day2day joys

Six Things You Should Do Before You Declutter and Organize Your House

2012-03-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Jenn, Contributing Writer

Spring is here (or approaching, where I come from) and decluttering and organizing are on the minds of many, my own included!

I love all the organizing tips that I read around the blogosphere but sometimes I get overwhelmed just thinking about getting my house back in order. I find that it helps me to think things through before I tackle such a feat.

I need to plan my projects so I can be organized enough to follow through with my goals. Once I have a strategy in mind and defined reasons behind why I’m doing what I’m doing I find that projects actually get completed! If I want to have a clean and organized house this spring, there are several things I need to consider and do before I begin!

Here is my step-by-step plan to prepare for decluttering and organizing the house.

First, think about why you are wanting to get rid of certain things or organize a certain area. Do these things clutter up your house? Are they in good condition so you want to pass them on to someone who can use them? Do you want to make it easier to be able to find the things you love? I find it helpful to evaluate the reasons for letting go of items in my home. Oftentimes there is an emotional connection to things and it makes it hard for me to let go at first. Then other days I’m just in a purging mood. So it's good to ask yourself, "what is my motivation"?

Consider the tasks you want to accomplish. Is it cleaning the house from top to bottom? Going through clothes closets and bins? Purging toys? Write down a list of your all you’d like to see happen in your home. You don’t have to have a fancy planner, just a plain piece of paper will do (or the back of your daughter’s coloring pages…ahem).

photo credit

Make a separate priority sheet with your most-needed tasks so you can be sure to at least do the most pressing things on your list. Life gets busy and the days slip away, especially when we’re caring for children! If there are a few things that you absolutely MUST do (clean out the medicine cabinet and reorganize the pantry are on my list), then give them preference over other smaller tasks.

Pick a starting date and set aside blocks of time or minutes of time throughout the week (or weeks- ha!) that will help you accomplish your cleaning and decluttering goals. Tell Your Time is a short and to the point book that has helped me organize my day and find time for the things that are most important.

Join an online decluttering challenge if it helps you stay motivated. Throughout the month of March, I’ll be participating in Simple Mom’s Project Simplify, where we’ll be tackling an area of our house each week. I’ll be posting some “before” and “after” pictures if you want to join in!

Most importantly, remind yourself that stuff is just stuff. It’s not a person, it’s not a memory. It’s just a thing. And what isn’t useful to you today (or in the near future) is not worth saving until tomorrow. (At least that’s what I try to tell myself!)

What are some methods of organizing and decluttering that have worked for you?

Jenn is a pastor's wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children.

Join Jenn at The Purposeful Mom where she shares how she is learning to live with purpose in the spiritual, financial and practical areas of life. Her desire is that we would all :encourage one another and build each other up" 1 Thess. 5:11

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 42}

2012-03-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to Healthy 2day Wednesdays! I am so excited to be joining these two amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

The Humbled Homemaker

Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

Top three this week:

I had the lucky opportunity to choos ethe top3 this week! Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've Facebooked and Tweeted.

Nut Bars- Lara Bars, I love the taste of most Lara Bars so really want to try these one! This post comes from Eating Healthy Foods and what's really cool is her husband is a chiropractor just like mine!

Calming an Overactive Child doesn't mean you always need to give them medication. Over at Jo's Health Corner you'll find a calming mist spray recipe, I think it's a great way to calm everyone!

This is exactly what every Modern Alternative Mama needs when they have a little one who is teething, I'm going to be sure to save this recipe in case we have any more kids!

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!

If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.

Comment on another participant's post.

Add button or link back to that day's link up.

Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.

Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!

If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing

2012-02-29T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Brandy, Contributing Writer

If you're like me, you've probably looked at the ingredients list on most salad dressings and shuddered! It's amazing to me that we can take a perfectly healthy, nourishing salad and put something with so many non-food ingredients on it! Sure, there are natural and organic alternatives, but they can be expensive!

So why not just make your own? Here is a super easy and delicious recipe for Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing! Only 3 real food ingredients and you've got an amazing dressing for your favorite salad!

Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing
1/4 Cup Whole Milk Yogurt (How To Make Your Own!)
1/4 Cup Yellow Mustard
1/4-1/3 Cup Raw Honey (to taste)

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy! See? I told you it was super easy! And it really does taste amazing! I hope you'll try it and love it as much as my family does!

For more great real food recipes please visit Brandy's Recipes Page!

Brandy's mission is to share the message of health and wellness according the the Word of God and traditional wisdom. She is a homemaker, married to the love of her life since 2004 and a homeschooling mom to 2 amazing boys, ages 5 and 1.
Join her at Living Water Health and Wellness and connect with her on Facebook or Twitter

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 42}

2012-02-28T22:58:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to Healthy 2day Wednesdays! I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

The Humbled Homemaker

Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy

and Christian Mommy Blogger (this is her last week co-hosting...)

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week Nikki chose her favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W.

I had so much fun reading through these entries, and I found some great new recipes! Here are my top 3:

Rediscovering old fashioned tooth powder using 3 simple ingredients...I swore I would stick with regular old toothpaste...no matter how natural I went. But something about this intrigues me? Check out The Gaia Health Blog for more info!

The SECOND I get my kitchen unpacked I am going to make this chicken. I LOVE Chinese Orange chicken. But with a gluten-free/dairy-free diet it was a no-go. Until now! Check out Real Food, Allergy Free for more info!

My girls are too little for most medication out there. This is a good time to perfect some homemade remedies...this may be my kickoff point! Check out Forgotten Domestic Arts for more info!

Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've been Pinned, Facebooked and Tweeted by Nikki!!

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!

If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.

Comment on another participant's post.

Add button or link back to that day's link up.

Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.

Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!

If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Ask Dr. Jake {hormones, once a month adjustments, devestated immune system}

2012-02-23T23:12:00.001-05:00

Do you have any health related questions? About anything?

If so, you are in the RIGHT place!

This is week 3 of the "Ask Dr. Jake" feature! We have been loving all of the questions! You can read more about Dr. Jake and his qualifications or types of questions he answers here.

Jacqueline from Deep Roots at Home asks:

I have been trying to find out more information on maca, a possible substitute for HRT or bio-identical hormones. does Jake know this herb or have any experience with it? I appreciate what you are doing and pray it will be a real blessing to you both and those you are interacting with!

Dr. Jake says:

I have no experience or knowledge in it but increasing good data, getting off fried foods and taking fish oil daily helps support glands and hormones. Be blessed!

___________________________________________________________

Erin from The Humbled Homemaker asks:

Hi Dr. Jake! My family has a lower income, so, right now, we have only been taking our children for chiro care. However, we know we adults could really benefit as well. If you can only afford to get adjusted once every other month or so, is it even worth it? Thanks!!

Dr. Jake says:
Easy question! Yes! The more you get adjusted the better but if you only got adjusted once in your whole life, it would be better than not getting adjusted. Thanks for your question Erin!

___________________________________________________________

Claudia asks:

Hi! I have a 3 yr old boy that has been put on antibiotics for the 18th time this past month..the reasons vary from several, quite a few ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, strep throat, scarlet fever, a few unknown bacterial infections, etc. I am a young mom and did not know any better, until about the 10th round of antibiotics I started to do a bit more research on my own. He was recently diagnosed with asthma (although has never had an asthma attack) and we tested his immunity to see if something was off but according to the allergist his iga levels and everything came back normal. Other than being a young boy (kids get sick) he has a severe allergy to mold, a milk & egg sensitivity but that's it. He put him on round the clock steroids (through nebulizer).

I am discovering that nutrition plays a role in his food sensitivities and allergies, so I am starting him on the GAPS diet to kill the overload of yeast that was found in his blood. An alternative doctor told me he had leaky gut.

Anyway, sorry for the long message.. are things like this something that would benefit from chiropractic treatment??? Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.

Dr. Jake says:

Claudia, are you trying to break my heart here? Sounds like the poor little guys immune system is devastated. The important questions here are: why and what is causing his immune system to crash? Obviously antibiotics have not been the answer. Antibiotics are very powerful drugs and I can't imagine 18 rounds of them and at this point are probably doing as much damage as they are good. I would start him immediately on some probiotics, to increase good bacteria in his intestines because the antibiotics killed the good stuff. As far as diet, no sugar, and I mean none. No bread, crackers and the only fruit I would give him would be berries, particularly blues and raspberries. As far as chiropractic goes, yes, yes, yes! He could have had trauma from the birth process and slips and falls can cause pressure on the nerves that go to the lungs. The upper neck region of the spinal cord controls hormone production, glands and immune function also.

There is no better time than now to find the cause of the problem. Try to find a maximized living doctor in your area. They can walk you through the while process. Pierce results doctors are awesome too. Be blessed! Hope this helps

Thanks for joining in this week, be sure to email us a question if you have one!

*Linked to: Homestead Barn Hop, Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Traditional Tuesdays, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Encourage One Another, Monday Mania (To read the Ask Dr. Jake Disclaimer, click here)

She Worketh Willingly

2012-02-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Angela, Contributing Writer

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands...she considereth a field...buyeth it...planteth a vineyard...perceiveth that her merchandise is good...layeth her hands to the spindle...maketh fine linen, and selleth it...delivereth girdles unto the merchant... a bit from Proverbs 31.

photo credit: free printable from Homemakin' and Decoratin'

This "Virtuous Woman" was not a particular, un-named woman, rather, she was an idea that was presented to King Solomon by his mother, Bathsheba. Any mother that's worth anything at all, will do her best to teach her son what he should look for in a wife. And, how thrilling that God would use a woman such as Bathsheba, a woman who was less than virtuous, to teach us all the kind of character traits a woman of virtue should possess!! God is so good like that, to use us in ways we are not qualified!

I think we can safely assume that this "virtuous woman" did more than stay home and clean the house. Not that that's a bad thing to do. But, I do think we should do that and then some....like make money. Obviously, this woman did a lot of work. She wasn't weak or simple-minded. She was a sturdy, smart, well balanced woman. She kept her house clean, her family fed and, I think, we can imagine that there was more money around the house because of her, not less.

I have 4 children. 3 of them are girls. I've decided to start a small home business so that they can learn how to work, manage {and save} money, run a business and care for their homes at the same time. It is my hope that they will learn now how to do these things and then, someday, when they are married, they will know how to go about starting their own business and they'll have experience to back it up.

It's amazing how God has blessed and provided so far! And He can do the same for you!

What can you do to make money from your home??

Teach piano or voiceSewBake/decorate cakes
Grow/sell flowers and arrangements or wreaths
Raise puppiesRaise bees/honey
Clean houses
Cut hairHomemade jams and jellies
Homemade candles
Homemade soaps
Umm, ....blog... =)
Any kind of crafts...jewelry, home decor,Christmas ornaments, hair bows
Photography
Swimming lessons
Child care
E-bay
Scrap-booking {I've seen ladies make ridiculous amounts of money selling pre-made scrap book pages on E-bay!}

Some questions to ask yourself before deciding what avenue to to take:

What do I enjoy doing?
What am I good at?
What would I like to learn?
What can my kids do along with me?

Find something you love to do and give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, at least you tried. You'll never know till you try...!

Angela has her own home business, please go to her business blog to find out more!

Angela was raised a Military Brat. She is married to a pastor and mother to 4 children and 2 in heaven. Understanding how hard life can be and desiring to love other ladies, Angela took on blogging.

