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Nov 2010

Confessions at the end of NaBloPoMo

So this is the end of NaBloPoMo. I didn’t blog everyday – I started late and I skipped a day (confession #1), but I sure had a great time processing through some things, sharing recipes and new things I’ve made, and selling some of my goodies under your watchful eyes.

Confession #2, when things really excite me I clam up and usually stop blogging. I had to really fight with myself to start typing tonight because tomorrow we are viewing a house for sale in the local area. Not just any house though – oh no! It’s a farmhouse, with a barn, and room for animals (by room I mean 36 beautiful acres in the country)!

I’m sharing because I want your well wishes, thoughts, prayers, Reiki, luck… whatever! I’m already in love with the idea of this place. I’ve been dreaming of a homestead for far too long.

Category: Homestead, NaBloPoMo 2 Comments

Nov 2010

Meal Plan Monday – November 29-December 5

Jennie

Monday~ B: Smoothie and toast L: Soup D: Tacos

Tuesday~ B: Cereal and fresh juice L: Tuna salad D: Beef roast

Wednesday~ B: Eggs and toast L: Leftovers D: Spaghetti with veggies

Thursday~ B: Toast L: Leftovers D: Greek stuffed zucchini boats

Friday~ B: Cereal and fresh juice L: Leftovers D: Pizza

Saturday~ B: Toast L: Hummus and veggies and boiled eggs D: Baked veggie rice

Sunday~ B: Bacon and eggs L: Leftovers D: Burgers, homemade baked fries, and veggie

For more meal plan ideas, be sure to visit The Organizing Junkie.

Category: Meal Planning, NaBloPoMo 2 Comments

Nov 2010

Sunday Inspiration

Jennie

This past week a package arrived on my door step, and in it was a running t-shirt rocking out the NAUGHTY DINGOS! The Naughty Dingos are a group of women all striving for health in their life through many things, but one common thread – running.

There are doctors, geologists, professors, stay-at-home mamas, mamas who make soaps, homesteaders, and many have other passions too like biking, cross-country skiing, or yoga. These women inspire me because they have jobs, and families, and they still take care of their bodies and are role models for their children.

The Naughty Dingos sent me a shirt because someone sponsored me, and they sent me a shirt after I had been MIA from the group for a month or two. These connections online that some people believe are superficial – I can attest can be SO real! They are my inspiration and my counsel, and I love them and am thankful for their presence in my life.

My inspirational links from the week:

It’s that time of year again – how do you handle the idea of Santa with your kids?
A permission slip just for you from the Universe
I’m on a minimalism kick, but I hate the labels and arbitrary numbers.
Interesting idea of goals vs. achievement.

To be inspired by others, visit The Organic Sister

Category: Friends, Inspiration, Motherhood, NaBloPoMo 6 Comments

Nov 2010

Save on your health this Thanksgiving!

Jennie

Now is a time to give thanks! I’m thankful for so many things:

Little things like my warm cup of tea, sugar cookies candles, and my cat purring next to me.
Big things like my family, my love being home for the holiday, and my little girl and all she has taught me.
Things in each moment like my chance to choose, to smile, to share.
My blog and the real connections I have made online.
My health.

I am also sending many thanks to my fellow blogger and mama friend, Michele at Frugal Granola because she is sharing a discount to her e-book. It’s called “Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing & Learning Guide.” It’s packed full of homeopathic and natural ways to cure the common cold, flu, and bumps children get (among so many other things). I am thankful for my health, but sometimes we end up fighting colds around the holidays. Make sure you get this e-book for 50% off to help you stay ahead of the game!

Use the code THANKS50! Get “Herbal Nurturing” for less than $4.50!

It’s only good until November 26 – so hurry before it’s too late!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Category: Frugal, Health, Holidays, NaBloPoMo Leave a Comment

Nov 2010

Welcome to my Home Wednesday ~ Christmas Pictures

Jennie

This past week, we had some odds and ends to do with the house. I’ve been decluttering things, donating things, organizing an action plan to pack, and actually packing some things up for our move at the end of December.

We also had Val’s Christmas pictures taken!

Here’s one for a sample.

And the very best news this week?! James surprised us by flying home for Thanksgiving! <3

What are you thankful for today?

Category: Decluttering, Motherhood, NaBloPoMo Leave a Comment

Nov 2010

“Healthy” Fudge Recipe

Jennie

Here is an easy fudge recipe with some superfoods that are good for your body:

“Healthy” Fudge Recipe

1 cup cacao powder

1 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup agave nectar or 1 cup of honey or maple syrup

Mix all the ingredients together and freeze in a dish. I used an 8×8 pan.

Super easy, right? Such a great treat when you are craving a little bit of chocolate and something sweet!

{Credit to my Dingo friends for the recipe}

Category: NaBloPoMo, Recipes Leave a Comment

Nov 2010

Meal Plan Monday – November 22-November 28

Jennie

Monday~ B: Smoothie and toast L: Leftovers D: Leftovers with corn

Tuesday~ B: Cereal and fresh juice L: Tuna salad D: Beef and cabbage stir fry

Wednesday~ B: Eggs and toast L: Leftovers D: Minestrone soup

Thursday~ B: Toast L: Leftovers D: Thanksgiving with family

Friday~ B: Cereal and fresh juice L: Leftovers D: Pizza

Saturday~ B: Toast L: Hummus and veggies and boiled eggs D: Meatloaf with potatoes and corn

Sunday~ B: Bacon and eggs L: Leftovers D: Burgers, homemade baked fries, and broccoli

For more meal plan ideas, be sure to visit The Organizing Junkie.

