My Blog = My Life: health

The chemical aerosol fresheners you can purchase in the store may send off a pleasant odor, but they wreak havoc on our health! The highly condensed level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and artificial fragrances can cause headaches, earaches, diarrhea, vomiting - even wheezing in young children!

However, sometimes it take more than just an opened window to clear out an unpleasant odor from a room. This Herbal Mist Air Freshener is completely natural and the scent is as lovely as you choose to make it! Mist in the kitchen after frying onions and bacon, spray inside the diaper pail, and store a bottle in the bathroom.

To make your own herbal spray air freshener, all you need is a clean spritz bottle and 2 basic ingredients:

1. Distilled water
2. Essential oil (I've provided some blend suggestions below)

• Country Spice | cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, bay

• Spring Morning | lavender, rose, geranium, rosemary, sweet orange

• In the Woods | sage, thyme, cedar, patchouli, frankincense

• Lover's Lane | vanilla, sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, neroli, rose

• Far East | patchouli, cedar, sandalwood, lime, coriander

• Energizing | basil, lavender, orange, nutmeg, mint

• Calm, Cool, & Collected | bergamot, geranium, clary sage, chamomile, yarrow

• Garden Glimpse | lemon, orange, basil, thyme

Linking to: Natural Living, The Prairie Homestead, Mind Body Sole

It's in the garden, amid the blooms and thistles, the soil and the stony ground, the dead seeds and lush vegetation where the story of sin and forgiveness, the Fall and Redemption, and life as one who has been engrafted into Christ can be told with real-life illustrations like no other. How fascinating it is that the place our children love to play is the same ground that can be used for discipling their eternal souls!

"Do you see that clematis? That's such a pretty vine! Jesus said that He was the True Vine. Everyone who loves Jesus has to bear fruit just like those purple flowers. Otherwise the Lord will cut off the dead branches like Mommy does so the rest can grow better."

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2

"These flowers are called a peonies. Sometimes flowers like to grow in fields of grass where the horses are, even though they'll get cut down when the farmer makes hay. If God even cares about clothing a field of grass with pretty flowers, then we certainly don't have to worry about where we will get our clothes because He cares for us even more!"
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:30

"This pot is made out of clay. The person who made it is called a potter. The Bible says that God is the Potter and we are His clay. He made us and can do with us whatever He wants to do. That should make us very happy because God's plan for His people is perfect - much better than any sort of plan we could think of."

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8

"These pumpkin seeds are dead. They won't grow if we leave them on the driveway. But if we put them in the garden where the soil is really healthy, they will begin to grow and produce beautiful orange pumpkins! Our hearts have to be like the soil in the garden, ready to receive God's Word with joy and produce fruit. If are hearts are stony like the driveway, than we will fall away from the Lord when temptation comes."

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13: 20, 21, 23

"What kind of plant is this? That's right, a tomato plant! How did you know? Because it has tomatoes! Jesus says of His people that by their fruits we will know them. The best way to tell if someone loves the Lord is if they want to do the things that please Him."

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:16, 17

"When we're sick, we don't need to buy our medicine from the store. God tells us that the fruit from the plants He made are for food and the leaves are for medicine!"

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine Ezekiel 47:12

The parallels here only scratch the surface. So much more could be said about Creation, the sin that enter the world by disobedience in Paradise, and what it means to be engrafted into Christ. Next time you're out pulling weeds, pause for a second and whisper these truths in to the eternal souls of your dirt-covered, sun kissed, wee ones.

I came up with this recipe shortly after we started eating the Trim, Healthy Mama way. It combines a few of our favorite flavors into one mouth-watering, plan-approved, protein-packed, tender piece of chicken.

Servings: 4 Baking Time: 25 minutes. Gluten-free, sugar-free, nut free, soy-free
*For anyone else who's a THMer, this staple falls under the Satisfying category.
Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 Tbsp Truiva (or plan approved sweetener)
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved length-wise
• 2 cups sliced, fresh mushrooms
• 8 bacon strips
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• fresh chives, snipped

Fry bacon. Set aside on paper towel to absorb the excess oil. Discard all but 1 Tbsp of bacon fat. Saute mushrooms and cook chicken until lightly golden in bacon fat.

Arrange chicken in 8x8" baking pan. Wrap each breast with two strips of bacon to from an "X". Pour mushrooms over top and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Garnish with chives.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Linked up at: Trim Healthy Tuesdays.