You can join Angela at Hidden Treasures where she blogs about the Christian life, children, whole foods, saving money and time, and living a natural life the way God intended.

*Linked to: Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Homestead Barn Hop

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 41}

2012-02-21T23:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to Healthy 2day Wednesdays! I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week Anne chose her favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W.

I had so much fun reading through these entries, and I found some great new recipes! Here are my top 3:
I am determined to have a successful garden this year, and Forgotten Domestic Arts gave me the kick in the pants I needed with her timely reminder to purchase seeds. If you're looking for non-GMO seeds, she's listed several resources for you!
The world of sweeteners can be a confusing place. Small Footprint Family breaks it down for us and helps us make educated choices about all the different kinds of sweetener.
I'm trying to build my fish recipe repertoire, and A Little Nosh shared a simple yet delicious recipe for salmon that I can't wait to try!

Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've been Pinned, Facebook'd and Tweeted by Anne!

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
Comment on another participant's post.
Add button or link back to that day's link up.
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Also, don't forget about the NEW e-cookbook, Real Food, Real Easy! A 133 page book with tons of recipes for the newbie or well seasoned Real Food cook!

Real Food, Real Easy {Announcing a NEW e-cookbook}

2012-02-21T00:04:00.002-05:00

Announcing Real Food, Real Easy!

If you are new to REAL FOOD cooking or a real food pro, these recipe & tips will be helpful in your kitchen...

Real Food, Real Easy is an e-cookbook with over 70 hearty REAL FOOD recipes, with several links, including several homemade ingredients, as well as an in-depth break-down of real food sweeteners, an explanation of soaking grains &sprouting grains (which I am still learning about myself), a dirty dozen/clean 15 list, a look at GMO foods and why they need to be avoided.

Not to mention that this book can potentially be all a real food newbie needs (minus the cost of food!) to feed their family in the early days of converting to real food. With breakfast, lunch, dinner (both main and side dishes), breads and appetizers, there's no need to look elsewhere!And much, much more!

For ALL of this information and recipes, the entire 133 page book is only $9.95, but wait... there is a 50% discount today ONLY!

Get your copy for $4.97 Today ONLY until 2pm!

I've worked collaboratively with 6 other lovely ladies including: The Humbled Homemaker (book editor), Modern Alternative Mama, Creative Christian Mama, Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes, and Christian Mommy Blogger and my Tennessee buddy Stacy Makes Cents! And we're super excited to bring you Real Food, Real Easy!

Discount codes

TODAY grab the 50% off deal until 2pm EST with code: realbigdiscount50
25% off until Friday at midnight with code: realfoodminus25

**Make sure you update your cart after coping & pasting discount code and entering it in!

Click to purchase e-cookbook

linked to: Monday Mania, Fat Tuesday

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Simple and Delicious Potato Soup {and a FREE gift!}

2012-02-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to Sizzlin’ Soups! It's been such an honor for me to team up with Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy, Christian Mommy Blogger, The Humbled Homemaker, Intentional by Grace, and The Purposed Heart to bring you so many wonderful soup recipes.

If you have missed any of the soups so far, check them out by clicking below:
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder from LeighAnn
Sausage & Kale Italian Zuppa from me
Sweet Potato & Sausage Soup from Nikki
Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup from Erin
Slow Cooker Chicken and Whole Wheat Garlic Dumplings from Anne

And now for our last featured soup, Simple and Delicious Potato Soup, from Mindy at The Purposed Heart. This basic potato soup comes together very easily and will please young and old alike. Dress it up with some fun garnishes to give it even more flavor!

Head over to The Purposed Heart to get the recipe for Simple and Delicious Potato Soup.

And now for the best part! We have compiled a free ebook with 12 delicious and nutritious soup recipes just for you!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the recipe titles:

Santa Fe Taco Soup
Turkey Soup with Barley and Quinoa
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken and Quinoa Dumplings

So thank you for your support, we are offering this ebook free to all of our subscribers!

Anyone who subscribes (or already does) by email or RSS to The Purposed Heart, Intentional By Grace, The Humbled Homemaker, Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy, Christian Mommy Blogger, or Day 2 Day Joys will get a free digital copy of this book!

If you aren’t an email subscriber yet, you may sign up to receive your free copy as well, I will email all new subscribers and existing subscribers with the attachment of the free ebook. If you do not get your copy, please let me know! (you can sign up below!)

Ask Dr. Jake {Shoulder Pain, Baby Formula & Asthma}

2012-02-17T00:32:00.001-05:00

Do you have any health related questions? About anything?

If so, you are in the RIGHT place!

This is week 2 of the "Ask Dr. Jake" feature! We have been loving all of the questions! You can read more about Dr. Jake and his qualifications or types of questions he answers here.

Rosalind from A Little R&R asks:

After the birth of my 1st son, who is now 2, I began experiencing shoulder pain. I chalked it up to: 1. having been hospitalized for 2 weeks prior to his birth (thus lying down a lot - particularly on my right side) and 2. to having a c-section, which I heard can cause temporary shoulder pain. Unfortunately, though, its not been temporary and it continues to be quite painful. Additionally, it has caused some numb spots down the inside of my arm and has caused a lot of soreness in my thumb. Sometimes it even causes migraines.My question is this: I live in Europe and am quite suspicious of the chiropractic care here, as I have heard some real horror stories of what the chiropractors have done here. I am not suspicious of alternative medicine generally, I have had great success with chiropractic care in the past while still living in the States. I am wondering if there is something I might be able to do on my own, or with the aid of my husband, to help alleviate my shoulder pain. I often heat and ice it but not on a regular basis (I do this when it is particularly bad).Thank you for your time.

Dr. Jake says:

There is always someone going to have a story about any profession, chiro, dentist or even a painter. If you have had success in the past then you should certainly seek one. With that being said, your problem sounds like a serious nerve issue and I wouldn't know any other way to help but by checking your spine and getting pressure off that nerve. As far as at home exercises, etc, there is no exercise or stretch that you can do to help if it is a nerve problem. You always want to take a fish oil or eat raw nuts to increase good fats because that is what your nervous system is made from: fat. If I were you, I would close my ears on the horror stories, seek a "corrective care" chiropractor that practices gonstead, pettibon, pierce or chiropractic biophysics techniques over there. I hope this helps!

____________________________________________________________

Christina asks:

Hi...I have a 6 month old boy who was born at 32 weeks gestation. He spent 27 days in the NICU. I followed the advice of the lactation consultants and docs and nurses and pumped around the clock but my milk never came in. So he is on Neosure Expert Care Similac formula.The baby is doing great. Hitting milestones. Growing. He hasn't been sick. I'm constantly worrying that he will have repercussions from never having breast milk. I'm really anxious about it. I'm wondering if there is a better formula like For Baby Only or Earth's Best or if it doesn't really matter.

Dr. Jake says:

I am so glad you are concerned about your baby not getting breast milk, so many moms today have no clue on how important it is. Organic formulas are always best. Try to avoid any with hydrogenated oils, canola oil, yeast extract, anything hydrolyzed and maltodextrin. My understanding is that around 10 months, you are pretty safe with switching to goat's milk. I would ask my pediatrician on their recommendation. If they tell you no then I would find a second opinion from another just so you get as much info as possible. Be blessed!

______________________________________________________________

Susan asks:

Are there natural treatments or preventative things I can do for my asthma? My doctor put me on a steroid inhaler twice a day. I'm not sure it's made any real difference except that I've put on weight that I cannot seem to take off. I get my asthma symptoms when I exercise, go from indoors to outdoors, am exposed to smoke or strong scents of any kind, and, sometimes, it seems, for no apparent reason. Thank you.

Dr. Jake says:

Hey Susan, asthma and asthma-like symptoms are rarely something that truly need medications to treat. A few things I would change or check if I were you: the filters in your home have to be change every 30 days. Also, if you have animals, no sleeping I the bed with, the dander can cause lots of problems including asthma. Posture plays an important role and the majority of patients I see with asthma have rounded shoulders and anterior head posture. Also, with the smelling of scents and smoke, that's chemical sensitivity, you could be toxic. Check your home for mold and also lay off the grains and sugars for the next few weeks. Write back after about 6 weeks and let us know how you are doing. Be blessed!

Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce

2012-02-16T13:29:00.000-05:00

What you need:

2 tbs oil

2 coconut flour

2 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

2 cups filtered water

8 ounce can tomato paste

1/2 red pepper, chopped

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp dry

cilantro

Mix wet then add dry

Add in red pepper

Pulse until smooth

What to do:

Add in all wet ingredients into blender or food processor, mix well
Add in all dry ingredients and red pepper, pulse until blended
Pour into containers and store in fridge for use or in freezer for storage.
Make some yummy enchiladas or chicken tortilla soup using this recipe and enjoy!

notes: I used grapeseed oil but you could also use olive or coconut oil. You may also use another type of flour such as unbleached flour, whole wheat, or even another gluten free kind.

Do you like to make your own sauces? What kind do you make?

Gravel, Grace and a Place I Can Celebrate

2012-02-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Jenna, Contributing Writer

There's this place. It's at an intersection. It's a little roadside church. White and plain, but perfectly placed in the middle of nowhere. It has a gravel parking lot. I don't normally notice gravel parking lots, I only know this because I pulled into it one day. Since that day, I seldom travel by it anymore.

But coincidentally, just the other day I drove by that place. Immediately that sick feeling you get in your stomach just before you are about to face a bad situation happened in my gut. A rush of emotions took over and guilt enveloped by mind. It's a place I wish didn't exist. That beautiful little country church’s gravel parking lot represented a dark side I want to erase.

It was a place that has brought me guilt as a parent. On that day, I allowed my flesh to control me as a mommy to our first son than allowing the Spirit to lead me and I simply blew it. I exploded in my words and attitude toward my toddler for cleverly squirming out of his car seat. I never harmed him physically, but it is a moment I still wish I could take back… even to this day, 10 years later.

photo credit

But as I think about that intersecting place marked by the gravel lot, I begin to see a place where grace and forgiveness collide over my sin. Admittedly, we all have those parts in our lives that are ugly and dark. Places we want to bury and forget about. But maybe God wants us to bring those dark spots to light only so they can converge with His forgiveness and grace.

“Grace is nothing more nor less than the face that love wears when it meets imperfection, weakness, failure, sin.” – Joseph Cooke

Did you ever think that our places of past regrets can become places of celebration? They truly can be marked this way only because they reveal our emptiness and deepest need for God. Who are we apart from Christ anyway? Those spots that once haunted us can become places that remind us of God's forgiveness. Even though we can't forget the past, we can choose to celebrate our now changed lives. Tears of guilt are transformed into tears of gratefulness.

"There is hope in forgiveness." -- John Piper

The Bible is full of naming stories, from names of places based on something significant to names of people. Naming something reflects our relationship with it. In Genesis 22:14, after God spared Isaac's life because of Abraham's obedience, Abraham marked that spot and named it, "The Lord Will Provide". Maybe that's what we should do. Mark our spots of grace and name them. Remember it for a place of redemption... a place of that we've been rescued from. Not a place of disgrace.

"Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you." -- Paul Zahl

I named that spot. I will remember that gravel parking lot I drove into that day. But now I will remember instead, Christ being my rock... "Stone of Help".

Do you have a place of shame or guilt? Do you avoid it? Take the long way just to go around it? Next time, don't. Drive right by it. Slow down. Name it. Celebrate the place you were at and the beautiful place God is or has taken you to. And by naming it, you can remember the broken spots and the place that God has made new.

