Happy Thanksgiving

I pray that you all are enjoying your Thanksgiving Day. It's the time to step back and recognize the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us, even in times of trial we can be thankful.

Kale, the Amazing Superfood

Recently, I was stopped by someone as I went to unload my shopping cart full of kale into my car, and was asked what do I use all that kale for? My answer was simply, "my family LOVES kale" Not only does kale taste amazing but has so many health benefits as well. Check out what Medical News Today has to say about this superfood. Mostly we make homemade kale chips by covering the leaves in olive oil and sea salt and then baking for about 20 minutes(makes a great snack). We also enjoy adding kale to our soups and salads, using it in smoothies and making a kale slaw. Next time you're in the produce section, think about trying this amazing superfood. Your body will thank you.

Cleaning Your CEILING FAN

Now is the time for sneezing,sniffling,coughing and more unhappy feelings of the cold trying to cough its way into our lives. We recently had a bout of the cold/flu in our house and I have to say after each one of us hacking away and gasping for air I thought.... I would do anything to stop coughing and breath like normal. Whilst wallowing in self pity on my living room floor I looked up to see.... Dust dust and more Dust on my ceiling fan. My first thought,"oh no this has to go." I'm sort of an OCD cleaner if I see something that needs to be cleaned I immediately stop what I'm doing and get to it,(so I don't forget of course.) So off I head to get my ceiling fan cleaning brush. A long handle with a circle shaped brush at the end."Perfect!" I thought, come to find out my thinking was absolutely wrong while this brush had been doing a swell job this whole time and I saw dust flying when I used it,I came to realize its not the best method to clean. Now what everyone has been waiting to hear,I will tell you the best way to clean your fan.
Climb on a ladder with plenty of paper towels and....
 here its is the cleaning solution to make your fan spik and span(rhyming) scrubbing bubbles. Yep the bubbling bathroom cleaner I use for everything and no I don't work for the makers of scrubbing bubbles. When your looking to clean and disinfect swiftly (as I was,still not feeling well.) Scrubbing bubbles is it.
Get On your ladder and starting with the tops of the blade spray and wipe until its completely cleaned then get the bottom of the blade.(blade side facing the floor)
 After you clean every blade in this manner spray your paper towel and clean all of the rest of the pieces on your fan. Remember you only spray your blades directly as  spraying the other components of your fan could be harmful and possibly ruin the effectiveness of the fan. Also know you can do this I know some of y'all are not ladder climbers and definitely not dusters BUT when it comes to your health and the health of your household CLEAN THAT FAN. You'll be so glad you did and you only need to deep clean the fan like this about 4 times during the year all the rest of the year dusting would probably suffice.
Have fun
Lane

A Virtuous Wife, Who Can Find?

Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." 

Ladies, this book is life changing! God has placed in us a desire to be a help meet to our husbands but for a lot of us, we're not quite sure what that really means or what's really required. I was never taught how to be a help meet nor did I have an example growing up BUT I've always desired to be the wife and mother that God has called me to be. Debi Pearl has laid it out step-by-step, with real-life examples in her book, Created To Be His Help Meet. If you desire to be the wife that God has called you to be then this book is a MUST READ! I just purchased my second copy as I'm constantly lending this book out. Tons of women are getting together and talking about this book, putting it into action, and becoming the wives they were created to be. I plan on passing this book down to my daughter. One of the BEST books I've ever read! 

