Homeschooling from the Perspective of a Girl at 17

So before I start this post written by my 17 year old daughter, Missy.....I want all you Moms to know that even though our family loves homeschooling (especially the HOME part) we know that it isn't for everyone. Please take our excitement of it for what it's worth and just know that we encourage you to choose what works best for you and your family and leave the guilt behind. ;)


Alright, so many of you guys know that my mom homeschools us kids. She absolutely loves it, but I always think it’s nice to have the products opinion too. So what does yours truly think about this whole weird homeschooling thing? *Big grin* Gosh, you’re in for a treat!

Before I was old enough to be put in public school, my mom felt like she should homeschool. I guess my dad wasn’t as excited about it. Let’s just say she got him on her side. And so it began. I didn’t really know what was going on. I’d always been at home, I didn’t know anything was supposed to change. My mom started to teach me how to read. We got involved in a co-op group, where I made friends there that are still some of my besties to this day. That’s all I really remember about the beginning.

Eventually I realized that I was weird just because I didn’t go to “Normal School.” But as I recall, everyone was more envious than anything else. And darn, they ought to have been! ;) My mom eventually learned about TJed and not a bit too soon. She learned about the Keys of learning:

1. Classics, not text books.
2. Mentors, not professors.
3. Inspire, not require.
4. Structure time, not content.
5. Quality, not conformity.
6. Simple, not complex.
7. You, not them.

            - Oliver DeMille

Kinda different from public school.  Mom decided to give it a go. Much to my thanks! I guess she was a little nervous, though I’m not sure why. She began to fill our home with the best learning resource ever. Books! Not just any books, good books. The best books. Classics. She inspires us by doing what she loves and encouraging us to do the same. It’s so simple! She mentors us even if it’s not really her doing the lessons. She provides wisdom, help and support.

I lived off of Little House, Dr. Suess, The Boxcar Children and Louis L'amour for the first few elementary years of my life. Soon adding in other things as I got older. Like Little Women and anything having to do with history. Now I read a little bit of everything. Scratch that. A LOT of everything.

Books are my primary sustenance. Have been for as long as I can remember. Give me a few good books, a stack of notebooks and an endless supply of pencils and you’ll never hear from me again. Books, isn’t all of it though. I’ve taken lots of online and live classes where I can speak with other mentors associate with like minded people, where I can learn outside of the pages of a book.

I don’t know what I would do without any of them. As I’ve gotten older I’ve wanted less play and more study time. My parents actually have to tell me to quit studying. By leaving me mostly alone I’ve learned more than I ever would have with a super stiff and structured schedule at home or at school.

My mom loves homeschooling. She loves it not just because it’s so easy for her, it’s so easy for all of us. We are getting the quality education each of us kids need individually. We can focus on what makes us great. I’ve always wondered why we cram a bunch of kids in one place all day long teaching them all the same thing and then say we are all different and no two people are alike. Home educating individualizes it for the mother, father and each child.

Homeschooling allows me to be myself without having to be afraid of anything. It’s so adaptable that it works for any family. Words can’t accurately describe how much I love homeschool, and hey, words are my thing. When my public school friends say their school is fun and I ask why the only answer I get is the social aspect of it. Yeah...I’m not going to go into that one. ;) I have friends. Pinky swear. 

Life rocks guys! Live it to the fullest.

- Missy, The Happy Friend

(Just in case you were curious, here is my top ten favorite books list.)

1. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
2. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
4. The 5000 Year Leap by Cleon Skousen.
5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
6. The Lord Of the Rings by J.R.R Tolken
7. The Last Battle/Narnia C.S Lewis
8. Leadershift Oliver DeMille and Orrin Woodward
9. The Real Thomas Jefferson by Andrew Allison
10. The Count of Monte Cristo

(I could go on much longer than that….) :D

Missy's other post: The Simple Healthy Life of a 17 Year Old Girl

My Weekly Meal Plan

I promise the menu plan is on here it's just at the end of the post. ;)

Last week was kind of a blur. Ryan was gone most of the week with work and state convention and I had a busy bundle week. As much as I love, love, love being involved in the bundles and rubbing shoulders with some very inspiring amazing women. I do get easily overwhelmed and I'm glad they only last 6 days.