If you're on a mission to clean up your diet, getting your kids on board with the idea can seem impossible. If they're used to snacking on cookies, party-mix, Smarties, or packaged granola bars it can be frustrating for both of you to adopt healthier eating habits.
Thankfully, there are many scrumptious, nutritious recipes available that'll appeal to the pallet the same way junk food does. But instead of artery-clogging fats, refined sugars and flours, MSG, and simple carbohydrates, you'll be serving your child snacks that are loaded with nutrition and energy to help build a growing body.
Here are 10 snacks our kids love (and have no idea they're good for them!):

1. Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Flax Muffins

2. "Just Like Wheat Thins" Crackers with Cheese from Trim Healthy Mama

3. Snicker Snackers

4. Apples or Bananas with Peanut or Almond Butter

5.Raw vegetables with natural, homemade salad dressing.

6. Yogurt or kefir, with berries and raw honey

7. Skinny Chocolate from Trim Healthy Mama

8. Cottage Berry Whip from Trim Healthy Mama

9. Peppermint Patties

10. Trail Mix.

Linked up to: Stacy Makes Cents.

Like many of you, we are a single-income, larger-than-average, (1.8 or more children), homeschooling family.

And both my husband and I come from a rich, Dutch heritage.

In other words, whether or not we need to be, we enjoy frugal living. I'm also a lover of nutritious, from-scratch, whole-food cooking. Overtime, we've found that you can have one and the other! Here's how we can enjoy a mainlywhole-food diet on a budget (we still eat take-out more often than I'd like to admit!).

Cheap foods that are good for you

1. Whole grains. Oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa are cheap! For ultimate nutritional value, choose any of these grains and soak them for a hearty breakfast that'll keep you energized all morning.

For a fabulously healthy, gluten-free, blueberry-muffin smelling breakfast, pour 1 cup of steel-cut oats, brown rice, OR quinoa in a crock-pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of almond milk, 1 1/2 cups water, 1-2 Tbsp of ground flax seed, 2-3 Tbsp butter or coconut oil, 1 cup fresh blueberries, cinnamon, sea salt, and sweetener (honey, maple syrup, stevia, or brown sugar) to taste. Stir. Cook on low overnight. Alternately, try using diced apple and a handful of walnut in place of blueberries.
2. Beans and legumes. Beans are one of the cheapest proteins available and can be used to replace meat in a meal. Given a good, over-night soak in purified water, they are a highly digestible form of fiber, complex carbohydrates, iron, and folate - ideal if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

Our favorite way to enjoy beans are in chili, taco salad, and brownies (there's a Special Agent Brownie recipe in Trim Healthy Mama that's absolutely fabulous!).

3. Eggs. Eggs are one of the very few complete proteins available to us (they contain all 9 essential amino acids), contain only 70 calories, and are chock full of nutrition. Besides being excellent sources of protein and good cholesterol, they also contain iron, vitamins A, D, E, and B12, folate, selenium, and lutein.

Eggs can be cooked quickly in a variety of ways (hard or soft-boiled, fried, poached, scrambled) and provide great structure and texture when added to baked goods.

We enjoy them on their own and in omelettes, crepes, breakfasts bakes, and pizza crust.

Foods worth paying more for

No matter how tight our budget, there are certain foods I don't cheap out on as we feel the extra dollars are insignificant compared to the health benefits. We'd rather "pay the farmer than the pharmacy," as the saying goes.

1. Oil. It's a safe bet that anything you can get in a big plastic jug for $4 is not good for you. Vegetable oils and margarine derived from cheaply grown or genetically modified plants like sunflower, corn, soybean, canola, safflower have little nutrition to begin with and are chemically altered and deodorized in order to make them palatable. Our bodies were not meant to consume them.

Opt instead for healthy saturated fats that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. These include butter (preferably organic), coconut, olive, and red palm oil.
2. Fresh, local, organic produce. We can't afford to purchase all of our produce this way, but we try our best to grow or purchase the infamous "Dirty Dozen" organically as these fruits and vegetables contain the highest pesticide residue otherwise:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Celery
• Peppers
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Cherries
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes
• Grapes

• onions
• avocado
• sweet corn
• pineapples
• mango
• asparagus
• bananas
• cabbage
• broccoli
• papaya
• kiwi

Instead, we use coconut or almond milk. They contain high levels of vitamins A & D and are lactose free. They cost slightly more than pasteurized, hormone enhanced cow's milk, but since we rarely use it for more than our morning smoothie, we don't notice a difference in our grocery bill.

