encouraged to be a blessing to you! How are we a blessing? Keep coming back and in a few days you'll find out how.

Elizabeth is a military wife and stay-at-home mom to three kids. She enjoys baking, reading, and a good cup of tea. You can find her blogging over at Elizabeth's Treasure Chest and getting lost at Pinterest.

Five Ways to Pass on Old Toys

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We woke up, we opened, we played, and now we have no where to put the new toys!

This week at our house we're sorting through all the toys to see which ones don't get played with anymore. With a couple bins full already, I thought about what to do with them. Here are five ways to pass on old toys:

Donate them to your church or day care. Nurseries and day cares always need new toys! Make sure you talk to the appropriate people before donating. They may have rules about toys with small pieces or toys that make a lot of noise.
Toys and baby items are always appreciated at crisis pregnancy centers. They will often also pass along your maternity clothes if you want to clean out your closet while cleaning out the toys.
Women’s shelters need stuffed animals and toys for the children who come with their moms for help. This time of year they also need coats and other winter apparel.
Host a toy swap with friends who have children close in age to your children. If you do this with a large group, you may want to draw numbers to see who gets to choose first, second, and so on. You don’t want to all fight for the same toy!
Sell your gently used toys on Ebay, Craig’s List, or at a consignment shop (Kid to Kid is my favorite).

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. You can see what her family is up to at Celebrate Every Day and follow her on Twitter at @SandraPeoples.

Top 10 Books & Book Series I Read in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

In any spare time I have, I read! It's my favorite hobby. My reading list in 2011 was different from previous years—I read more fiction and memoirs. Here are the top ten books and book series I read in 2011:

The Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O'Brien
Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow
Plan B by Pete Wilson
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
Hearing Jesus Speak in Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie
The Hunger Games Series
The Harry Potter Series
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Craving Grace by Lisa Velthouse

Here's a quote from one of my favorites:

"Your dreams may not be happening, and things aren't turning out the way you expected, but that doesn't mean your life is spinning out of control. It just means you're not in control. It's in those moments you can learn to trust the only one who has ever had control in the first place." --Plan B by Pete Wilson

What was the best book you read in 2011?

New Year Organizing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Marci) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

love this vintage art borrowed from The Vintage Housewife

It seems the subject on most of our minds this time of year is organization. It’s on mine, too. It’s that new-year-new-beginning, just-put-all-the-Christmas-clutter-away thing. Whatever it is, each year it keeps my house from descending into chaos. It’s just the motivation I need to keep things in order.

When the itch to organize hits, we are all gung-ho ready to de-clutter the world, but then reality hits.

Where do we start?

Where do we stop?

Do I have time for this?

Yep, it can get over-whelming. That’s why we need to keep it all in perspective and keep in mind some little organizing tips I’ve learned along the way. It's pretty much about setting yourself up for success, not failure.

Start Small - Success motivates us. If we try to tackle the entire basement and don’t have it Martha Stewart perfect by dinnertime, we think we have failed and give up. Try a box or a small area at a time.

Do what you can in the time you have

De-clutter first -Don’t try and organize stuff you don’t need. That’s not organizing. That’s rearranging. Take a hard look at your stuff. Use the 3 pile approach - keep, donate, trash. Only keep what you use, love and have room for.

Schedule your organizing around life - Pause your organizing during busy times in life. The whole reason for organizing is to make you life easier and simpler - not to add more chaos! Just make sure you pick up your organizing projects again when life slows down.

Just a few tips from someone who has been-there-done-that and lived to tell! Happy New Year and Happy Organizing!

Better 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:04:00 +0000

We had so much fun hearing your progress through the comments, on Facebook, and on Twitter during our Countdown to a Better 2012 series. If December was too busy but now that 2012 is here you're ready to make small changes that can have a big impact on your year, here are all our posts from the Better 2012 series!

Praying for My Children in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

This year I'm focusing on one specific prayer request for my boys. I pray lots of big and little things for them each day. I have enjoyed using Brooke's book Warrior Prayers to focus on praying for them. I will continue to pray for their salvation, their sanctification, and their futures. But God also cares about the "little" things I care about, so this year I'm lifting up these specific requests:

For my six year old, I'm praying he'll fall in love with reading. For my four year old, I'm praying he'll eat a bigger variety of food. For the son we are in the process of adopting, I'm just praying he'll come home in 2012.

What are you praying for your children in 2012? Big or little, let's encourage each other to lift up our children!

One Word Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Make a one-word resolution for 2012.

I've made one-word resolutions for the last three years. In 2009 it was grace; in 2010 it was self-control; in 2011 is was humility. Leading up to choosing the one word, I prayed and examined myself for weak areas. Each year, God has taught me so much through life lessons and as I studied passages on my focus word.

I'm still praying about my one word for 2012, and I'm looking forward to new lessons God will teach me.

Have you ever made a one-word resolution?

Plan Date Nights for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Get out your 2012 calendar and pencil in some date nights!

Try to plan a date for you and your husband (either out or at home) once a month. Think now about planning a trip for your anniversary. Is there a movie coming out next year your husband is already excited to see? Put it on the calendar! Take a little time to plan now so you make date night with your husband a priority all year long.

Here are more ideas from our Today's Housewife archives on date nights:

Friday Night Movie from Sandra
Great Ideas for at Home Date Nights from Nikki
7:30? It's a Date! from Alicia
Just Being Together from Jennifer
Make a List of Date Night Ideas Together from Kama