I did have some pretty good mom moments throughout the week even though I was a bit preoccupied. Curt has been wanting to go to the park for weeks now and the wind and weather hasn't been cooperating. Thursday evening was a little breezy but beautiful so even though there were facebook parties I wanted to be supporting I chose to load up the kids and head to the park. It was a great evening.

Then Friday night we watched "The Book Thief" together. We spent a little time talking about it and there will still be more discussions to come....for sure a movie/book to be discussed. I thought it was very well done.

I feel so blessed to be able to be home with my children, to be a wife, homeschool mother and homemaker. It's such a lasting work that carries on through generations......BUT for some reason it's so easy for us (or at least me and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here) to get feeling like we don't measure up.

In just a few weeks mother's day is coming up and to be honest with you it's one day that I haven't really liked. It always seems like I'm cranky and I go to church and hear about how wonderful Mothers are and I would think, "Oh they are not talking about me, I'm not that kind of Mother." They used to give Moms flowers at church but most of them thought flowers were silly so now they give chocolate or some other type of sugar (yeah I know the others like it but obviously as a recovering sugarholic it's not my thing).

Anyway I just feel like it's always been a pretty down day for me. But as I have been reading the ebooks in the homemaking bundle I have realized the mistake I have been making all these years about Mother's day. You see I was thinking that I'm supposed to be a perfectly balanced Mother.

But guess what I have learned? BALANCE IS BULL! It's a myth and here all along I thought I was supposed to be finding balance. It's kind of like that "moderation in all things" quote that people throw around it's simply not true.



I've known about seasons of Motherhood and the truth of that but for some reason I thought balance was part of it. Imagine if you will, a plate spinner, you know the ones, spinning plates on sticks and they keep them all up there spinning. They run back and forth back and forth just keeping them spinning. The problem is they don't get to spend anytime with one plate because if they do another one may come crashing down.

For years I had the mistaken understanding that I was supposed to keep all my plates up on their sticks spinning all the time. But wait there are seasons and certain seasons have certain plates that need spinning and other plates just need to be set down.

We don't want to have all the plates spinning all the time.....and there may even be some plates that we choose to never even pick up because it wouldn't be true to who we are. Did you know that I don't iron our clothing, NOPE, none of it.....oh I have an iron but I only use it when I'm sewing. Do you know how many years it's been since I have sewed? It's something I love but not a plate that I want to have spinning right now. Oh I'm pretty sure it will spin again.....just not right now.

I hope maybe I have got you thinking. I believed that balance lie for far too long and truly felt like if I was just more organized or a better planner I could fit in all the things I needed to balance. It caused me much guilt and frustration. But one day it hit me pretty hard I can't even remember what book it was (dang I wish I could) but it was an ebook from a bundle and since then my paradigm has shifted and I enjoy Mother's Day now!






SORRY this sale is over if you would like to be notified of sales similar to it in the future sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.
 

TODAY is the last day of the sale and you won't see this same bundle together for sale ever again so if you are at all interested in it today is the day for action.

Also a lot of you who bought the bundle through me haven't emailed me to get your bonus. They way the system works I don't see your email so you need to contact me and let me know and I'll send The Simple Healthy Handout Variety Pack right over to you.

Would you like to "meet" some of the authors from this bundle? Here's a video of some of us sharing what our book is about. Sorry it's not the best quality and you may need to play with the volume but I still thought it was fun to see some of the authors and the fact that they are living right in the trenches just like you and me!



I worry that some of you get tired of all my excitement and bundle talk when these sales are going on....but they are such an awesome value and I'm always excited about anything that will help and inspire and support women in homemaking, herbs, healthy food, homeschooling and all the other many things that tug at us.
It really is the toughest job in the world!

So one. last. time. I'm going to talk about the bundle. If you want to read about all the details and enter the ipad mini giveaway.....WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE THAT YET?......you can see all the details here. 

SORRY this sale is over if you would like to be notified of sales similar to it in the future sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.




Alright here's today's menu plan: I probably should have just done a separate post thanks for putting up with me! ;)

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Lentil Soup

Tuesday:
Chimmys

Wednesday:
Spicy Peanut Chicken Soba Noodle Salad (sans the chicken add more veggies) ;)

Thursday:
Nachos Supreme My Way

Friday:
Artichoke Tomato Alfredo

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Mongolian BBQ




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Part The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, My Simple Healthy Life!

Five things that Help when I'm Feeling Overwhelmed

You may not know this about me but I tend to be very easily overwhelmed. Sometimes to the point of near paralysis. I know this can be frustrating for Ryan but I have learned to manage. Being a Mom for over 17 years now has taught me a few things.