As our budget allows, we try to purchase higher quality dairy products like kefir, greek yogurt, cream and cottage cheese.
4. Meat. Cheaper cuts of meat are usually that way because they come from animals that are pumped full of genetically modified grain products, growth hormones, and antibiotics - the sole purpose of which is to fatten an animal up as quickly as possible for slaughter. Food Inc. is a fascinating documentary that explains how the food industry is making us sicker, fatter, and poorer through this process.

Although more expensive, grass-fed, locally raised, organic beef and chicken is a far more nutritious alternative and of much less consequence to your health.
5. Sweeteners. Sugar is cheap, appeals to our pallet, and is easy to come by. Consequently, diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart failure, and a host of other health concerns are also the norm. We stay away from refined sugar as much as possible and use raw honey, pure maple syrup, and stevia instead.

While they should still be used in small quantities, these sweeteners contain healthy enzymes and minerals which are difficult to get from other foods. They also have a healthier Glycemic Index which means they don't mess with your blood sugar levels in the same way refined sugar does.

Where to get healthy food for less

1. Garden. Anyone can grow their own produce, even a little bit. Be it a pot on the balcony of your apartment or a 3 acre market garden, all you need is some seed, soil, water, and sun and you're in business.

We put in a large raise bed last year for free - my husband made a tarp in exchange for a truckload of triple-mix and I used the gift cards I got for my birthday to purchase our seeds and plants.
2. Farmer's Market. Farmer's markets are great places to find local, seasonal produce, cure meats, eggs, honey and maple syrup at a fraction of the price you find in the store. Plus, farmers generally care about individual relationships with their customers and often offer a faithful buyer further discounts and "throw in a little extra."
3. Local Farmer. In the fall, we often purchase 1/4-1/2 a cow from a Christian farmer who grows his beef organically. We get to choose how we'd like it butchered and our freezer is well stocked for several months. We estimate purchasing our meat this way saves us 30% of the store price.

If we had the space for it, we'd love to keep our own chickens. We go through plenty of eggs around here! Thankfully, they are cheap to come by! We buy them from Brad's co-worker whose family keeps organically raised laying hens as a sideline business.

In the summer, we pick our own berries, freeze most of them, and turn some into sauce or jam. A relative of ours keeps a bountiful raspberry patch where we can come and go as we please.

It didn't work out last year because of pregnancy complications, but this summer, my mom, sisters, and I plan on putting up other produce from local farms that we don't grow ourselves: peaches, pears, carrots, pickles, etc.

4. Bulk Stores. I buy most of our grain from The Bulk Barn. We often receive coupons for $3.00 off a purchase of $10.00 or more (which I can easily spend in one visit!). I blend whole kernels with my Wondermill and the stuff I purchase pre-ground (flax), I purchase in small quantities as it goes rancid quickly. I purchase my organice herbs, teas, sea salt, and spices from The Bulk Herb Store.

I also purchase soap and other dried goods here like coconut, almonds, walnuts, and cranberries.
5. Grocery Store. You can save money at the grocery store by using coupons, ad-matching, checking the clearance shelf, and purchasing store-brand non-perishables like brown rice and tomato paste.

The clearance shelf where everything is ripe and ready, is a wonderful place to get greatly discounted produce. If you have a juicer, freeze your juice into Popsicles for a healthy summer treat or into ice cubes for slushies. Peppers and onions can be cut up and bagged for pizza toppings, apples turned into sauce, and mushrooms sauteed in butter for a fine steak topping.
6. Online. I must admit to rarely purchasing groceries online. I prefer to see the product myself. The exception to this is the extra virgin coconut oil I get from Tropical Traditions. The quality is truly remarkable. We use it a lot, especially in desserts like Chunky Cream Pops, Skinny Chocolate, and Peppermint Patties. I'm thankful it regularly goes on sale for 40-50% off.

In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support! Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Homestead Barn Hop, The Better Mom,

The hardest part about being gluten-free, according to my dear husband, is missing out on baked goods that taste good. Bread, cake, cookies, donuts, muffins... nothing quite tastes as wonderful as things made with white flour.

Then I discovered the Easy Peasy Cinnamon Muffins in Trim Healthy Mama. Brad said he hadn't had a muffin that good since he started eating gluten-free two years ago! I've made a couple of alterations to the original recipe and apparently we have a winner! Brad takes two in his lunch every day to work and never tires of them. The kids love them too.