Jenna is a happy wife to Brian and a full-time mom to 4 boys. She is a follower of Christ, a researcher and an aspiring blogger, foodie and lover of all things healthy.

Join her at Wholesome Bits and connect with her on Facebook.

*Linked to: Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Traditional Tuesdays, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Encourage One Another

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 40}

2012-02-14T19:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Welcome back to Healthy 2day Wednesdays! I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week I chose my favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W. This was NOT an easy choice y'all!

Side tracked Sarah shared her post 14 Reasons to Skip the Soda

The Simple Homemaker shared her post How to Make your own Baking Powder

The Nutrition Tradition shared her post Grain Free Tortillas/Crepes

Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've been, Facebook'd and Tweeted by me!

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
Comment on another participant's post.
Add button or link back to that day's link up.
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Also, please don't forget about the *NEW* Ask Dr. Jake feature posted on Fridays, this week is the 2nd Q&A week! If you have a question, be sure to submit it via email by clicking the the contact us tab on the light green bar along bottom of the page.

New "Ask Dr. Jake" Feature {Fear about Getting Children Adjusted}

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have any health related questions? About anything?

If so, you are in the RIGHT place!

As promised, the "Ask Dr. Jake" feature is now ready and accepting questions. You do not have to have a blog to have your questions to be featured. If you do however, I will link back to your blog (if you want me to) if you ask a question! You can read more about Dr. Jake and his qualifications or types of questions he answers here.

Here are the first couple of questions & comments (mainly) about fear associated with children getting adjusted. You can also read this article about Chiropractic care for Children to learn more. So if you are wondering the same thing, I encourage you to check out the quetions.

Rachel asks:

My name is Rachel and I am loving this website. I recently discovered it through Keeper of the Home. I have recently started seeing a chiropractor and I think he is great. He has definitely helped me! We started taking my 3 1/2 year old daughter to him for asthma issues- she seems to be getting worse as she gets older. She was diagnosed at the age of 7 months. She has been hospitalized once and almost went again night before last. She is now on a heavy oral steroid which I HATE! My mission is to treat her holistically as much as possible but nothing is helping. Anyway, after 2 adjustments my husband became really nervous about chiropractic because a friend of his at work told him that kids have died from being adjusted. I don't know anything about that but I have no worries about that! There are crazy stories about everything these days. We stopped taking her but I am hoping to gather enough information to convince him that this is safe and will probably help! My chiropractor "cracks" the neck and back at each visit. He does this on children as well and he also uses some sort of clicking machine down the neck on both adults and children. I am hearing that if they crack instead of massage (so to speak) then they are bad news. Especially for children. Is this true?! How are children supposed to be adjusted? The chiropractor I see here in Dallas is with Maximized Living- have you heard of them?

Dr. Jake says:

Rachel, So glad you brought up these questions! First, there is no doubt that your child will be healthier with chiropractic care. There is plenty of research to back up that up. Plus, steroids are known to stunt growth so there really is no reward there. As far as children dying from chiropractic care, that's pretty silly. I have never heard that. I have heard if children dying from medical mistakes though. Remember, there is always a need for medicine at times, emergencies. I have seen hundreds of children, dozens with asthma, it always helps. As far as the cracking noise, no harm there. The are multiple ways to adjust children, depending on the age, the technique can be varied. Maximized Living chiropractors are experts in this stuff, I would trust my family with them and that means a lot because I wouldn't let my family go to just anybody. Sounds like you need to get that girl in there. And, have the front desk at the clinic set up a phone call with your husband and the doctor or have your husband come in there, I'm sure that doctor in Dallas would gladly meet with you. If you have any other questions, I am here for you. You are totally going down the right direction by pursuing chiropractic. Be Blessed!

Brandy from Living Water Health and Wellness asks:

We had my 1 year old adjusted once by our chiro for a really high fever. It kind of freaked my hubby out and now he is uncomfortable with taking the kids. Any suggestions on how to show him it's not scary or going to hurt them?

Dr. Jake says:

Brandy, great question and asked by many people. The question I have is: Was your husband there and did the doctor get the chance to explain why it is absolutely critical for children to be adjusted? I am sure that the adjustment was not forceful but I can see how he could be concerned. The consequences of not getting pressure off the nervous system far outweigh any fear, pressure on the brainstem can cause symptoms like asthma, headaches and ear infections Keep taking that child to the chiropractor, in fact both your boys should get checked. They will be the healthiest children you know. Remember, the nervous system controls and coordinates every cell, tissue and organ in the body. No child deserves to have pressure on their spinal cord that can cause them to be sick.Be blessed!

Thanks for joining in this week, se sure to email us a question if you have one!

(To read the Ask Dr. Jake Disclaimer, click here)

*linked to: Homestead Barn Hop, Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Traditional Tuesdays, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Encourage One Another, Monday Mania,

Secret Ingredient Brownies

2012-02-10T06:45:00.000-05:00

Please join me over at Keeper of the Home for a healthy bownie recipe... yes I said healthy!

sneak peak:

Everyone loves brownies or at least everyone that I know. There is something about that rich, chocolate-y, fudge-y taste. Most brownies are about 400+ calories per serving, loaded with unhealthy fats and are carb rich most of the time.

For a while, I have been wanting to try black bean brownies because I was skeptical that they would actually taste good. After looking through several recipes, I decided to make my own batch. While making them and smelling the aroma while they baked in the oven the house smelled delicious! However, I was still a scared-y cat to try them once they were finished... needed to see someone else eat them first.

My kids tried them and loved them! My hubby tried one and he said "aren't you going to try one?" I did and they truly are good, not GREAT like the bad brownies we're used to but....

Continue reading here!

Have you ever made a dessert with non-traditional ingredients?

May be linked to: Monday Mania Ruth's Real Food,Homestead Barn Hop,Real Food Forager,Simply Sugar and Gluten Free,,Whole New Mom, Women Living Well, Seasonal CelebrationRaising Homemakers, Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Nourishing Gourmet,Life As Mom,Simple Lives Thursday,Real Food Whole Health,Food Renegade, Real Food Forager, The 21st Century Housewife, Growing Home, We Are That Family, Frugally Sustainable, Deep Roots at Home, Homemaker Monday Real Food Freaks,

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Whole Wheat Garlic Dumplings

2012-02-09T23:24:00.001-05:00

Welcome back to Sizzlin' Soups! Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy, Christian Mommy Blogger, The Humbled Homemaker, Intentional by Grace, The Purposed Heart and myself have had a lot of fun bringing you our favorite heart-warming soup recipes.

In case you missed them, we've already featured:
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder from Leigh Ann
Sausage & Kale Italian Zuppa, I hosted week 2
Sweet Potato & Sausage Soup from Nikki
and Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup from Erin.
These are recipes you will want to include in your regular meal-planning rotation, I promise you. And we're going to make it easy for you to do just that... we will have a free gift for you after our last installment (next week!) that you will definitely want to take advantage of! Be sure to subscribe to one of the above blogs so that you don't miss out on the announcement!

Now on to this week's soup.

This week Anne at Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy is bringing us Chicken & Dumplings, healthified and simplified with the aid of a slow cooker. Here's what she says about it:

"I’ve had fun experimenting with Chicken & Dumplings in the crock pot. Delicious comfort food that I will definitely be making again and again. I started with this chicken and dumpling recipe at Goodbite.com, and modified it to make it easier and healthier. I don't do extra work. Keep it to the minimum! So this is simplified for anybody like me who doesn't have time for extra steps."

Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken & Whole Wheat Garlic Dumplings over at Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy today! And don't forget to check back next week for our last soup of the series from Mindy, and news about our free gift to you!

Have you tried any new soup recipes this week?

How to Rekindle the Romance in Your Marriage

2012-02-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Jenn, Contributing Writer

February 14 is quickly approaching and you know what that means! Hallmark commercials, pink and red hearts and potentially disgruntled women whose husbands fail to meet their high expectations for a romantic evening.

It doesn't have to be that way! As wives, we have the potential to make this holiday perfectly wonderful by romancing our husbands! Maybe this sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. I’d like to share how I’m learning to change my attitude when I feel my husband neglects meeting my expectations and also some fun ideas for rekindling the fire with your spouse this Valentine’s Day.

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When you were first married, what sweet things did your husband do for you? Did he write you poems or cute notes, give you sweet compliments or surprise you with flowers? These things all happened at first in my marriage but at some point they began fading away. Was it my husband’s fault? It certainly was, so I thought. But maybe, just maybe, I had something to do with it too!

Let’s switch perspectives: How did you act around your husband as a newlywed? When Kirk and I were first married, I was thrilled to be in his presence and would always greet him with a warm smile and kiss. Because we were both in school and working, I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible outside of those commitments and so we purposed to make the most of our days together. I was enthusiastic in my endeavor to “cozy up” our little apartment and make into a home. My mind was on how I could make our new life together enjoyable and fun. We made it fun because we were each other’s top priority and were committing to spending time together.

Life became more complex when our first child was born and my priorities subtly began shifting to being the best mom I could be. I began putting lots of time and energy into sleep schedules, making my own baby food and reading books to my son. I didn’t even realize that my husband was no longer being treated as the most important person in my life. This continued to happen as we brought two more children into the world.

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In Scripture, God calls us to “love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). To be earnest means to be:

serious in intention or purpose
zealous
showing depth and sincerity of feeling

It eventually dawned on me that I absolutely loved my husband just as much as when we were first married but the way I demonstrated that love was no longer as earnest as before! There came a point when it was necessary for me to come to God and ask Him to help me to zealously express my deep feelings for my husband and put him back in his rightful place as the most important person in my life, just as I had in the “honeymoon” stage of our marriage.

As I began putting my husband back on the top of my priority list, I found to my surprise that all the things I’d nagged him to do for years (in the emotional department) began happening again! The sweet words, compliments and flowers returned. I was thrilled! And I began to understand that when I acted on my feelings for my husband, he was more responsive to my feelings. It wasn’t the nagging that made the difference in his actions; it was the change in my attitude.

Obviously, I still slip up in this area often and will continue to through the rest of my marriage. We can’t be perfect, but that’s okay! If we struggle in this area, God gives us the grace we need and slowly changes our hearts. We can depend on Him to gives us the creativity and joy we are looking for as we show love to our husbands.

photo credit

So in the spirit of these thoughts and of Valentine’s Day, I’d like to offer some simple suggestions that we wives can do as we play our part in the romance!

Get up with your husband and chat with him in the morning before he leaves for work (if he’s normally up before you and you like to sleep in like me, this will be a good challenge!).
Pack a lunch you know he likes and tuck a love note in his lunch container.
Call him at work at an unexpected time and giggle as you sweet-talk him.
Buy him his favorite candy bar (you know, the one you don’t want him to eat because it’s unhealthy)
Praise your husband, both privately and publically. This is one thing that has such a huge impact both on our marriage and on my husband’s reputation with others.
Sit by him on the couch at the end of the day with no computer in your lap and just be there for him (ahem, note to self!).
Build up his confidence throughout the day by telling him things you love about him.
Write him a love letter.
Resist the urge to correct him when he’s with the kids and just let him be the fun dad!
Flirt with him!
Grab his hand when you’re out in public or just passing by him at home.
Find the most romantic Valentine’s card you can (that suits you and your husband’s style) and give it to him on Valentine’s Day before a candlelight dinner (or dinner out if you can manage it). Write something intimate inside and enjoy his response to your flattery ;)
Make Love Buckets

I hope these thoughts have been an encouragement to you. We really can have the best Valentine’s Day (and every day) possible by just a change in our thinking and a little extra effort. And we just might find that our own hopes and expectations for romance are met in the process!