When I start to go into that perfectionist mommy mode, thinking I need to do it all and be everything for everybody....When the guilt tries to creep in and the overwhelm sometimes feels crushing, I have found it really helps to do these 5 things:

1. First thing I STOP and take a few deep breaths. Ryan will know I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed because I will taking big deep sighs. But you know what it really can help. Although it doesn't usually solve it so that's when I go on to the next step.
   
2. I ask myself: Will this matter 10 years from now? Pretty much every time not only will it not matter ten years from now it will likely not even matter next week and sometimes not even the next day. I find this perspective really helps to keep me grounded and focused on what really matters. It's almost funny how uptight I can get over things that really are of little or no consequence. It really isn't worth stressing over things that don't matter long term. When I realize that, I am able to chill out just a bit and it lifts a large majority of the burden I may be feeling at the time.
   
3. I eat something! If it can be high in healthy fats, minerals and protein, like a green smoothie with added hemp seed and coconut oil all the better but if that's too overwhelming to make, try to just grab something. A nut mix, celery sticks with peanut butter......just try to make it healthy! (sorry friends chocolate isn't the answer here save that for the big emergencies ;) Nine times out of 10 having a full stomach helps me to calm down and think more clearly.
   
4. Check the Calendar! No don't look at all the things your not getting done or places you need to be. Look and see where you are in your cycle.....more often then not my biggest overwhelm times come at that time of the month. If that's the case I repeat steps 1, 2 and 3. Then I grab a good book, leave all the "to-dos" undone and take as long of a reading break as I can. (obviously if your kids are really little it won't be for very long but I found even just little "check-out" times are helpful) This usually helps calm me down a lot. I also keep aware that the next few days I may not be myself but remember that it's just PMS and it will soon be over. I also have worked on things that help alleviate PMS.....But that is a post for another time.
   
5. And last of all and most important I make sure to lay on the GRACE not the guilt! This isn't easy I get caught in the mommy guilt trap like we all do. I have those blasted broken records that try to play that tell me I'm not good enough, that I'm ruining the kids, that the husband works so much because he hates to be home, that one that says so and so can do it all why can't you.............and on and on and on.....I'm guessing you - know the one. Well through leaning on my Savior and relying on His grace I have been creating new records that speak truth.....that I am good enough, that I'm a daughter of God, that he loves me, that he is forgiving, that he knows we learn from our mistakes, that I am doing His work! Oh and the husband tells me his favorite place to be is here and I believe him because....... .......well he's terrible at lying ;)

And since we are speaking of overwhelm have you seen how many books are in The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle? Honestly there is so much to it that it's easy for me to get overwhelmed.....but the overload of info that we have these days doesn't need to overwhelm us it's okay to pick and choose and at such a great price you only need to get like 2 or 3 read and it pays for itself and you certainly shouldn't feel guilty if you can't get them all read.

Right now I have only been working on getting two books read. I finished The Undivided Mom last night. And I'm almost through Steady Days! These would be excellent books to read when feeling overwhelmed. Both Kayse and Jamie talk right from the heart and share examples from real life. So inspiring and motivating yet comforting....I think every young Mom should read these books! So helpful.

I know there are other gems in the bundle just waiting for me to uncover them in my hour of need. But in the meantime  here's a video that shows how you can make use of the bundle all year long! Remember don't be overwhelmed....  
Just love much, do the best you can and be sure to give yourself plenty of grace!









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Ice Cream Sandwiches

This recipe has taken quite a bit of trial and error. When I first thought it would be fun to make ice cream sandwiches I was sure it was as simple as taking one of my cookie and ice cream recipes and making a sandwich out of them.

Nope! We tried that the first time and although they did get eaten they were not the grab out of the freezer and enjoy like the ones I remember.

They had to sit on the counter until the ice cream was almost melted for the cookie to be nice and chewy.....and then the cookie still wasn't nice and chewy. Again we ate them but the cookie was crunchy!

I found too that the ice cream needed to have a softer, creamier texture to really make the sandwiches good. That was easy we just added more fat. If you are looking for a fun way to get lots of medium chain fatty acids in your kids....I don't think you'll have any problem getting them to eat these.