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins (adapted from Trim Healthy Mama)
Time: 15 minutes plus baking
Servings: 24 small muffins or 12 large
Ingredients:

• 3 eggs and 3 egg whites
• 3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp water
• 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups ground golden flax seed
• 1/2 cup finely shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 4 Tbsp. cinnamon (not a typo!)
• 12 tsp of Truvia (or 1 cup sugar)
• 1 cup raisins

These recipes are reprinted with permission from the authors.

Just Like Wheat Thins Crackers | Trim Healthy Mama,
I had my doubts about this recipe. "Just Like Wheat Thins?!" Yeah, right. You need refined flour and sugar to achieve that kind of deliciousness, don't you? Apparently not. These crackers are amazing and taste like the real thing I can't seem to keep our house stocked though - they disappear quickly!

• 3/4 cup flax meal
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 2 egg whites
• 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
• 1 Tbsp. parmeasan cheese
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• dash of black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Fooled Ya Pizza | Trim Healthy Mama,
I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient!

• 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
• 3/4 cup egg whites
• 2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
• sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
• pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)

Add egg whites and pulse again.
Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool.
Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).

Peanut Squares | Trim Healthy Mama,
These squares are so yummy! A combination of sweet and salty, we enjoy them as a snack and a dessert. They're gerat to give along with a meal to a new mom too.

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 tsp Truvia
• 1 pkg cream cheese, softened
• 10 tsp Truvia
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 3/4 cup whipping cream

While crust is baking, beat cream cheese and second measurement of Truvia together until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and beat some more.

In a separate bowl, beat whipped cream. Fold into cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled crust.

Place in refrigerator to chill until set.

Cheeseburger Pie | Trim Healthy Mama,
This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie.

• 2 lbs of ground beef
• 3 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
• pickles, tomatoes, red onion
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• sea salt
• ground pepper
• 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese

Chunky Cream Pops | Trim Healthy Mama,
This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far.

• 1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
• 2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
• 10 tsp. Truvia
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter

Spicy Chicken Wings, pg. 323

Taco Salad, pg. 347

Special Agent Brownies, pg. 383

Trim Healthy Pancakes, pg. 223

In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support.

We learned how to make these raw energy bites in a Goodness Me! whole food cooking class. I still have a hard time believing they're good for you. Usually anything I get cravings for is unhealthy, but I find myself wanting these things all. the. time. They're right up there with chocolate. Charity fondly calls them "Timbits" (you might have to be Canadian to get that).
If you've committed to eating healthy (good for you!), Snicker Snackers are a guilt-free indulgence for when the urge to eat something rich is just too strong.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup seasame seeds
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder
• 1/4 cup ground flax
• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut

Combine ingredients in blender. Roll into small balls (refrigerate mixture for 1/2 an hour if it's too soft). Store in an air-tight container and keep refrigerated.

If you love whole food recipes, you'll love the Cottage Mama's eBooks written by Kristy Howard. The Cottage Mama Plans Her Menu is a favorite in our house with 29 healthy, tasty, budget-friendly recipes and a 2-week menu plan. You can download it here for $3.00.

One bite of this flavor-packed salad and you'll understand why Goodness Me cooking instructor Sandy Pomeroy named it Sensational Salad! A plate or two of this, and you're well on your way to 5-10 servings of vegetables per day. I've tweaked the recipe to suit our taste, but the original came from her.

Sensational Salad

• 4 cups organic salad mix (choose one with lots of different leaf varieties)
• 1 cup cauliflower florets, finely chopped
• 1/2 cucumber, quartered horizontally, then chopped
• 1/2 red pepper, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 carrot, grated
• 1 cup kale, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup dried cranberries

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup flax oil
• 1 tsp. Herbamare
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlice, finely chopped

This recipe is a low-fat, absolutely decadent-tasting, cheesecake-like dessert that keeps you full, healthy, and satisfies your sweet tooth! When I first discovered it in Trim Healthy Mama, I said, "Where have you been all my life?!"

I win The Best Mom In The World award when I serve this to the kids for breakfast. They think they're getting dessert!