~Amy

This book is available through the store on our site Created to be his helpmeet

Holidays

Ok if you are like me this year (I will not be having anyone over for Thanksgiving.) Then its time to get on that Christmas decorating! YAY I am super excited this year because every other year we have guest for Thanksgiving and Christmas so I never get to started on Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving:( I may be the only one who thinks like this IDK. I have some tips for easy decorating and gift preparing so hopefully I can lay it down without being overwhelming lol; Which if you know me I can go-go-go Here goes..
. Decorating Tips
1. Pine Garland . Its super inexpensive and looks great alone or can be paired with other cute decor.    2. Bows Bows Bows . Need I say more you can place these babies all over the place, it's great!
3. Table runners they're super swift to change out and you can find some for every occasion..
4.Hot Tea. Ok not really a decorating tip but I need it with all this running around lol
5.Printables. I don't think I need to explain but there's a printable for everything out there. (door signs,wall decor,snack labels the list is endless.)
 Ok that's enough of a teaser for now , lets get down on the Gifts. I love giving presents and I have found a system that's been working for me for the past few years.
Gifts
1. Find a closet. One that's not being used often (mine happens to be my Christmas closet haha most the decorations are being set out
2.Get plastic bags. For every person you're getting a gift for they have their own bag to organize the pile of gifts and not forget what gifts are for who. (great way to reuse shopping bags)
3. Start early. Begin getting gifts super early you will find more thoughtful gifts and save tons of cash.
4.Save gift bags and tissue paper then reuse it. (I take my tissue paper and neatly fold it then put it into my tissue paper file.) Sounds corny but it keeps the tissue paper nice and flat so its brand new when I use it.Also its easy to find.
5. Have fun. Use anything... if you don't have wrapping paper pick out some newspapers with cute ads. Don't have bows.. again newspaper made bows or fabric bows.(It'll be thoughtful and different.)

If you haven't gotten the idea in the list. You hang the plastic bags in the closet. Label them if your memory isn't what it used to be. Then every time you find a gift for someone put in into their very own bag. You can begin to wrap but I don't do that until its time just in case I have a surprise guest and need to switch some stuff around. When it comes to your immediate family ,wrap and label your gifts as soon as you can and toss them into the attic,basement wherever people wont travel too. Hope that helpped, have fun and stay tuned we will be having tutorials soon :) double yay!!
 Lane

Getting It All Done

I’ve got laundry to do, dishes to wash, children to teach, a house to run, a husband to tend, and the list goes on and on. Two words could easily describe any given day: OVERWHELMING and CHAOTIC! So, how does one get it all done in only 24 hours (mind you, I’ve gotta sleep sometime)? First and most importantly, bring the day before our Father in heaven, seek His wisdom and allow Him to guide you in prioritizing.
Secondly, no one really likes to hear the “S” word, BUT we are most efficient and can accomplish more with a schedule. There, I said it, a schedule.
Well, allow me to be the first to admit that I am schedule-making challenged. Really, I am. I look at all that needs to be accomplished and begin to ask the Lord for a small miracle, if He will just extend my day a few more hours, say 34 hours in a day. I mean, not too tall an order for the Savior of the universe. Instead He gives wisdom freely to those who ask and He also places believers in our lives with different gifts.
 Well, since I’m a little lacking on the gift of scheduling, He brought my sister in and would you believe she created a doable schedule for my family (which is no easy task)?!? AND to her it was not a big deal. Like I said, her gift not mine.
Also just to make it clear how challenging scheduling for my family can be, let me throw out some key phrases: 1 home school mom, an elementary schooler, a middle schooler, a high schooler the high schooler also does part-time college, mom is taxi for all, throw about 7 extracurricular activities in the mix. I mean this is no easy task folks but she did it. She has an amazing gift and thankfully, she is willing to share that gift. If you are like me and am overwhelmed in wondering how to get it all done, we will have scheduling services available soon. Also, I will be a posting a sample schedule. Let’s encourage one another as wives and moms and help each other to be the women we were created to be.
 God bless, Amy

Homemade Toothpaste

Homemade Toothpaste

Call me hippie, granola, whatever you wish BUT I love me some all natural, homemade, wholesome, healthy, products! I've been oil pulling for quite awhile now (find out more here from Wellness Mama ) in addition to making my own toothpaste. I feel like I've finally found an amazing recipe for toothpaste that really works SO here ya go:

1. 2 TBS baking soda
2. 1\2 TBS coconut oil
3. 1\2 TBS peroxide
4. pinch of pink himalayan sea salt
5. 1-2 drops peppermint extract

~ Amy

Schedules schedules schedules!!!

 

 

 

So my sister Amy is super great at making and keeping schedules. I on the other hand need a schedule but never know how to make one, or never commit the time to sit down and do it. So great idea if you need a schedule(I needed a workout one) commit one week to really doing what you need to do, whether its eating right, exercising or reading. Then write it down...Viola schedule all made. Ok example I know you may need one so I started trying to workout I got down on 2 ,45 min Zumba videos on Mon and Tues. Then the firm video on wed and Thurs. Followed by core work on Friday. See schedule and all I did was write it down now sticking with it is the key mine will be 2 months then I will focus on certain body parts Ill add my schedule when I do that..

 

Have fun scheduling and stay motivated :-)