How do you show your husband that you love him?

Jenn is a pastor's wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children.

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 39}

2012-02-07T22:25:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the New Healthy 2day Wednesdays! I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week Erin chose her favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W. This was NOT an easy decision! Click on the pic to go to the post!:

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Jacqueline, from Deep Roots at Home, shared her Homemade Mayo!

Our Nourishing Roots shared how to make Homemade Butter and Buttermilk!

The Purposeful Mom shared her Artisan French Bread with Flax!

Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've been pinned, Facebook'd and Tweeted by Erin!

And....we normally don't do this, but there were SO many great posts this week, that Erin include some honorable mentions of other posts, also pinned: Your Thriving Family's Chicken Tacos, Healthy-N-Balanced's Healthified No-Bake Cookies, My Judy the Foodie's Cranberry Ricotta Pancakes , Traditional Foods' Homemade Coconut Milk, NobleWomen4Christ's Banana Oat Muffins, Gluten Free Pantry's Green Chia Smoothie, Sheena Cucina's Chocolate Peppermint Cake, The Nutrition Tradition's Grain-Free Chocolate Cake

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
Comment on another participant's post.
Add button or link back to that day's link up.
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Also, please don't forget about the *NEW* Ask Dr. Jake feature starting this Friday! If you have a question, be sure to submit it via email by clicking the the contact us tab on the light green bar along bottom of the page.

Just ask the Lord

2012-02-06T22:41:00.000-05:00

Ask and you shall receive!

This a pretty simple but if you want something whether it's a deeper walk with the Lord, for a door to open, a break though for a situation or even something you desire... ask the Lord! Write down what is that you want in your life or for others and be sure to be specific. It is like making an order. If you like your salad without croutons and dressing on the side you must say so. Need I say more?

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" Luke 11:9-12

I know, I know, this can be hard. But remember, God WANTS to give us the desires of our heart also!

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and He will act." Psalm 37:3-5

Realize that you have the power to make your life happen by asking the Lord for what you want and for direction. And sometimes you have to walk in faith to make it happen!

What are you wanting in this season of your life?

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup

2012-02-03T00:11:00.005-05:00

Welcome back to Sizzlin' Soups--a 6-week series sharing cozy, wholesome soup recipes! We are on week 4 already!

So far, we've warmed up with a yummy Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder from Leigh Ann at Intentional by Grace, I hosted the Sausage and Kale Italian Zuppa and a Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup from Nikki of Christian Mommy Blogger. This week we're hearing from Erin at The Humbled Homemaker!

At the end of the 6-week series, we will have a surprise for you.

*hint: it's FREE* Any guesses?

To be sure you don't miss out, consider subscribing to day2day joys, or any one of these participating blogs:

Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace

Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger

Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker

Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy

Mindy @ The Purposed Heart

This soup can be classified as the comfort of all comfort foods: Creamy, frugal and filling, it's the perfect addition to any cold winter night. Check out the recipe for this Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup over at The Humbled Homemaker! Next week be sure to check out Anne's sizzlin' soup!

What's your favorite comfort soup?

How to Make Every Day Your Best Day

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Written by Brandy, Contributing Writer

As a busy stay at home/homeschooling mom, I know what it's like to jump out of bed and hit the ground running each day. There often seems to be no end to the list of to-do's. Between the needs of our husbands and children, seemingly insurmountable piles of laundry, stacks of dirty dishes, bathtubs in need of scrubbing, carpets that need to be vacuumed, and food that needs to be cooked, it's hard to think about trying to fit anything else in.

Trust me, I understand!

Whether it's homeschooling, running errands, writing for my blog, cleaning, baking bread, making homemade yogurt and homemade butter, or driving 2 hours to pick up raw milk, there is always something to take up my time.

It's easy to feel like you simply MUST begin the day by tackling the long list of things that have to be done. But let me tell you that no matter how hard you work, no matter how late you stay up or how early you rise, if you don't begin your day with one simple thing, it will never be as productive as you desire.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

What is that one thing, you might ask? It doesn't have anything to do with your home or your husband or your children. But at the same time, it has everything to do with them. The one thing that will ensure that every day is the best it can be is beginning each morning by spending time with the one who loves you more than anyone ever could - Your Heavenly Father!

But seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 (emphasis mine)

I know from experience that if I don't spend time in His presence, I will not be the wife or mommy I want to be, I will not be as motivated to get things done, and most detrimentally, I will not be full of the love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, meekness, and self control that my Father (and my family) desire from me.

So how do we spend time with God? What does it look like?

READING HIS WORD

Psalm 119:105 tells us that the word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
We need the light of God's word to illuminate our paths as we lead and teach our children. We need His word to light each step we take so that we know we are walking according to His plan. The Word of God is life to us, literally.

Proverbs 4:22 says that the words of God are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh! That is such a wonderfully powerful promise! If we will commit ourselves to feasting on His word, life and health will be imparted into our spirits, souls, and bodies! And that life, that health, is what we can then pour out into our homes, our husbands and our children. What a gracious and loving God we serve, that He would provide for us such a treasure in His written word.

PRAYER

Prayer is such a misunderstood concept in America. The traditions of man have made it into a religious obligation or, at best, something you do when you are in trouble. The truth is, prayer is our lifeline. It is our intimate, personal connection with the God of the universe! Jesus gave His life to restore communication between God and man. The power of His sacrifice tore the veil of separation, allowing us to enter into the Holy of Holies. Because we have been made righteous by the blood of the lamb, we are now God's children. We can approach His throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16)! And He will pour into us His love, His wisdom, and His anointing to do the things we are called to do.

The bible also clearly tells us that those who belong to God hear His voice! As we spend time talking to Him, He will speak to us as well, IF we will have ears to hear. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27) The bible tells us that we DO hear His voice. If we will believe that, God will speak to us and give us wisdom (James 1:5). As many decisions as we have to make for our families each day, we desperately need to hear the Father's voice and to know we are walking in His ways.

Image by be formales

WORSHIP

This is probably my most treasured way of spending time with my Lord. I have been a worship leader off and on since I was in middle school and there is nothing more uplifting to me than spending time worshiping my God and Father. Whether you sing or not, though, God has called all of us to a life of worship. Psalm 100:4 says that we should enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

My husband has always said that God made one creature who would praise Him because they wanted to - that's us! All the rest of creation declares the greatness of God at all times. The bible says even the rocks cry out. But WE have a choice. We can choose to worship the Almighty God or we can worship whatever it is we are chasing at the moment. It is a far greater thing to give praise to the one true God and the reward for such a lifestyle is unfathomable!

I love to worship through song and some of my favorite artists include Jesus Culture, Kim Walker-Smith, Rita Springer, Rick Pino, and Kari Jobe. I invite you to check them out. I know that you will be blessed by their anointings, as I have been! You are also welcome to worship with me on a "homemade" recording of myself singing worship songs that I made as a gift for my husband on our 1st anniversary.

Whether you choose to sing your praises, shout them, or just speak them is up to you. But I encourage you to begin each day by thanking God for all He is and all He has done in your life. It will change you, and therefore, change your children, your family, and the atmosphere of your home.

TO SUM IT ALL UP

I hope that you will take what I have shared today to heart and put it into practice in your own life. If you will spend time with your Creator, who loves you more than life, each day, the love and strength you receive from Him will be manifested all around you. It really will change the atmosphere of your home, as well as your relationships with your husband, children, and all those you encounter.

Brandy's mission is to share the message of health and wellness according the the Word of God and traditional wisdom. She is a homemaker, married to the love of her life since 2004 and a homeschooling mom to 2 amazing boys, ages 5 and 1.

Join her at Living Water Health and Wellness and connect with her on Facebook or Twitter

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 38}

2012-01-31T23:39:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the New Healthy 2day Wednesdays!I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week, Nikki had the privilege to choose her favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W. (Click on the picture to check out the post) All comments are from Nikki!

Jill from the Prairie Homestead: She is a hunter and an awesome cook. That combines to make this perfect combination. I am going to start hunting with my hubby as soon as we move....she is such an inspiration to me!!! Thanks Jill :) I can't WAIT to make this!

Rita from Healthy Mom Sexy Wife shares her taco seasoning. Quick and easy and great to have on hand. I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD!

Quinoa for breakfast? Thank you that sounds great!! This great recipe is from Life Currents

Since you all were one of the three "chosen"... you've been pinned, Facebook'd and Tweeted by Nikki!

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
Comment on another participant's post.
Add button or link back to that day's link up.
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictures that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Healthy Banana Bread Muffins

2012-01-31T10:55:00.000-05:00

I'm going to go bananas!

And not because I have too many bananas! We are super busy starting our business, plus I have to wear all my regular "hats" like being a mother, wife, blogger, etc. In the craziness of it all, I thought I'd share a healthy banana bread recipe.

Please join me over at Modern Alternative Mama for this yummy, healthy recipe!

What is your favorite way to bake with bananas?

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Sweet Potato & Sausage Soup

2012-01-27T00:39:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to this week's Sizzlin' Soup Series!

So far we have had an easy 20 minute soup, and my spicy (for wimps) rendition of Zuppa Toscana last week. I think Nikki thought I was cool and wanted to use sausage too, hehe! Just kidding... sausage in soup is deliciousness!

For the next 4 weeks, we will be continuing to share with you our favorite cozy soups. Not to mention, each soup will use good, wholesome ingredients! At the end of the 6-week series, we will have a surprise for you.

*hint: it's FREE* Plus, it will have some bonuses!

To be sure you don't miss out, consider subscribing to day2day joys, or any one of these participating blogs:
Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace (she hosted week 1, check her soup out here)
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger
Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart

This soup made by Nikki at Christian Mommy Blogger has a sweet and savory balance: sweet potatoes, spinach, homemade broth and sausage combine to give you a nourishing meal that warms you from the inside out! Hope you enjoy this soup and be sure to check out Erin at The Humbled Homemaker.

Have you been sizzlin' up any soup at your house this week?

9 Simple Ways to Improve your Health

2012-01-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Jenn, Contributing Writer

It’s about the end January but I’m just now getting motivated to start some new “resolutions."

One of the things I want to focus on this year is eating more whole foods and trying some more natural remedies for the sicknesses that tend to hit our family this time of year. I got to thinking that the new year is a great time to evaluate what we can do to improve our overall health. There are some very simple, no fuss ways you can take steps toward a healthier you (and your family will benefit too!) And so I bring you nine of the many ideas that have been running through my head:

1. Start Each Day with Time in God’s Word
When we think of improving our heath, we usually think of our bodies first. It’s important to nourish our spiritual health as well! I’m definitely a work in progress, but I find that when I begin my day with devotions and spend some time in prayer that I am a more peaceful, relaxed and purposeful mom and wife. There are lots of great devotional books or you can simply study a book of the Bible, like I am doing right now with the Good Morning Girls Ephesians study.

2. Try One New Organic or Local Food
Let’s face it, the only local foods that can be found in my part of the country right now are the red berries hanging for dear life onto the bare tree branches in my backyard. But if you’re blessed to live in a region where you can shop at a farmer’s market all year long, try one fruit or vegetable that’s new to you. Find out a tasty way to prepare something like kale or artichoke and you may just find a new family favorite. Organic is great and local organic is even better! But don’t bypass your local grower’s stand just because he isn’t certified organic. It could be that he uses organic growing practices but isn’t classified as such just yet.