This recipe comes from Trim Healthy Mama and is reposted with permission fro the authors.
Cottage Berry Whip
Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 5-6
*For THMer's, this is an E, S, or FP.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (1 container) low-fat cottage cheese
• 2 cups mixed berries
• Truvia or NuNaturals to taste (when I make this for the kids, I use honey as the sweetener)

The Wise Mom, The Praying Mom, The Single Mom, The Stepmom, The Working Mom, The Healthy Mom, The Work at Home Mom, The Modest Mom, The Stressed Mom, The Homeschooling Mom, The Special Needs Mom, The Mom Who Desires More Children, The Weary Mom...

The Pursuit of Motherhood 153 pages $7.99 $3.99

We Moms are a varied bunch, but we all have one thing in common: we have children to raise. Children, given to us from the hand of God, to raise for His honor and glory.
Motherhood can be overwhelming (for me, anyway). Our boys, how do we raise them to be real men in a world that confuses chivalry with chauvinism? And our daughters, is preparing them to be homemakers setting them up for disappointment?
Breast or bottle? What if you can't breastfeed? Cloth or disposables? Work from home, away from home, or not at all? Homeschool, private school, or public school? Birth control or Quiverfull?
So many questions. So many decisions. So little time; that's why we wrote The Pursuit of Motherhood.
The goal of The Pursuit of Motherhood is to sift through the sideline issues and encourage Moms in every situation to pursue mothering their children with all their heart, keeping God at the center of all their endeavors. "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5 (emphasis mine) The Pursuit of Motherhood is authored by 17 Moms including Kelly Crawford from Generation Cedar, June Fuentes from A Wise Woman, Jacqueline Franks from Deep Roots At Home, Melanie Young from Raising Real Men, and yours truly.
We share in common a love for the Lord and a love for our families, however imperfect. We sincerely desire the same for you and pray that this eBook will give you an uncommon vision for motherhood an the tools to restore its glory within your own home.

The Pursuit of Motherhood 153 pages $7.99 $3.99

Table of Contents

1. The Praying Mother
2. Mothering Through the Little Years
3. The Working Mom
4. The Healthy Mom
5. The Work at Home Mom
6. Infertility, Part I: Primary and Secondary Infertility
7. Infertility, Part II: The Empty Womb and Adoption
8. The Modest Mom
9. Breastfeeding and Child Attachment
10. The Weary Mom, Part I
11. The Weary Mom, Part II
12. The Homeschooling Mother
13. Mothering a Child with Special Needs
14. Raising Real Men
15. Raising Homemakers
16. Be Fruitful and Multiply
17. Biblical Motherhood
18. Leaving a Legacy

153 pages $7.99 $3.99

Brad and I love Tacos, fajitas, salsa... any dish with a touch of Mexican flair. But for all the other spice lovers out there, you know how expensive a little packet of seasoning can get! Thankfully, there's a better way.
Did you know you can make your own Taco Seasoning mix for a fraction of the cost? And what's more, it's healthier too. No MSG, BHT, ABCs or any other type of cancer-causing preservatives added to the mix. Just your regular old spices ground together to make a stronger, cheaper, and better flavor than any pre-packaged seasoning mix out there.

Shhhh! Just don't tell Old El Paso our little secret. It might not be so good for his business once you try it and get hooked.
Here's how to make your own yummy Taco seasoning-for cheap!
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tbs chili powder 1/4 tsp. red pepper 1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
This recipe seasons 1 lb. of ground hamburg or cubed chicken very well. Decrease the amounts a little if you don't want it very spicy. Feel free to experiment with the measurements of each ingredient to suit your taste. Sometimes I like to add cayenne pepper, or curry to the mix as well.

We love this healthy, hearty winter squash soup! It's made even better when topped with grated cheddar, fried bacon, ham, or sausage, and served with a thickly buttered slice of crusty bread. Mmm! "Scrumdidilly," as my husband would say.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 large onion
• 4 cups water
• 4 cups chicken broth (I use a GF bouillon)
• 4 cups squash, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 cup parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. thyme
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil and butter in heavy pot.

Add onion and cook until soft.

Hey! How'd those little fingers get in there?! ;-) Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until veggies are soft. Carefully add small amounts to blender. Puree the entire batch, add to new pot and warm over low heat.

Optional: Stir in fried bacon or sausage and top with grated cheese.
Enjoy!

Who would've thought there'd come a time in my life where I'd wonder where my next breath would come from when I'd be able to squeeze in my next shower? Not me! But here I am with 3 kids in three years, wondering some days when I'm going to find the time to do things I used to take for granted.