Then once we got the right textures down we needed to work on how to easily fill each sandwich. I came up with putting ice cream in the solids end of a Pampered Chef Measure All Cup and freezing it that way. Then I could just pop the ice cream out and slice it.

That worked really well but I had more ice cream and cookies then one measure all cup was enough for. So I also found that freezing your cookies first and letting your ice cream soften our of the freezer for just a bit, made it fairly easy just to scoop ice cream onto the cookies. You still have to be careful to not break your cookies though.

But see now the trouble shooting is all done for you so it will be a cinch to make now right?........RIGHT!

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cookies:
5 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 cups Sucanat
1/4 cup carob powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon Real Salt
1 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted but not hot
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons molasses
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
egg replacer for 4 eggs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix wet ingredients in measuring cup (make sure they're blended well). Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Using hands, form dough into a big ball. (If it sticks together well, then its the right consistency. If it's kind of dry and crumbly then add a bit of water, 1 Tablespoon at a time and mix it well. If it's too wet you may add up to 1/2 cup more flour just add it a Tablespoon at a time. You want a sort of sticky dough but not wet just a little greasy you need to be able to roll it into a ball kind of like play dough.)DO NOT over mix or oil can separate out.

Form dough into ping pong size balls then gently press with the bottom of a 1/2 cup round measuring cup that is lightly greased with coconut oil. (use the leftovers from the dish you melted the coconut oil in) Press to the size needed or desired. Bake for 5-6 minutes in preheated oven. NO LONGER! You want the cookies not all the way cooked it makes them not so hard after being frozen. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

Ice Cream:
2 cups raw cashews, soaked overnight then drained
1 1/2 cup favorite herb tea just barely warm* (see options below)
2 cans coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup Sucanat
1/4 teaspoon Real Salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla and/or the insides of 2 vanilla beans
Optional Spices* (see notes below)

Directions:
In blender blend drained cashews and herb tea until smooth. Add coconut milk, oil and the rest of the ingredients to the blender. Blend until just mixed and smooth. Churn and freeze in your ice cream machines according to manufacturers directions.

I talk about our ideas for easiest assembly of the ice cream sandwiches in my ramblings above. So if you didn't read those you may want to reference them now. ;) Basically just make ice cream sandwiches out of them obviously store in the freezer. They are best taken out of the freezer 5 minutes before eating.

*Here are a few fun flavor ideas that will change depending on the type of tea you use. Be sure to make a good strong tea. If you are using teabags use 5-6 of them.

Peppermint: dried peppermint leaves made into a good strong tea. (pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water over about 3 heaping Tablespoons of dried peppermint leaf. Let cool some, strain out leaf use the 1 1/2 cups in the ice cream) You could add carob or chocolate chips to this ice cream when it is almost done churning if you would like mint chip.

Mormon Mocha: Dandy Blend(No Coffee for this girl), Carob and/or Cocoa Powder. Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling over 2 heaping Tablespoons Dandy Blend and 1 Tablespoon carob powder. Stir until well combined let cool till just warm use in making the ice cream.

Chai: Roastaroma blend and/or Rooibos type tea.(again nothing from the Tea plant so no green or black tea for me) Make a strong tea with 1 1/2 cups boiling water, strain off herbs or remove tea bags. Use in making the ice cream also add these spices.
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
May adjust seasonings to taste.

Nutty Vanilla: Just cut up some vanilla beans and make a strong tea with that. Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water over beans let steep for longer than the other teas. Strain, use this in making the ice cream, you may want to add more vanilla too.
recipe inspired by the minimalist baker

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle and iPad Mini Giveaway

Be sure to scroll through and pay attention the the amazing list of books, bonuses and more bonuses and all the way at the end is the entry form for the ipad mini, apron and amazon gift card giveaway!

By popular demand, 100+ homemaking bloggers are bringing back The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle and it's better than ever!

 

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is a complete library of great eBooks on homemaking—a truly valuable knowledge base you’ll use for many years to come.

Unlike a library, though, you don’t have to spend years building it up. We’ve done the hard work for you, searching the web to find the very best eBooks from top homemaking authors and combining them into one essential collection that you can buy in one simple purchase.


Act now to get the ultimate eBook collection on homemaking at a once-in-a-lifetime price.

 

 SORRY this sale is over if you would like to be notified of sales similar to it in the future sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.