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3. Make One Homemade Cleaning Product
Homemade cleaning products are frugal, easier on your clothes and dishes and typically more eco-friendly than their conventional counterparts. It’s very simple to make your own homemade powdered laundry detergent and you can use some of the same ingredients for Angela’s recipe for dishwasher detergent. Simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon and olive oil can be used for all types of cleaning.

4. Exercise 10 Minutes a Day
Oftentimes, it’s hard for us moms to carve out an extended period of time during the day to exercise. Studies show that heart-pumping exercise for even 10 minutes at a time can improve our health. In the past, I’ve used 10 Minute Solution workouts, “jogged” up and down the stairs for 10 minutes and hopped on my elliptical for that short time. There are plenty of everyday activities that can give you a workout too—gardening, scrubbing the floor (with great fanfare) or playing tag with the kids, for example.

photo credit

5. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
The next time you feel the urge to go to the cupboard for some boxed cereal, make a bowl of oatmeal instead. Old-fashioned oats can be made in just a few minutes or you can use steel-cut oats that are soaked the night before. Homemade yogurt with fruit or eggs and whole wheat toast keep you fuller longer and kids will eat them too! You can find some more healthy breakfast ideas here or some reasons why breakfast is important here.

6. Increase Your Calcium Intake
Getting plenty of calcium is super important, especially for those of us who are pregnant and nursing mothers (the recommended amount is 1200-1500 mg per day). If you’re not getting enough, your baby will take what he or she needs and you may end up with brittle nails or leg cramps (Charlie Horse) among other things. I noticed these symptoms in myself about 6 months into nursing my third baby so I upped my intake by consuming more dairy, drinking calcium-fortified orange juice and eating some extra broccoli and spinach!

7. Drink More Water
This has been said by many but bears repeating (if only to myself): we need at least 8 glasses of water each day to keep ourselves hydrated and (ahem) regular. Drinking lots of water has helped alleviate my headaches and keeps up my nursing supply. An easy way to make sure you’re getting enough is to post a notecard on your fridge with a picture of 8 glasses, crossing one off each time you drink.

photo credit

8. Try One New Supplement or Herbal Treatment
Last year, we began taking elderberry to strengthen our immune system and found that we got sick less often. This year I’m researching what supplement or herbal treatment I can use as headache remedies--I’d love some ideas in the comments!

9. Add One New Type of Rice or Bean to Your Diet
We weren’t really into rice or beans up until a few years ago but learning to live frugally changed all that! Now we actually like using black beans, kidney beans and brown rice in meatless meals. I’m still getting up the courage to try something even better like quinoa, pinto beans or basmati rice.

What are you doing to improve your health this year?

Jenn is a pastor's wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children.

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 37}

2012-01-24T22:35:00.000-05:00

Welcome back (or even for the first time) to the New Healthy 2day Wednesdays!I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week Anne from Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy chose her favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W. She said, "You guys. Seriously. You made it so hard on me! I had a really tough time picking my favorites", but here goes: (comments below ALL by Anne)

Gluten-Free Pizza Crust @ The Frugal Farm Wife

I have been very unsuccessful in the past with my attempts at GF pizza crust - This one looks like it works very well! Time for me to try again.

Living Healthy Without Going Crazy @ Healthy-n-Balanced

I completely agree with the philosophy written down here, and I believe this is a must-read for anyone tempted to dive head-first into whole foods.

Natural Multi-Purpose Citrus Cleanser @ Lexie:Naturals

I've seen recipes for this particular kind of cleanser before, but this is the first time I actually understood the directions. And now, I want to try it again, now that I know what I'm doing!

And just so you three know... you've been pinned, Facebooked and Tweeted! Oh, and Stumbled. Cause you're just that good.

Rules for this Link-Up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
Comment on another participant's post.
Add button or link back to that day's link up.
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictures that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Sizzlin' Soups Series: Sausage & Kale Italian Zuppa

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

Zuppa???

Well, zuppa is Italian for soup, one of our cozy, tasty and savory favorites no matter what kind it is, especially when it's cold outside! Welcome back to this week's Sizzlin' Soup Series, this week I am hosting the soup of the week.

For the next 5 weeks, we will be sharing with you our favorite cozy soups. Not to mention, each soup will use good, wholesome ingredients! At the end of the 6-week series, we will have a surprise for you.

*hint: it's FREE* Any guesses?

To be sure you don't miss out, consider subscribing to day2day joys, or any one of these participating blogs:
Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace (she hosted last week, check her soup out here)
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger
Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart

You may have heard of zuppa if you have ever dined in an Italian restaurant, whether it was in your home town or even in Italy. This is my rendition of the Italian favorite Zuppa Toscana, which can be made creamy or not, spicy or not and fabulous or ....just joking! The rendition is not creamy or spicy, but is fabulous. Ask anyone, I don't do super spicy, I'm a wimp, you make it as spicy as you want!

What you Need:

4 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 quarts homemade chicken broth (about 8 cups, add more if needed)
2/3 c regular sausage
2 large nitrite/nitrate free spicy cajun sausage links
3-4 strips of nitrite/nitrate free bacon, chopped
4 handfuls of kale
1 TBS crushed red pepper
1/2 c heavy cream or milk
season with salt (and pepper if needed but probably won't need it)

*note: the spicy cajun is SPICY, so this would also we great made with Italian sausage for those wimps out there!

What to Do:

Saute all of the meats in a stock pan, once they are browned, add in the diced onion, garlic, crushed and red pepper, mix
Pour in the chicken broth and the heavy cream, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium- low
Add the potatoes and the handfuls of kale
Cover and continuing cooking until potatoes are softened (about 20+ minutes)
Serve in a bowl and enjoy! (add a dollop of sour cream if it's too spicy... I did that, but remember I am a wimp!)

Hope you enjoy this soup! Let me know if you are a wimp too! ;) Be sure to check back next week; Nikki over at Christian Mommy Blogger will be serving you up a fantastic sizzlin' soup you'll love!

Have you been sizzlin' up any soup at your house this week?

5 Benefits of Eating with the Seasons

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Jenna, Contributing Writer

"If you could do just one thing for your health it would be to make seasonal, farm-fresh produce the center of your diet." --- Preston Maring, M.D.

Eating in season may not be a new concept for you. It is for me. At my local grocer, I see strawberries in the winter and winter squash in the summer and think, "cool", but instead I should be asking "how?". It wasn't until recently as I've learned more about clean and healthy eating that when we decide to eat with the seasons there are many facets to it's benefits.

Seasonal eating is based on purchasing foods during their natural growing times. If you've never thought about choosing foods based on the seasons, I encourage you to start now. Here are a few thoughts on why eating seasonally is right for you and your family.

1. Fresh is just best.
Have you ever looked on the label of that pint of strawberries you just bought? Many times those foods are traveling thousands of miles to get to you. What exactly does that mean for the quality of the food? A lot! First of all, they are generally picked early before they ripen and therefore, their nutritional content is much, much lower. According to Brian Halweil, author of Eat Here: Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket, “If you harvest something early so that it can endure a long distance shipping experience, it’s not going to have the full complement of nutrients it might have had.” Second, if they are not organic, they are covered in preservatives and pesticides to get where they're going and still look good to you the consumer. If you are able, purchase in season foods when they are abundant and freeze them for later which also does not significantly diminish the nutritional value of produce.

2. In season = better health.
Seasonal foods also pack the biggest nutritional punch. When you purposefully choose foods that are in season for your particular region, you will be healthier. Since produce starts to lose nutrients shortly after being picked, out of season options will have lower nutritional values. Preston Maring, M.D., the associate physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente’s Oakland hospital says, "If we can just get people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, we can really impact people’s health."

3. It helps you know your neighbor.
Buying locally when foods are in season is the ideal way to shop for produce. You begin to know who is growing the food you are eating and have a sense of supporting those working hard in your community. The authors of Simply in Season remind us that "before the advent of modern transportation and storage systems, eating locally grown food was the norm - as it still is in many parts of the world." They also go on to say that "we have become distant in our food and not just in terms of geography. Who grows our food? What are their lives like? Each food purchase we make is like a vote for the way we want food to be produced - and for the world in which we live." So buy locally when you can so that your area farmers can continue their great work.

4. Buying in season makes your wallet happy.
This is just the basic law of supply and demand. When there is more of something it will cost less, when there is less you will usually pay the price. Author Judi Gerber of the website care2 says, "If you buy items that are not in season, you pay a premium for them. How so? That basket of peaches you buy during winter can cost twice as much as it would if you buy it when peaches are in season locally. Having those
South American peaches transported halfway around the world shows up in your food bill, not to mention it is very environmentally unfriendly." Keep this in mind as you shop during the peak harvesting seasons.

5. It strengthens our palates.
The plain fact is when you buy food that is in season plus purchased as close to your front door as possible, it is going to taste fresher and better. Professional chef Kurt Michael Friese states, "When we eat out of season -- gobbling shipped-in strawberries in January, for instance -- the taste degrades: 'Our palate weakens just as our eyesight would if left in the dark for too long.'" Be choosy with your food. Don't eat whatever, whenever... chose the best.

Here is a list of foods that are in season in your region, just skip over to this Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) site and plug in your state and the month you'd like.

For more information on eating in season, here is a list of links you might be interested in:
The Locavore app :: find what is in season in a snap with your smartphone.
Simply in Season cookbook :: get inspired to eat in season and locally by these amazing stories along with healthy recipes. Also available for purchase on Amazon here.
Local Harvest :: for a list of farmer's markets and organic food near to you.
Eating Well in Season: The Farmers' Market Cookbook
Perpetual Produce Calendar :: gives a list of produce in season for your particular region.
Eat Here: Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket

Do you eat with the seasons?

Jenna is a happy wife to Brian and a full-time mom to 4 boys. She is a follower of Christ, a researcher and an aspiring blogger, foodie and lover of all things healthy.

Join her at Wholesome Bits and connect with her on Facebook.

*Linked to: Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Traditional Tuesdays, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Encourage One Another

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 36}

2012-01-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the New Healthy 2day Wednesdays!

Last week I made the special announcement that 3 other bloggers will be group hosting H2W with me every week. You are welcome to link up your post here or any of our blogs.

I'm pleased to introduce you to the 3 other amazing ladies will be hosting with me each week:

Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy

The Humbled Homemaker

Christian Mommy Blogger

It's Healthy 2day Wednesdays 36th Link Up! So glad you're here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you'll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier!

Top 3 entries from last week:

Cheesy Tomato Basil Dog Treats @ Big Bear's Wife

How to Make Homemade Yogurt @ Living Water Health and Wellness

Creamy Tomato, Sausage & Kale Soup @ Easy Natural Food

Rules for this Link up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here
Comment on another participant's post
Add button or link back to that day's link up
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy, Feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, An interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review your doing, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & one!
If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictures that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

12 Steps to a Healthier Life in 2012 {part 2}

2012-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Please join me again at Keeper of the Home today! Yesterday was part 1 where you read about the first 6 steps to a healthier life this year. Today you can read the last 6 steps, with number 12 being the best way to become healthy in my opinion.

sneak peak of number 7:

7. Set Goals
God gave all of us dreams and I'm not talking about having a million dollars or unattainable dreams that are most likely only fantasies. He put the dreams in your heart and wants you to accomplish them, He wants the best for you! Zig Zigler states it best when he says "Every choice you make has an end result." When you set goals you figure out your priorities. Some goals include: spiritual, family, physical health, financial, and even how to be a better mother/wife and your purpose. Write your goals out, make a plan, and take action steps or choices towards those goals. For example, if you have always wanted to write a blog, well you need to write that down and make steps towards that goal.