"When do I take a shower?" If Brad is home, then I have it after the oldest two have gone to bed while he watches our newborn, Anna. If I'm away in the evening, then I attempt to have one before the kids wake up in the morning. If that doesn't work out, then I wait until Anna's morning nap - place her in the bassinet, Judah (2) in his crib or a playpen with several toys to keep him occupied, and trust our 3-year-old to keep herself occupied and out of trouble. So far, so good (famous last words)! Worst case scenario, I look like a slime ball when someone unexpectedly pops in for a visit.

"When do I have my devotions?" My friend Anna, from Feminine Adventures, covered this question in beautiful detail. Go and read her post if you haven't already!

I try to have them while I'm nursing in the early morning or late evening. It never hurts to involve the kids either should they wake up earlier than expected. If I'm not too sleepy, I go through my prayer list when I'm nursing in the middle of the night.

"When do I make supper?" Raise your hand if 5 o'clock seems to be the most hectic time of the day. Okay, you can put it down now. Someone is guaranteed to be nursing, crying, needing to use the potty, discovering (and spilling) things in the pantry (like flour) while the rest of the house sits in disarray. Plus, the kiddlets are starting to get cranky from hungry tummies and you're expecting your husband home from work any minute.

This is why I try to make dinner first thing in the morning. I love using the recipes from Trim Healthy Mama (you can read my entire review here). They are easy, healthy, whole-food dishes that can be prepared quickly and made ahead of time. That way, even if the rest of the day is chaotic, there will still be a nutritious meal on the table, and hopefully, an atmosphere of relative peace and calm for my husband to come home too. He deserves it after a long day at work!

"When do I clean my house?" I used to reserve one day a week to do all the major housework like cleaning the bathrooms, scrubbing floors, vacuuming, and dusting, etc. Now with 3 kids, 3 and under, I spread it over two days.

The biggest jobs I try to finish on Thursdays, leaving Friday and Saturday morning to wrap it all up. Brad has Saturday afternoons off from work and we like to spend it relaxing with the kids, visiting our grandparents, or having friends over.

"When do I fit in exercise?" Normally I like to take a brisk 1/2 hour walk in the early evening after the kids have gone to bed while Brad stays home with Anna. We've been having so much rain lately though, that I've resorted to torturing myself with Jillian Michael's 6-week six pack during the first 35 minutes of the kids afternoon nap time.

I've joined the Redeemed Health and Fitness Facebook group for accountability purposes and encouragement. All the ladies in this group are mothers (most with larger than average families) who are seeking to shed unwanted pounds on a tight schedule. We share our highs and lows, praise each lost pound, steal each other's great ideas, and kept accountable with a daily check-in.
"When do I nap?" HA HA HA HA HA! Good one.

***For further reading, I recommendLarge Family Logistics: my favorite resource for learning how to build household routines within a larger-than-average families. Brad bought me this book for my birthday a few years ago, and I've been giving it out as gifts to other young moms ever since then. It's filled with step-by-step procedures, organizational advice, and a myriad of tips for efficiently managing a home in a way that honors God and builds up family relationships.

In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Modest Monday, A Mama's Story, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies

Virgin Coconut Oil is a staple in our house. I use it for everything from cooking chicken, adding good fat to my morning smoothie, making our own hand cream and lip balm, and best of all...

... in the Skinny Chocolate recipe from Trim Healthy Mama! This is the best, healthiest, yummiest chocolate you will ever eat! Guaranteed. We can't get enough of it and that's okay, because it's actually good for you!
Skinny Chocolate Recipe from Trim Healthy Mama, pg. 371

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup Virgin Coconut Oil
• NuNaturals (stevia) or other natural sweetener to taste

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

The whole family will enjoy this dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and because it's loaded with fresh spinach, this breakfast bake is an ideal choice for pregnant mamas who need an extra boost of folic acid! Maximize the health benefits by using farm-fresh eggs, raw milk (almond milk works great too), grass-fed turkey bacon, and organic produce.

An excellent source of protein, folic acid, calcium, and fiber. Gluten-Free and Trim Healthy Mama friendly!

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• salt and pepper to taste
• 10 bacon strips, fried and crumbled
• 8 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried
• 1/2 an onion, finely chopped

Cut into squares and serve warm.