Category: Meal Planning, NaBloPoMo 2 Comments

Nov 2010

HotHouse Creations Soap Co. Give Away!

Jennie

This is my first give away here at Making a Home and Family, and I couldn’t be more pleased that it is a from an online friend and her HotHouse Creations Soap Co. goodies!

Heather is a wife, mama, soap maker, homeschooler, runner, and radical homemaker. Dreaming of her homestead just like me! I keep dreaming of communing with her and her family.

Here’s a little bit more about her and her business:

I sell all natural soaps and a few other personal care products. I mostly focus on handmade soaps, using different additives and essential oils. I enjoy trying out some nontraditional materials, such as my Lavender soap with silk and my coffee soaps.

How did you get started making and selling your product?

I became interested in making my own skincare products after trying many different ways to manage my chemical sensitivities, especially to synthetic fragrances and preservatives. The more I looked into it, the more overwhelmed I became.

It was easier to learn to make my own soap, shampoo, etc. than to try and decipher what harmful chemicals were being used and which ones were bothering me. As for selling, making soap is fun, and trying out new soaps, essential oils, clays, colors, etc. can land you with a house full of beautiful, awesome soap. But really, you can only wash so much. I think my family got sick of only getting soaps for holidays, also.

{Interview from: Examiner}

Onto the give away!!! I want to keep these all for myself, by the way. The smell beyond delicious! The winner will get: 4 handmade soaps – lemon verbena, rosemary pepper, vanilla mint, and oatmeal honey. The winner will also get a body balm in balsam peru.

How to enter (you must do #1 but all of the other options gives you extra chances to win):

Leave a comment below telling me which of these you think you would like the most.
Follow @HotHouseSoapCo on Twitter and leave a comment here telling me you did.
Like HotHouse Creations Soap Co. on Facebook and leave a comment here telling me you did.
Like Making a Home and Family on Facebook and leave a comment here telling me you did.
Share this on Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment here telling me you did.

The winner will be picked on Wednesday around 8:00PM CST!

If you aren’t the lucky one, you can visit HotHouse Soap Co. and place an order with her via Etsy or her facebook page. You will receive 10% off if you mention Making a Home and Family sent you. Perfect timing for CyberMonday shopping!

Category: Give away, NaBloPoMo 79 Comments

Nov 2010

Grassfed Beef Discussion and Review

Jennie

Within the last 6 months or so, my family has switched from eating locally raised beef, to organic beef, to grassfed beef. So, what’s the difference?

The local beef we were purchasing was from my brother or from his friends who also farm. We knew that they were raised and killed ethically and were in the pasture at least part of the time. They did eat grain and the grain was not organic. This was just our case – your local farmers may do something different. Ask them!

Organic beef means that the fields they graze from are not treated with pesticides, they aren’t given antibiotics, and the grain they eat is organic too.

Grassfed beef means the cattle is raised like it was meant to be. Not on grain, but on grass. Roaming in a pasture.

So why would a family choose to pay a little more to have grassfed beef? What are the benefits? From our research we have learned grassfed meat is better because:

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which fights cancer and prevents clogged arteries among other things
It has a better ratio of Omega 3′s and Omega 6′s. An imbalance, found in grain-fed beef, leads to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, depression…
I just learned today is has a high level of vitamin B12, which can help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
It tastes better!
The cows are eating the way they were meant to so that we can have healthier food too.

Tonight’s dinner was organic grassfed beef burgers from Rocky Mountain Organic Meats with diced and roasted sweet potatoes, and it was all so yummy. It was even better because the burgers were FREE! I had won them – a whole 8 pounds of burgers.

These burgers are BIG! I can polish one off, but I am a nursing mom and I’m always hungry. I think one burger with all the fixin’s and a side of fries would satisfy any appetite. They take awhile to cook because of their thickness, but it so worth the wait in taste. A little grease but not too much (remember it’s the good fat)!

Check out Rocky Mountain Organic Meats on the web, on YouTube, or on Twitter. Let them know I sent you.

Category: Going Green, Health, NaBloPoMo, Review, Stepping Lightly Leave a Comment

Nov 2010

Thankful Thursday – Lazy Days

Jennie

It seems like we’ve been really busy around here – running errands, showing the house, leaving for inspections, showing the RV, getting Val to her class at the Y…. run… run… run.

Today, we just stayed home. Boy, did that ever feel good and relaxing.

We moved along at our own pace because we had no time schedule to meet. She got a good nap in her own bed, we played, we read, we danced, we sang, and we laughed.

I had picked her up at some point during the day and she was facing into me. I started laughing just to see what she would do. It wasn’t a real laugh in the beginning, but by the time we were done we were laughing so hard we both had tears in our eyes. You should try it sometime. If you are having a tense day, I bet that would be a great technique to turn it all around!

I am so thankful for this lazy day I spent with my girl.