Action step: check out Money Saving Mom's post about deciding your goals and this free printable goal worksheet

...continue reading here

I hope you will take some of these steps to a healthier life and live to your fullest. The best things we can do are to write things down, make a plan of action to get goals accomplished, get back up if we ~~fail~~ fall, get support from our friends and family and to start walking those steps towards a more maximized life!

Do any of these steps apply to you to become healthier this year?

12 steps to a Healthier life in 2012 {part 1}

2012-01-13T07:40:00.000-05:00

Please join me over at Keeper of the Home where I'll discuss steps you & I can take to be healthier this year and ways to not get overwhelmed with all of your goals.

Today you can read about part 1 of steps you can take towards a Healthier Life which includes: Choosing Whole Foods, Thinking Positively, Making Time to Exercise, Following a Schedule, Reducing Toxins, Using Natural Personal Care Products and Home Cleaners

sneak peak:

It's January, so we all know what that means... New Year's Resolutions. Did you know that according Time Magazine after just 9-10 days these so called resolutions fail. So if your wrote any you probably already stopped or quit one or more of them. Dictionary.com defines resolution as a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

A couple of reasons why we fail at resolutions are we're too busy and we're too broad. What we need to do is say exactly what our goal is and how we will accomplish it. We need to take baby steps, and not think "all or nothing!" Sometimes I fall into the pit of giving up because I'm not doing what I should be or what I think I should be doing. I say don't make resolutions! Take steps towards the goals or "resolutions" you want to accomplish.

Let's take exercise, maybe starting or exercising more is one of your goals, start by making small attainable steps towards that goal like walk this week, then next week walk twice, then after a while you can jog, and so on. We are all on the fast track, we have a want "it" now mindset, but taking steps towards a healthier life takes time, mostly because you have to break old habits.

I have come up with steps to take to become healthier this year. Steps that I believe will help in all aspects of life: Emotionally, Mentally, Physically, Spiritually, and they are steps I want to take (and improve on) to become healthier this year as well!

Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern the will of God, which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

1. Choose Whole Foods
If you are a reader here at Keeper of the Home, this is no secret to you! Whole Foods are the most nourishing foods you can give your body. I heard this quote somewhere, "If it's natural eat it, if it's not, stay away from it." Our bodies were created to eat God food, not Man food. God foods are whole foods like: fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, whole grains, and healthy fats. Man foods are: overly processed "food" with ingredients you can't read, with additives like msg, food dyes, artificial flavors and sweeteners, refined sugar and the list goes on.

For example, Kraft Mac & Cheese, McDonald's chicken nuggets, Coke, or Cheetos among a kazillion other things are some man foods.

photo credit: Kath Eats Real Food

I'm not saying you should never eat... continue reading here.

Click here to read part 2!

What steps are you taking toward a Healthier Life in 2012?

Sizzlin' Soups Series: Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

When it's super cold and even snows on a night like last night, it makes me want to cozy up on the couch with one of my grandma's crocheted blankets and eat some hearty soup, I'd say sip but I usually like creamy or chunky soup.

Cold weather = Soup time!

And I think many people would agree including all of the amazing ladies joining me in bringing you these wholesome Sizzlin' Soup recipes in the coming weeks.

For the next 6 weeks, we will be sharing with you our favorite cozy soups. Not to mention, each soup will use good, wholesome ingredients! At the end of the 6-week series, we will have a surprise for you.

*hint: it's FREE*

To be sure you don't miss out, consider subscribing to day2day joys, or any one of these participating blogs:
Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger
Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart

Now without further ado, this week's soup is Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder. The added bonus? It only takes twenty minutes to prepare!

Find the recipe for this delicious soup made by Leigh Ann over at Intentional by Grace. Next week, come back and you'll find an yummy Italian favorite.... It'll be hosted by me!

What is your favorite soup this time of year?

10 Things to Help You Keep Your House Clean this Year

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000-05:00

Written by Angela, Contributing Writer

At Hidden Treasures, we've been talking about starting the New Year out clean. {And by 'clean' I don't mean drug free, although that would be really fantastic!!!}

No, seriously, there's no better way to start the year out then with a clean house and a clean body! So, I figured I'd just carry the theme over and share these thought here on day2day joys too! Here are some things that I use, or will one day, that help me keep my house clean. These are all time/work/sanity saving things.

You know things all of us need more of!!

1. Plexi Glass along the wall behind your kitchen sink, counters and stove will save you tons of time and grief when things like tomato sauce and olive oil decide to jump out of your skillet and onto the walls! It should come right off without too much scrubbing and you won't have to worry about replacing the border, or repainting the walls as soon. See there, saves money too!

2. Satin Gloss Paint on doors and walls will help with all those little finger prints! They come right off with a bit of warm water and soap.

3. Plastic Mattress Protectors have saved me hours!! All you have to do if a child gets sick, wets the bed, or decides to pet a fish on their bed {don't ask!}, is strip off the sheets and disinfect the mattress protector. And no more dust mites, germs or allergens either!! They are also great if you happen to live in an area that's bad for fleas or lice as they won't be able to get into your mattresses. But do be sure to get the BPA free protectors.

4. Natural Cleaning Supplies are a big help. You won't have to worry about letting the kids help you clean, which means you'll have more help. And, you won't have to spend as much money on all the store bought chemicals.

5. Tooth Brush Covers are a great way to stop a few germs. Without going into great detail, I'll just say that there are germs that naturally float around a bathroom - most of which we don't really need to smear on our teeth.

6. Homemade Detergents are a fabulous way to save money and clean your home. I make all of my laundry detergent, dish washing detergent, dryer sheets and fabric softener. Saves tones of money and cleans just as well, not to mention the health benefits that go along with it.

7. Dishwashers are a great way to sanitize lots of things. Please don't use harsh chemicals when sanitizing baby things! You can use vinegar, or just let the water and heat do it's job.

8. Zip Lock Bags can be found in almost any size you could possibly need. You can use the big ones to organize seasonal clothing, or just to store clean blankets away so they don't get dusty or come unfolded in the top of the closet.

9. Self Cleaning Ovens are fantastic because they, not only clean themselves, but they clean other things too!! I throw my stainless steal cookie sheets in the oven and set it to clean and all that ~~baked~~ burnt on stuff will come right off!

10. Last, but certainly NOT LEAST is my favorite thing of all!! My Rainbow Vacuum!! That thing is awesome! I can clean walls, woodwork, corner, pillows, furniture, blankets, and even the cat! Seriously! I don't have a cat, but it does get all the lose hairs off, I've seen it done myself. And that's not all, you don't have a bag to deal with, nor do you have to store all that dirt in your home. As soon as you vacuum it up, you throw it out, out of the house! Love it!

What are some ways you are keeping clean this year?

*Linked to: Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Homestead Barn Hop

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 35}

2012-01-10T22:57:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have been participating in Health 2day Wednesdays whether you;re new or have been linking up since I started last May!

SPECIAL NEWS:

Healthy 2day Wednesdays is now going to be group-hosted by a few other blog friends of mine! One of my missions is to help change the way people think about health and what better way then getting more people involved!

These 3 other amazing ladies will be hosting with me each week:

Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy

The Humbled Homemaker

Christian Mommy Blogger

You are welcome to link up at any of our blog starting NEXT week. I encourage you to go check out their blogs if you haven't already!

It's Healthy 2day Wednesdays 35th Link Up! So glad you're here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you'll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier!

Each week, I choose 3 posts that really stuck out to me, something that I thought would be encouraging to everyone. (if you would like to nominate someone one week, please email me)

My top 3 entries from last week:

You are What You Eat @ Hidden Treasures

113 Ways Sugar can Ruin your Health @ Young Living Oil Lady

Stopping the Cough, Naturally @ Small Footprint Family

Rules for this Link up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here
Comment on someone who linked up, I'm sure they would LOVE to hear from you!
Add button or link back to that days link up
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy
If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in!

Enjoy this post? Enter your email address to keep from missing out:

Please Welcome day2day joy's New Contributing Writers

2012-01-09T22:08:00.000-05:00

I know day2day joys is a smaller blog, however, as some of you know, my husband and I are opening up a wellness-based business and I am going to be pouring a lof of time into that.

I still want day2day joys to thrive and go where the Lord has it to go but I needed some help and have 4 lovely ladies willing to contribute and I am so gratefully honored they are joining me! They all value faith and family and are continuing to learn about health.

I'm pleased to introduce you to Angela from Hidden Treasures, Jenna from Wholesome Bits, Jenn from The Purposeful Mom and Brandy from Living Water Health and Wellness! Each one of them will be posting once a month and I'm excited to see what they bring to day2day joys!

Angela is a pastor's wife and a stay-at-home-mom of 6 children, 2 of whom are in Heaven with Jesus. After more than 10 years in the ministry, she turned to blogging in hopes of encouraging more ladies to continue in the journey that God has set them on. Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily.

Angela's goals in life are to be the best wife and mom she can be to love others and to become a TREASURE that is HIDDEN with Christ in God. Join her at Hidden Treasures and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Jenna is a happy wife to Brian of 15 years and a full-time mom to 4 boys, Noah, Sam, Ethan and Solomon, She is a follower of Christ, a researcher and an aspiring blogger, foodie and lover of all things healthy.

She's a little "against the grain" and takes a more holistic approach to health and wellness. She is passionate about searching for new wats to live a wholesome life.

Join her at Wholesome Bits and connect with her on Facebook.

Jenn is a daughter of Jesus, the wife to a wonderful pastor husband and mom to 3 beautiful children. She loves reading, blogging, trying new recipes and spending time with her family.

Join her at The Purposeful Mom where she shares how she is learning to live with purpose in the spiritual, financial and practical areas of life. Her desire is that we would all :encourage one another and build each other up" 1 Thess. 5:11

You can also connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest

Brandy's mission is to share the message of health and wellness according the the Word of God and traditional wisdom. She is a homemaker, married to the love of her life since 2004 and a homeschooling mom to 2 amazing boys, ages 5 and 1.

She's is studying to receive her certificate of nutritional counseling and is also group fitness instructor. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to make people aware of the truth about the foods we eat.

Join her at Living Water Health and Wellness and connect with her on Facebook or Twitter

I encourage you to check out their blogs to find out more about each one of them! Angela's first post is tomorrow about ideas to help you keep your house clean this year, make sure you check it out!

What to expect at day2day joys in the next few months and throughout the year:

Real Food, Real Easy! A jointly written ebook by the writers of Modern Alternative Mama full of easy recipes for people new (or even well on their way) to real food.
Soups that Sizzle Series with the same ladies who did the 5 Flu Fighting Foods last year, you'll get to add many new recipes to your collection and get a free ebook late February!
The "Ask Dr. Jake" segment will be revealed and you can ask all your health related questions!
Health 2day Wednesdays will now be group-hosted, you'll still be able to add your "healthy" posts with a new twist.
A post each week from one of the new lovely contributing writers, can't wait to learn more about them and their journey with faith, family and health!
Giveaways: including natural products and ebooks.
Much, much more!