I quite literally jumped at the chance to review Simplified Dinners, for several reasons:

• I'm at the same stage author Mystie Winckler was when she wrote these books - a homeschooling mama to three young children with little energy for menu planning or store hopping to score the best deals on pantry staples
• I'm a home-style loving, cook-from-scratch-recipes kind of girl
• My husband is on a gluten-free diet and I need some inspiration!
• Time is tight; I need recipes that are satisfying, healthy, and quick to prepare

Simplified Dinners claimed to meet all of my needs and I was more than willing to give it a try! I printed out the eBook and quickly discovered it surpassed my expectations.

Included is an exhaustive list of pantry staples. I particularly appreciated this as someone who still considers herself a rookie gluten-free cook! I have a much better idea of what kind of things I should be storing in my pantry and what items to avoid.
The recipes are well categorized and easy to follow. I've no problem finding what I'm looking for while appreciating the exceptional, condensed design that saves on paper and ink. You could easily follow these recipes using a tablet, laptop, or similar digital advice, but the traditionalist in me printed out both eBooks (the regular and gluten-free/dairy-free version) to store in a 3-ring binder.
Considering the fact that the Simplified Dinner recipes emphasis whole foods, they are remarkably easy to prepare and extremely easy to alter! Base recipes for salad dressings, meats, potatoes, and pasta dishes come with several variations so you can adapt flavors to what's on hand or your own family's preferences.
I highly recommend these eBooks to anyone who:

• desires to save time and money in the kitchen
• enjoys wholesome, tasty meals
• has gluten or dairy tolerances
• needs some new meal inspiration

Linking to: The Modest Mom, Raising Arrows, A Mama's Story

Like any area of life, homeschooling can quickly become a complicated monster. You can sometimes find yourself battling through the darkness in search of homeschool sanity.

We’ve been in the homeschool mentality for almost 10-years. When our oldest child was two-years-old the Lord did a whammy on my heart and introduced me to the world of home education. Boy, was I thankful, I’d get to stay home with my children everyday and learn and grow with them. I knew that I was made to homeschool our children.
That sounds poetic, and truly-many days are an overflow of blessing, but honestly there are seasons in which we all need a reminder to homeschool with joy and purpose. None of us want to be the un-showered mom who is still reheating her one morning cup of coffee in the microwave at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
Sometimes, I’m that mom.
Here are 6 Ways to Keep Homeschool Sanity for those less-than-perfect ruts.

1. Take it day-by-day: You can only live this one day well. If the spelling book is screaming at you-reminding you that you’re 2-months behind-remember who is boss! You’re are in charge, not the curriculum. If pressure mounts about tomorrow and what you still have yet to do, refine your focus onto today. I’ve had to remind myself on more than one occasion to live in the moment —that’s the best place to dwell.
2. Homeschool year-round: After a few seasons of trying to maintain a traditional schedule, we finally moved to a year round routine. This has allowed us greater flexibility, and has additionally strengthened our homeschooling experience. By homeschooling year-round we’re able to keep our life and school intertwined without too much of the hard-line differences between “school” and “life.” And if those complications arise, see number 3.
3. Take a mental health day: Does today feel crazy? Did the laundry goblin ransack your laundry room and spill his carnage out into the hall? Taking a mental health day for the benefit of your family is prescribed! Develop your children’s life skills in the morning by having them roll socks; then expand their cultural horizons in the afternoon with a bowl of ice-cream and a family movie marathon. You have permission to put your feet up, too!
4. Don’t compare: This is a trap. Susie will always start her 5-year-old in Latin first, and most likely her son will have all of his school work independently completed by 9 a.m. I’m not Susie, and my kids were made for me to parent. The End. And this non-comparison business goes for comparing children in other modes of education as well. Your home is just that, home. Like it, learn in it, live it!
5. Do something different: If I need a change of flow for myself, and a field trip is not in sight, I may load the kids in the van at 8 a.m. for an impromptu morning romp at the playground. I also like to invite a few other homeschool families over for a massive fellowship day—it’s okay to change things up a bit. We have these fellowship days at least twice a month, they're vital to our homeschool health!
6. Remember what is really important: It’s easy to find ourselves caught up in the academic success that homeschool affords. We must remember to keep our eternal focus. I listed in the Reasons Why We Homeschool that raising our children in a Christ following, family centered, atmosphere was our purpose; to bring these young souls up in His ways. Jesus is what is really important. The salvation and training up of our children in the way they should go. All the homeschool benefits are just the cherry on top.
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Jamerrill Stewart is the wife to one and mother of five. You can find her most days authoring Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling where her family is living the life of faith. Also, join her Christian Homeschooling Community on Facebook.