We’re confident you won’t find a more comprehensive set of homemaking resources anywhere -- and certainly not at this price. Bought separately, they’d cost a total of $698 (not including $200+ in bonuses!). But you can have all of them for just $29.95, or $39.95 for bonus Kindle editions!

We believe it’s the best deal on homemaking eBooks anywhere on the web. But it will only be available for six days. So grab yours before it's gone!

This huge wealth of information and guidance will be right there on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or Kindle, whenever you need it.

Here's what you need to know about the sale:


When? 8 a.m. EST Wednesday, April 23 until 11:59 p.m. EST Monday, April 28
What? 78 eBooks, 2 eCourses, 2 audio files, and 2 printable packs PLUS over $200 worth of bonus products you'll really use!
Where? Purchase the bundle here.
How much? Well now, that's the best part. The entire package is worth nearly $900, and we're selling it for less than $30. Sweet deal, right?



What's in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle? ($698 value!)

• A Heart Prepared: A Simple & Effective Scripture Memory System by Jami @ Young Wife's Guide ($9.95)
• How To Manage Your Mouth: A 30 Day Wholesome Talk Challenge by Connie @ Smockity Frocks ($5.97)
• Restoring the Lost Petal: A Journey Through the Loss and Restoration of Sexual Purity by Danielle @ More Than Four Walls ($8.99)
• Set Apart: Becoming a Woman of Virtue in a Modern World by Anjanette Barr, Whitney Cornelison, Jennifer Fountain, Virginia George, Crystal Hatcher, Sarah Nichols, Rachel Marie, Ashley Roe, Kendra Stamy, Danielle Tate, and Karli Von Herbulis ($3.99)
• The Homesteading Wife's Christian Devotional: Finding Biblical Truths on the Farm by Susie @ Our Simple Farm ($3.99)

• Be Thankful: Cultivating Year-Round Thankfulness by Amanda @ The Pelsers ($7.99)
• Character Badges by Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog ($9.99)
• God Gifted Virtues by Sara @ Your Thriving Family ($8.95)
• Learning to Speak Life: Fruit of the Spirit Family Devotional by Michael & Carlie @ Learning to Speak Life ($9.99)
• The ABC's for Godly Boys/The ABC's for Godly Girls by Lindsey @ The Road To 31 ($19.98)
• The Warrior Weekend: Helping Dads Raise Boys to Be Godly Men by Patrick & Ruth @ For the Family ($4.99)
• Write Through the Bible: Exodus 20 (KJV, Manuscript) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)

• 5 Days to Budget Breakthrough: Change Your Money - Change Your Life by Kimberlee @ The Peaceful Mom ($5.95)
• 76 Free Things to Do with Kids: A Real Mom's Guide by Shannon @ GrowingSlower.com ($5.97)
• Advanced Penny Pinching: Stockpile - Strategize - Save by Tabitha @ MeetPenny.com ($3.99)
• Cash Flow Your College: Knowledge in Your Head Without Being in the Red by Kayla @ Renown and Crowned ($2.99)
• Christian Wealth Building by Michael @ MichaelPink.com ($77.00)
• It's Me or the Coupons: How a Busy Mom Can Win the Grocery Budget Battle by Beth @ Eat Better Spend Less ($10.00)

• Bliss Balls for Beginners: 21 Recipes to Get You Started by Luschka @ Keeper of the Kitchen ($3.50)
• Dairy Free 101 by Becky @ For This Season ($5.00)
• Just Making Ice Cream: Over 70 Delicious Recipes Made with Nourishing Ingredients by Marillyn @ Just Making Noise ($12.00)
• Meal Planning Made Easy by Kelly @ The Nourishing Home ($6.99)
• No Cook Freezer Meals by Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness ($5.99)
• Simplified Dinners by Mystie @ Simply Convivial ($12.99)
• The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking by K.M. @ KMLogan.com ($2.99)
• The Healthy Lunch Box: Sandwich-Free Secrets to Packing a Real Food Lunch by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($9.95)
• The Sweeter Side of Candida: Desserts for the Holidays, Special Occasions, & Everyday Sweet Treats by Paula Miller & Sarah Ives ($14.95)
• {Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals & Snacks by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($5.00)
• Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less by Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home ($18.97)
• Simple Cooking to Save You Money by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($4.97)
• The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies by Shannon Miles, Sarah Nichols, Kristen Smith, Kate Tietje, and Katherine (Katie Mae) Stanley ($9.97)