Thank you so much for following me along this journey! I am so excited about what 2012 will bring! What plans do you have for your life and blog this year?

PpPp...don't say that!

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000-05:00

While being a nuisance to me on the couch while I was writing a blog post, my son Lincoln was saying p p p p p p p. I turned to him and said "we don't say that" knowing he didn't have to go to the bathroom.

P p P

P

At different levels of loudness but in a rhythmic tune. I said, "Lincoln, we don't say...." He had a BIG grin on his face and was looking right into my face. He stopped me by saying:

"Mommy... I was saying the letter p"

OK, you better bet that was funny! Letter p eh?

"My friends, be joyful, even in the midst of tests or trials" James 1:2

Sometimes we just have to laugh at the things kids say or even do!

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 34}

2012-01-03T20:38:00.004-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Celebration. My husband fell asleep and I nearly did... we are such night owls so that is pretty surprising!

If you are new(er) here take a look at the Year in Review post to catch up on the top posts here at day2day joys from 2011 and some exciting news about things to come for this blog and in my life in 2012!

It's Healthy 2day Wednesdays 34th Link Up! So glad you're here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you'll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier!

Each week, I choose 3 posts that really stuck out to me, something that I thought would be encouraging to everyone. (if you would like to nominate someone one week, please email me)

My top 3 entries from last week:

Healthy Maple Banana Muffins @ The Delightful Home

Fig Pecan Bread @ Gluten Free Pantry

Buttery Zucchini & Garlic @ Whole Intentions

Rules for this Link up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here
Comment on someone who linked up, I'm sure they would LOVE to hear from you!
Add button or link back to that days link up
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy
If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in!

Enjoy this post? Enter your email address to keep from missing out:

Year in Review at day2day joys

2011-12-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a little over a year that day2day joys really got started.

This blog first started out as a way to showcase family updates and activities we had been doing. I began writing about health and faith and have found it rewarding as well as a tool to help me growth in faith and health.

I began sharing our story and the more natural & holistic choices we made which led me to Healthy 2day Wednesdays. I started in mid-May and have learned so much for all of you who have linked up. I also wrote about our faith and believe our faith is what makes us stronger.

Here are day2day joys Top Posts of 2011

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
No Blueberries in Blueberry Muffins???
Chiropractic Care for Children
Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent (homemade recipe)
Pirate Birthday Party (ideas)
How to have an Healthy Immune System Naturally?
2 Quick & Easy Dinners
Hiking in the Desert
Alternative Medicine in a Medical World
Read the Ingredients
9 Toxins to Remove from your Life (I posted this over at Keeper of the Home but think it deserves a spot)

This year, I also got a much needed blog makeover thanks to Crafty Hippo Designs! I am very please with her work and love the cleaner feel.

photo credit

If you read my blog, you know my husband is a chiropractor and we had a deep desire to open up a practice to help change the way health is viewed and cared for in the United States. For more than a year, we have been walking in what seemed an aimless path and trying to figure out what the Lord wanted us to do. Well, with much prayer, anticipation, and waiting on the Lord, we are super excited to be opening up Victory Chiropractic & Wellness in a few weeks in Knoxville, TN. Along with this new adventure, My husband will be doing an "Ask Dr. Jake" edition on day2day joys where you can ask any health related question and he will answer you!

This year we have had fun, we have learned, we have had tried new things, we have accomplished goals and we have had sorrow and loss just recently. We are blessed and I am continuing to have joy in it all (and sometimes having to try to have joy)

Thank you for following me on this journey!

Have a blessed 2012!

Julia's Birth Story

2011-12-29T21:47:00.000-05:00

Julia made her appearance into this world on a Monday morning 3 years ago today. She was a hospital natural birth...well as natural as you can be with all of the monitors, IV's and laying on my back- kind of birth. Thankfully no medical interventions other than the "standard" stuff.

I woke up around 7am feeling like I had to use the bathroom. I went, laid back down and the strange unfamiliar feeling came again. I thought, "this must be it!" I went and woke up my husband Jake and told him she was coming.

I took a shower and even started getting ready, make-up and all. In between contractions I paused and continued on prettifying myself. I decided I needed to call a friend to watch Lincoln, our then 18 month old, since we had no family close by. I had felt like I rushed her so I called her back and said there was no hurry.

Probably around 8:15am (there's no telling since I never wrote the story down and am just recalling this story from my memory) about 20 minutes after I called my friend back, I told Jake, I think you NEED to call back my friend and tell her to hurry! I laid on my side in bed very calm and tried to breathe in between contractions. I had taken no natural birthing classes although I knew I wanted a natural birth.

Sometime during that, I called my mom who lives in Arizona and told her her first granddaughter was on the way. My friend got there and tried to come talk to me but I wasn't really listening and I was thinking, "I really don't care what you are saying, just get Lincoln, and thank you for watching him, now GO away!" but I said nothing.

Around 9:30ish, Jake said it's time to go so we got into our truck. I said "I think you need to hurry" but it didn't seem like he wasn't going fast at all. Finally after what seemed like a forever drive (the hospital was about 15 minutes away) we got there. I could not even walk, I had to be wheeled in by a nurse while Jake parked the car.

When we got there, the front desk lady was asking me all kinds of questions, I could barely answer her. I got on my hands and knees and tried to answer. Another nurse brought me to my room a few minutes later and gave me my traditional hospital gown. I threw my clothes off, no shame, and put the gown on and got on all fours again. The nurse told me to get in the bed.

Jake got there at some point and craziness began. I feel like there were about 5 people in there, putting an IV in, belly monitor and asking me all of those questions like: What's your address? When was your last doctors appointment? etc? I was thinking, I don't care, get this baby out of me!

The next thing I remember is the doctor saying in a very loud and firm voice, "Rachel, you need to stop screaming so the baby can get oxygen!" Yes, there it is, I admit it, I screamed...so loud that my husband jokes to this day that the glass windows almost burst. Finally, I calmed down and after just a couple of pushes, she came out! She was born at 10:40am.

So from start to finish, it was only 3 hours and 40 minutes. Very quick! I would have loved to had her at home but her story in uniquely hers and at that time that's what we thought we were supposed to do. We were still in a transition to a holistic life. The nurses were nice and we got to home the very next morning.

Day she was born

1 day old

6 months old

1st Birthday

20 months

2nd Birthday Party

2 and a half

this morning! 3 years old

I can't believe how fast time goes by! Happy Birthday Julia!

One Year to Live

2011-12-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

Guest Post written by Jenna

“On the average day, we live caughtup in ourselves. On the average day, we don’t consider God very much. On theaverage day, we forget that our life truly is a vapor.”

- Francis Chan (Crazy Love)

Think for amoment with me... What if you were given the knowledge that in 2012 your lifewould somehow end. How differently would your life look like from what you weredoing last week or from a few months ago? What would be your new passions,priorities and goals be with this new-found knowledge? What would peopleremember you for in ten, twenty or hundred years from now? Would your love forpeople and God be a consistent theme in your life?

photo credit: cerasaragirl

After ourChristmas Eve service this year, our family drove a mile up the road to visitmy mother-in-law's grave site. As we huddled together in the dark and cold ofthat night, amidst the tears and laughter, one thing resonated with us all...she was a precious soul. She loved her family beyond words. She was meek and sohumble. She never complained even through years of battling cancer. Heroverwhelming virtuous character and obvious love for the Lord were truly thethings we remember most about her. What would people say about you if they werehuddling by your grave a year from now?

Davidreminds us in Psalms 39,

“Lord, remindme how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind methat my days are numbered—

howfleeting my life is.

You havemade my life no longer than the width of my hand.

My entirelifetime is just a moment to you;

at best,each of us is but a breath.”

Our livesare incredibly brief. One day you will be gone. The Bible describes our livesas a mist, vanishing, a moment, a breath, the width of our hand. If your lifeended in 2012 would God be honored with the life you lived?

How manytimes this past year have you had regrets? Regrets over not doing something youknew you needed to do or say. Regrets over harsh words that came out of yourmouth. Regrets for not giving more. Regrets for not slowing down to spend timewith those most important to you. I can tell you... I know I've had too many.

But that'swhere Christ enters the scene. We all have regrets and ways we wish we couldchange. Why not make 2012 your year to be who Christ truly wants you to be.Don't rely on New Year's resolutions to make yourself better... anythingconjured up by guilt and shame will definitely fall by the wayside at somepoint. Find every possible way to simply enjoy Christ. Find your treasure andjoy in Him. Only through Him will you experience the grace and love you need tohelp you iron out those parts of your life that need a little repairing... weall have them.

I pray allthose who read this post will strive to truly live more like Christ in 2012 andbeyond if God allows. May our actions, words and thoughts be a reflection ofthe grace we find in Jesus. Let this grace filter down to our relationships andanyone we encounter.

Would yoube thrilled if your life ended in 2012 because you had the reassurance youpassionately pursued the things of God and found your joy in Him alone and inturn, had a successful ending to your journey on earth? May this be our prayeras long as we breathe.

The clockis ticking... go do your thing!


Jenna's Blogs at Wholesome Bits

About the Author:  I'm a happy wife of Brian and a full-time mom to 4 boys - Noah, Sam, Ethan and Solomon. I am a follower of Christ, researcher, an aspiring blogger, foodie and lover of all things healthy!

*Linked to: Women Living Well, Homemaking Linkup, Titus 2sdays, Works for Me, Simple Lives Thursday, Homestead Barn Hop

Healthy 2day Wednesdays

2011-12-27T22:44:00.000-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Today it was a cold and rainy day. While doing errands a man said to me "You're so lucky!" and I believe he is right! I am blessed even in the midst of the storms of life.

I wish you many blessings in 2012 in your storms and in your beautiful days!

It's Healthy 2day Wednesdays 33rd Link Up! So glad you're here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you'll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier!

Each week, I choose 3 posts that really stuck out to me, something that I thought would be encouraging to everyone. (if you would like to nominate someone one week, please email me)

My top 3 entries from last week:

Christmas Cake @ Gluten Free SCD and Veggie

Coconut Water as Electrolyte Re-placer @ Dyno Mom

Mock Chocolate Fudge @ Real Food Forager

Rules for this Link up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here
Comment on someone who linked up, I'm sure they would LOVE to hear from you!
Add button or link back to that days link up
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy
If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in!

Enjoy this post? Enter your email address to keep from missing out:

5 Days of Christmas Winners

2011-12-26T02:27:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 5 days of Christmas Review & Giveaway week!

The 1st Day of Christmas winner is:
Julie, "Like" day2day joys on fb
You've won your choice of any one product from Buttercup & Jake!

The 2nd Day of Christmas winner is:
Kristina, Follow day2day joys by email
You've won the Real Food Diet Cookbook by Dr. Axe!

The 3rd Day of Christmas winner is:
Rebekah from SimplyRebekah.com, Easy Entry (leave a comment)
You've won 3 jars of Nuttzo Butter!

The 4th Day of Christmas winner is:
Shari, "Like" Modern Alternative Mama on fb
You've won all 4 Modern Alternative Mama's ebooks!

The 5th Day of Christmas winner is:
Karen Medlin, Easy Entry (leave a comment)
You've won some Newman's Own Organics products!

You all have until Wednesday, December 28th at midnight to respond the the email I sent you. If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen.