Sometimes, I get this funny feeling that many folks think we homeschool mothers are just not normal. “Not normal” meaning: we are somehow exempt from the common plagues of womanhood. You know, impatience, griping, anger, poor time management, selfishness, loneliness, hormones, etc.
I’ll never forget the day a mother told me, “I wish I wanted to homeschool. But I just need that alone time while my boys are away at school!” Where do people get this idea that women who choose to homeschool their children, do it because it’s just so easy for them?
That we don’t “need alone time”. Don’t wake up tired and grumpy on occassion. Never get sick, or have sick little ones. Don’t crave adult conversation, or relish a hot shower without interruptions, or wouldn’t like to spend one day without peeling hardened pasta off the kitchen floor with a spatula.

I have a news flash to share: Homeschooling moms are “normal”. We are flawed, selfish sinners, just like everyone else. We fight the same battles with our flesh (and our flesh and blood) as every other mother in the world. The one difference between the “I don’t want to’s”, the “I wish I wanted to’s”, and the determined “I’m going to’s!” is nothing but… Grace - the power and desire to fulfill God’s will for our lives. That grace is new…every morning.

I well remember the frazzled day I told my husband (in a not-so-gentle way), “I AM NOT CUT OUT TO BE A HOMESCHOOL MOM! I just can’t do it!” Looking back those eighteen or so months, I realize I am not the same woman who sobbed those exasperated words to my husband. Granted, I have the same struggles. Wake up to the same challenges every day. But I am not the same. Because of grace.
I’ll give you a few good reasons why I’m not “cut out” to be a homeschool mom:

• I’m impatient.

• I’m inconsistent.

• I don’t have time.

• I don’t have space.

Homeschooling Day By Day: $4.99
$2.00 'til January 17! 40 Chapters (with Discussion Questions)
PDF Version:

KINDLE version:

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Kristy Howard is a believer in Jesus Christ, a pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother of four. She is passionate about living simply, naturally, and Biblically for the glory of God. Kristy is the editor and owner of LittleNaturalCottage.com, where she furiously writes about her loves during nap time. She and her husband, Jeremy, make their home in North Texas, where they enjoy their growing family, their church, and their pursuit of a debt free life.

Image via Pinterest

~"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalm 90:12~
When your husband comes home from work and inquires about how your last eight hours have gone, do you bite your lip and think, "Hmmmm, what have I accomplished?!"

Do you ever feel like you're sitting and spinning; trying to make progress but getting nowhere? Do you feel like you dawdle aimlessly all day only to crawl into bed at night wishing you had been more focused and able to bless your family, friends, and neighbors? Do you ever breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that no unexpected visitors have dropped in, when you survey the state of your home right before dinner?

I have. Several times, I'm afraid. It's embarrassing, but sometimes my house looks like a war zone and I don't even know how it got that way. The good news is that it only takes - get this - just a few seconds to keep things from piling up!

I've made a list of some very quick jobs that have the ability to transform a room from looking dirty to clean in seconds. I timed myself. Most of these "Quick Fixes" take less than 60 seconds. They can all be done in less than 5 minutes.

If your house is a disaster and you don't know where to start, tackle a few of these and you'll be pleasantly surprised! Charity and I go nuts with this list right before Daddy arrives from work. I want our house to be a welcoming place for him to come home too.

• Straighten pillows on couch
• Make your bed
• Clear the table
• Collect junk mail and toss into recycle bin
• Neatly shelve any books or magazines at are lying around
• Load the dishwasher
• Sweep kitchen and front entry floor
• Tidy the top of your dresser/end tables
• Pick up your clothes. Throw the dirty stuff into a hamper (or, even better, the washing machine) and fold or hang anything that can be worn again.
• Walk around the house with a plastic grocery bag. Fill it with garbage (hair, fuzzies, string, twist ties, Kleenex, candy wrappers, etc.)
• Line up shoes. We have a shoe rack in our front entry closet to keep our footwear out of sight.
• Straighten the tea towel in the kitchen, and the hand towel in the bathroom.
• Collect all the toys and toss them into their appropriate toy boxes.
• Keep water in a Spritz Bottle underneath the bathroom sink. Spray and wipe porcelain bathroom fixtures (sink, toilet, tub) with paper towel.
• Polish up your faucets with a microfiber cloth (cheaper and healthier than paper towel and glass cleaner. Use vinegar if you need to.) until they shine.