• Healing With God's Earthly Gifts: Natural and Herbal Remedies by Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama ($7.95)
• My Simple Healthy Life: A Minimalist Approach to Herbal Remedies, Beauty & Natural Cleaning by Tammie @ Simple. Healthy. Tasty. ($5.95)
• Simple Natural Health: Wellness Made Easy by Nina @ Shalom Mama ($10.00)

• 100 Days of a New Year 2014 eBook by Jennifer @ ListPlanIt.com ($4.00)
• Christmas Printables for Kids by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($2.50)
• Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year by Daniel & Haley @ Carrots for Michaelmas ($7.99)
• More Than a Holiday: A 25-Day Christmas Devotional for the Whole Family by Scott and Sarah @ Simple Life Abundant Life ($7.95)
• More Than Candy: A 25-Day Christmas Countdown that Counts by Sarah Mae @ SarahMae.com ($4.99)

• DIY Natural Household Cleaners: How To Make Your Own Cleaners…Naturally by Matt & Betsy @ DIY Natural ($9.99)
• Filling Hearts While Cleaning Homes: Five Minute Devotions for Families by Jenn Thorson & Lindsey Stomberg ($8.00)
• Hospitality: The Duty of the Christian Home by Kathy @ Teaching Good Things ($4.97)
• How to Build a Strong Christian Home by June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home ($4.99)
• Life Your Way Printables Download Pack by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($7.00)
• Sewing School 101: Simple Tips to Get You Stitching by Nicole @ Gidget Goes Home
• The Schneider Peeps by Angi @ The Busy Mom's Guide ($3.99)
• The Best of Visionary Womanhood: Volume Two by Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood ($4.99)
• The Homemaker's Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy @ Raising Arrows ($4.99)

• 101 Independent Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers by MaryEllen @ Imperfect Homemaker ($4.99)
• 1777 New England Primer Cursive/Manuscript Printable Alphabet Sets by Jacinda @ Growing Home ($5.98)
• A Simple Homeschool Planner by Tsh @ The Art of Simple ($4.00)
• The Charlotte Mason Way Explained by Dollie @ Teachers of Good Things ($7.99)
• The Preschool Journey by Angela @ Teaching Mama ($6.99)
• Weekly Homeschool Planner by Jolanthe @ Homeschool Creations ($20.00)
• You Can Read by Carisa @ 1+1+1=1 ($10.00)

• 31 Days to Build a Better Spouse by Ashley @ LIFE by Ashley Pichea ($7.99)
• Dear Wife: Letters from a Help Meet by Misty @ Beautiful Ashes ($2.99)
• Intentional Marriage: The Art of Loving Your Husband (A 31 Day Devotional) by Crystal @ Serving Joyfully ($3.99)
• The Ultimate Marriage Vow: 21 Days of a Life-Long Commitment by Darlene @ Time-Warp Wife ($2.99)
• To Love, Honor and Vacuum Audio Download by Sheila @ To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($2.99)

• Discipleship & Discipline: Practical Parenting Help for the Desperate Mom eCourse by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae ($17.99)
• Pieces of Mommy: Putting Yourself Back Together by Sarah @ SarahStrausbaugh.com ($7.99)
• Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood by Jamie @ Steady Mom ($9.55)
• The Cherished Home: Protecting What's Important by Mary @ The Encouraging Home ($14.99)
• The Pursuit of Motherhood by Melinda @ Musings of a Minister's Wife ($7.99)
• Undivided Mom: Finding Christ in the Chaos of Motherhood by Kayse @ KaysePratt.com ($4.99)

• Baby Ready: Preparing For and Adapting to Life with Baby by Monica @ Happy and Blessed Home ($7.99)
• Breastfeeding Twins, Triplets and More! by Jennifer @ Growing Up Triplets ($10.00)
• Cloth Diapers: A How-To Handbook on the Basics of Cloth Diapering by Rachel @ Intentionally Simple ($5.99)
• The Breastfeeding Lifeline: A Guide to Navigating the Newborn Days by Breastfeeding Place ($5.95)
• The Minimalist Mom's Guide to Baby's First Year by Rachel @ The Minimalist Mom ($4.99)
• Topical Devotions for Pregnancy: 13 Devotions to Nourish Your Soul by Becky @ Purposeful Homemaking ($3.99)