I hope you all enjoy what you won!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

2011-12-25T01:23:00.000-05:00

Annual Christmas Photo Card 2011

Every year I order photo Christmas cards usually from Sams Club. I love being able to look back each year and see how the kids have grown. Usually a friend or family member takes the pictures and this year my mother in law took them. I compile them in a holiday scrapbook.

I also write a annual Christmas letter which usually tells about the years events or what we're up to currently. This year I decided to do something fun & different and came up with a mad lib.I also add the letter to the scrapbook. Here's the letter:

Greetings ____________ Family!

(Last Name)

We want to ____________ you a Merry _____________anda __________ New Year! It’s time

(verb) (holiday) (adjective)

for our ____________ Christmas letter, Ithought I’d do something fun this year! We have had a

(adjective)

_____________year that has gone very fast!

(adjective)

Jake _____________up this year at ABC Chiropractic and next year we’re _____________ a

(verb ending in ed) (verb ending in ing)

new journey!As many of you __________, we have been in prayer about the next step in ourlives,

(verb)

we will be opening up _________________. We are ____________ excited!

(name ofbusiness) (adjective)

Lincoln turned ____ years old and Julia isabout to celebrate her ___ birthday. Lincoln still loves

(age) (age)

pirates but is now into _____________. Julialoves____________ and is really into Tangled.

(toy for boys) (toy for girls)

Lincoln has a _____________ heart and is a_____________ helper. Julia is very

(adjective) (adjective)

______________ and loves healthy____________.

(adjective) (food)

I have been busy writing on my __________over at www.day2dayjoys.com,I mainly write about

(noun)

, ____________, _____________ and health.

(noun) (noun)

We have had a rewarding year and look forward to the ______________! Wehope and your

(noun)

________________ have a blessed 2012! Be onthe _____________ for _____________ news

(plural noun) (verb) (verbending in ing)

as 2012 progresses! Thank you for all ofyour prayers and __________ this year!

(verb)

In ________________,

(emotion)

Jake, Rachel, Lincoln and Julia

Merry Christmas day2day joys readers! I hope you have a wonderful next year!

Do you write annual Christmas letters?

Christmas in Our Home

2011-12-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

This year I didn't "go all out" on our Christmas decor. I wanted to hang lights on the house and some other things but life is busy as you can imagine, just like it is at your house! I kept it simple this year.

Welcome to Christmas in our home!

My kitchen window

We don't have a mantle, so used this frame, works pretty well

Living room

Living Room at night time

Did you "go all out" on decorating this year?

5 days of Christmas Giveaway Week Re-cap (hurry... almost over)

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

There are ONLY 12 more hours to enter in to win one or some of the 5 Days of Christmas Giveaways! These are some awesome natural & organic products and cooking resources, you don't want to miss out!

Here's a quick re-cap:

On the 1st Day of Christmas:

Win your choice of a skincare product
Click here to enter in to win!

On the 2nd Day of Christmas:

Win this hard back book for you or a friend
Click here to enter in to win!

On the 3rd Day of Christmas:

3 jars of this tasty & nutritious nut/seed butter
Click here to enter in to win!

On the 4th Day of Christmas:

4 amazing Real Food ebooks

Click here to enter in to win!

On the 5th Day of Christmas:

4 of my favorite products & some special extras
Click here to enter in to win!

Thank you to all who entered to win! I hope you win!

Enjoy this post? Enter your email address to keep from missing out:

*linked to wlw, works for me, homestead barn hop, monday mania

Baking at Christmas Time

2011-12-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas memories are my favorite memories. I loved (and still love) singing the Christmas carols, going to see Santa, baking goodies, making crafts, the food, the anticipation for Christmas morning... such fun!

That's why I think it's important to keep continuing the Christmas traditions and developing our own family traditions.

We baked gingerbread men and bread a few weeks ago... it was so fun! Click on the link to check out the recipes, they're healthier versions!

What are your favorite Christmas baked goods?

The Lord is My Comforter

2011-12-22T13:53:00.002-05:00

You never know why things happen. You can't sell your house, you lose your job, a family member is sick, a friend dies. It's so hard to deal with these kinds of situations. Only God knows the reasons! And I know only He knows but it is hard to understand the why, that why we desperately want to know.

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

As I am writing this I am losing our baby. We just found out on Saturday we were expecting. The moment I saw the positive pregnancy test my heart grew in love for this new baby on the way. My mind already began preparing... thinking is this a boy or girl? How will Lincoln and Julia respond? My husband and I were shocked, yet excited about the most wonderful news.

On Tuesday I began spotting which lead to where I am now. This is one of the most saddest things I have ever gone through. I am grieving and my husband and I are mourning in different ways but are trying to be there for one another.

I know some of you may have gone through this as well and I am not one to hide things inside, I need prayer and support.

I watched this video today which gave me a little peace:

"God is our refuge and strength, and very present help in time of need." Psalm 46:1

Kids with Mr. & Mrs. Claus

2011-12-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

This year after deciding we will keep Santa in our Christmas traditions (more thoughts on Santa here) but not let him over take the REAL reason of Christmas, we saw Santa a few places.

At a restaurant the kids enjoyed a singing statue of Santa

Lincoln & Julia with their cousins

We went to a Christmas party and Santa made an arrival, Julia really liked Mrs. Claus

Christmas picture with Santa 2011

I know some people may think this was mean, but Julia wanted to sit on his lap and I stepped away to give a friend my camera and she started crying. Lincoln was super happy. Oh... the memories!

Did your kids get pictures with Santa?

Decorating Our Christmas Trees

2011-12-21T19:16:00.000-05:00

Decorating our family Christmas tree is a very special memory and tradition, usually done while listening to Christmas music. I remember growing up decorating our tree each year and getting a new ornament which was memorable. I want to keep that tradition with my kids. This year we have a sticker tree the kids got to decorate and two other trees.

Decorating a wall sticker tree:

The kids had a lot of fun doing this. We also have a nativity wall sticker set was are going to do on Friday while telling the story and they will get to add the pieces. After they decorated the tree, we all got silly and put stickers on our noses. Lincoln said,"We're like Rudolph!"

We have two trees, one is the "fancy" tree and one is the kid's tree full of ornaments from my childhood as well as their ornaments they get each year. This year my mom & I got Julia the same ornament (so hoping to get her something else) and we both got Lincoln a cowboy themed one, I guess it was because he was a cowboy for Halloween!

Decorating the "fancy" tree:

Decorating kid's tree:

Do you have special decorating Christmas tree traditions?

Healthy 2day Wednesdays

2011-12-20T19:49:00.001-05:00

I'd like to wish all of the Healthy 2day Wednesdays participants a Merry Christmas! I wish you blessings and health this next year! Don't forget to enter the 5 Days of Christmas Giveaways going on now! Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 have some awesome natural and organic products you don't want to miss out on!

It's Healthy 2day Wednesdays 32nd Link Up! So glad you're here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you'll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier!

Each week, I choose 3 posts that really stuck out to me, something that I thought would be encouraging to everyone. (if you would like to nominate someone one week, please email me)

My top 3 entries from last week:

Homemade Laundry Detergent @ Small Footprint Family

Coconut Peanut Butter Fudge @ Being Conformed

Winter Fruit Salad @ Easy Natural Food

Rules for this Link up:

Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here
Comment on someone who linked up, I'm sure they would LOVE to hear from you!
Add button or link back to that days link up
Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy
If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in!

3 Things Every Mother Needs

2011-12-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Please join me over at Modern Alternative Mama where you will find 3 things I think ever mother needs including: a break, a balanced diet and getting exercise.

sneak peak:

If you're a mother you know your job is never done! There is always housework, clothes to fold, meals to make, kids to tend to, and so much more. Our check list is never completed.

Although all of us are super busy, we need to make sure we are taking care of ourselves! This is actually something I am working on because life is happening and I feel as though I can't keep up so after pondering about this, I can up with this list.

Here are a few things I believe ever mother needs to function properly:

A Break- Right now this is number one on my list. You can easily get drained from everyday chores and demands. But you can never ever just throw up your hand and say "I am done!" Your children need you, your husband needs you, it seems as if everyone needs mom. Well, mom needs some time for herself too.

This not only important for metal health but physical and spiritual health. You need to take time to take a break, to relax to do what you want to do instead of always caring for everyone else but yourself!

Flying Colors Ltd/ Getty Images

Ideas for taking a break:

You have to schedule it!
... continue reading here

What do you think ever mother needs?

Enjoy this post? Enter your email address to keep from missing out:

Spiced Apple Pumpkin Butter

2011-12-16T07:30:00.000-05:00

Today I am so glad to be guest posting at Stacy Makes Cents! Please join me there to check out this recipe.

sneak peak:

I'll let you in on a little secret... Before Stacy and I actually "knew" eachother, we went to the same college but never met one another. While in college we both fell in love and went on about our lives. We became mothers and have both made a switch to a more natural lifestyle when it comes to health and food.

She has commented on my blog and I have commented on hers on numerous occasions. I was flipping through our college bi-annual magazine a few months ago and found her name in the back in the "where are they now" section. I about fell out of my chair! The same Stacy that I had been corresponding with in blog comments, was someone who I attended college with, there's no telling but we may have been in a class together.

It's amazing how God works things out, isn't it?

Anyhow, today I have for you a Spiced Apple Pumpkin Butter to go along with this Christmas season. This is actually a fix it & forget it recipe that you can actually forget and stir every couple hours. I love pumpkin and pumpkin is actually a super-food so anything I can add it into makes me happy.

Ingredients:

6 medium organic apples
28 ounce can pumpkin puree (2 1/2 cups)
... continue reading here

day2day joys

Six Things You Should Do Before You Declutter and Organize Your House

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 42}

Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 42}

Ask Dr. Jake {hormones, once a month adjustments, devestated immune system}

She Worketh Willingly

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 41}

Real Food, Real Easy {Announcing a NEW e-cookbook}

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Simple and Delicious Potato Soup {and a FREE gift!}

Ask Dr. Jake {Shoulder Pain, Baby Formula & Asthma}

Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Gravel, Grace and a Place I Can Celebrate

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 40}

New "Ask Dr. Jake" Feature {Fear about Getting Children Adjusted}

Secret Ingredient Brownies

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Whole Wheat Garlic Dumplings

How to Rekindle the Romance in Your Marriage

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 39}

Just ask the Lord

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup

How to Make Every Day Your Best Day

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 38}

Healthy Banana Bread Muffins

Sizzlin' Soup Series: Sweet Potato & Sausage Soup

9 Simple Ways to Improve your Health

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 37}

Sizzlin' Soups Series: Sausage & Kale Italian Zuppa

5 Benefits of Eating with the Seasons

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 36}

12 Steps to a Healthier Life in 2012 {part 2}

12 steps to a Healthier life in 2012 {part 1}

Sizzlin' Soups Series: Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder

10 Things to Help You Keep Your House Clean this Year

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 35}

Please Welcome day2day joy's New Contributing Writers

PpPp...don't say that!

Healthy 2day Wednesdays {Week 34}

Year in Review at day2day joys

Julia's Birth Story

One Year to Live

Healthy 2day Wednesdays

5 Days of Christmas *Winners*

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

Christmas in Our Home

5 days of Christmas Giveaway Week Re-cap (hurry... almost over)

Baking at Christmas Time

The Lord is My Comforter

Kids with Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Decorating Our Christmas Trees

Healthy 2day Wednesdays

3 Things Every Mother Needs

Spiced Apple Pumpkin Butter

5 Days of Christmas Winners