• 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal @ Money Saving Mom ($4.99)
• Equipped: Because You've Been Made to Live On Purpose by Elisa @ More to Be ($6.99)
• Live for Him: A Grace-Filled Look at Planning by Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace ($2.99)
• The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide to Daylight: Managing Your Days Through the Homeschool Years by Heidi @ The Busy Mom ($10.00)
• Your Retreat: A Guide to Giving Yourself a Personal Planning Day by Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker

• Blog Planner 2014 by Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life ($4.99)
• Blog at Home Mom: Balancing Blogging and Motherhood by Christin @ Joyful Mothering ($4.99)
• FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom's Guide to Passion, Purpose, and Profits by Alyssa @ AlyssaAvant.com ($4.99)
• Monkey See, Monkey Do: A Tutorial to Using PicMonkey with Professional Results by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($8.00)
• The Blog Planning Kit: A System to Maximize Your Blogging Efforts by Kat @ How They Blog ($15.00)

What are the Ultimate Homemaking Bonus Offers? ($200+ value)

In addition to all the amazing eResources, this bundle includes the best bonus offers we've ever had.
These deals are worth over six times the price of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. So you’re up on the deal right away!


1. DaySpring—A FREE 10-pack of Premium Greeting Cards.
($20.00 Value. Standard shipping applies.)
2. HopeInk—$15 HopeInk store credit to be used towards anything + a FREE 8×10 Art Print with order.
($39.00 Value. Standard shipping applies.)
3. Redeeming Beauty Mineral Makeup—3 FREE eyeshadows of your choice from Redeeming Beauty.
($16.47 Value. Standard shipping applies - only ships to US and Canada.)
4. Marie-Madeline Studio—A $15 store credit for anything in Marie-Madeline Studio's online store.
($15.00 value. Standard shipping applies.)
5. Once a Month Meals—A FREE One Month Pro Membership from Once a Month Meals.
($16.00 Value. No shipping required.)
6. Dizolve—FREE 64-load pack of Dizolve Laundry Strips for you PLUS a Free 64-load pack of Dizolve Laundry Strips for food banks.
($25.98 value. Standard shipping ($3) applies. Only ships in the US. Offer available with exclusive Dizolve Membership.)
7. TrilLight Health—FREE $15 store credit to be used toward Trilight Health's liquid health formulas.
($15.00 Value. Standard shipping rates apply.)
8. List Planit—Free 3-month membership to ListPlanit.com ListPlanIt.
($15.00 value. No shipping required.)
9. Bulk Herb Store—Instant download of the instructional video Making Herbs Simple Volume 2 for FREE from Bulk Herb Store.
(up to a $15.00 Value. No shipping required.)
10. Fit2B™ Studio—FREE 2-Month Online Fitness Membership at Fit2B™ Studio.
(up to a $20.00 Value. No shipping required.)

SORRY this sale is over if you would like to be notified of sales similar to it in the future sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.




Remember, this bundle is available for 6 days only, from 8 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, April 23 to 11:59pm (EST) on Monday, April 28th.

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Click here to read the fine print about this bundle. Click here to read the answers to frequently asked questions. 

REMEMBER my added bonus too! Please don't forget to email after you purchase so I can send you my own personal thank you! Click here to learn more.

Okay phew you made it through.....ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE! ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Extra Bonus from Me!

I have been thinking about putting this together for a long time and today I finally did it! I have taught a lot of different local classes in the various communities I have lived in through the years. I have also had some fun pintables and labels available on this blog.

I kept telling myself that one day I would put in all together in one place so others could benefit from my handouts too, not just those who came to my classes. I thought it would be fun to offer it as a extra bonus when you purchase The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle through the affiliate links on my blog.




SORRY this sale is over if you would like to be notified of sales similar to it in the future sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.


But I can tell you right now what is included in my bonus. I hope you will find it helpful on your healthy homemaking journey.

Just my way of saying thanks! 

Below is a list of the handouts included in this pack:

• Intro to Grains Handout
• Spice Labels
• Simple Healthy Pantry Handout (what I buy and where I get it)
• Homemade Seasoning Labels
• Green Smoothies Recipe Handout
• Using Food Storage Handout
• Homemade Bath and Beauty Labels
• Homemade Vanilla Extract Labels
• Christmas Tags
• Cutting and Increasing a Recipe Handout
• My Ingredients List Handout (what to look for when reading food labels)
• Simple Healthy Pantry List Handout
• Healthy Dinners and Snack Ideas Handout