Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

How to Get Some Cool Spring Freebies from MadeOn (For our kids and/or for ourselves!)

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Renee at MadeOn is one of the best people to work with! Basically, I told her that my little ones have chapped lips and chapped cheeks and chapped hands and that I bet after a winter like we just had – you all also probably have little ones who are all chappy-chappy. I asked if she’d give us all a fun deal to help us with our little chapped children, and here’s what she is offering (because she is AMAZING):

We can all get a FREE Lip Balm and a Pocket-Sized BeeSilk Jr!! These are the exact products we need right now as we head into spring! (We are going through these like crazy right now at our house!)

How it Works

The coupon code hhspring will take $19 off orders of $45 or more. It just so happens that the Lip Balm and a Pocket-Sized BeeSilk Jr cost $19 (thank you, Renee, for making them both free!). It also just so happens that we get free shipping when we spend $45.

So, we can head here and put $45 worth of goodies into our cart (I’m going with the Simply Shea Facial Emollient for my personal chapped cheeks and extra Lip Balms and BeeSilk Jr Pockets for backups). Then we can add a Lip Balm and a Pocket Sized BeeSilk Jr to our cart and the code hhspring will zap the cost of those off during checkout!

Or actually…

The coupon code will take $19 off of ANY $45 order, so you can get ANY products worth $19 for free that you like!! How ’bout that?! ($64 in your cart total before coupon.)

Okeedoke:

Head here to enjoy this wonderful offer!

Use the code hhspring to get $19 off plus free shipping!

Offer good through Friday, March 12.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Are Vanilla Bean Prices Going Down?

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Is it true? Are vanilla bean prices going down? After several years, I can finally tell you yes!

What happened to the vanilla bean prices?

Back in 2017, there was a major vanilla bean crop failure which caused a shortage of beans and a huge price spike. It was a big bummer for those of us who love to use vanilla extract for cooking and baking, but even more so for those of us who love to make our own vanilla.

Finally, about a year ago, I checked prices again and found that there was a little bit of a rebound. Prices were lower. Not low, mind you. But lower than they had been. So I did the math and began to again recommend that making vanilla would save you money. (Because the price of commercial vanilla had also gone way up! Making it at home saved money even though vanilla bean prices were still on the high side.)

{Bonus! Olive Nation gives us an extra 15% discount when we use the code home, so that helps even more!}

Then, just a few weeks ago, a reader emailed to clarify what kind of vanilla beans I usually buy. See, in this post I had said that you can buy 25 beans for $91 after our special 15% discount. But she saw the regular price for 25 beans listed at $59. Was she looking at the correct beans?

I didn’t read her email correctly at first, so I thought, “Oh no! Did the price go up again?” Haha, Laura. Read the email again. :) :) Not up, but down! The price went down!!!

You guys! This is all so exciting! We’ve waited a long time for this and we can all get vanilla beans at a much lower price and make vanilla extract again for huge money savings! Not to mention – homemade vanilla is amazing!! 

Where I get my vanilla beans

I always buy from Olive Nation. I’ve worked with them for years and am always so happy with all they offer. Their prices are the best. Their quality is the best.

Side note: Once, a long time ago, I bought from another source and the beans were dry and shriveled. Never again. Olive Nation always now for me!

Because Olive Nation has worked with us here for so long, they really appreciate Heavenly Homemakers readers. They give us a forever discount because they want us to be extra happy with our purchase. They know we all love to save money as we care for our families well. So they’ve set up the code home and it gives us all a 15% discount on our vanilla bean orders! (Orders over $50 also receive free shipping so there’s that perk too!)

What kind of vanilla beans do I buy?

I currently purchase Olive Nations Papua New Guinean Beans. Why? Because they are the lowest in cost right now.

When the vanilla bean shortage made prices go up, Olive Nation started bringing in a supply of beans from several different countries. The prices from each range from $59-$172 for 25 beans from different areas around the globe. I’ve definitely found that the quality of the less expensive beans is still wonderful! So I go with the $59 bean package and have been very happy with what I get!

Another side note: I rarely only buy 25 beans at once. Usually, I buy two-four times that many. But I’m using that as an example because I’m guessing some of you don’t make homemade vanilla in such bulk quantities!

Is it hard to make Vanilla Extract?

Not even a little bit. It’s incredibly easy. Get all the details and see a full tutorial here. Or follow these simple instructions:

Are Vanilla Bean Prices Going Down?
 
Save Print
Author:
Serves: ½ gallon
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Slice through each bean lengthwise, leaving about one inch at the top of each bean uncut so that it stays together.
  2. Place all of your cut Vanilla Beans into a half-gallon jar.
  3. Fill the jar with vodka.
  4. Secure the lid and put the jar in a dark place (like in the back of a cabinet).
  5. Allow it to sit and "extract" for 4-6 months.
  6. Every few weeks during extracting time, shake the jar to mix it up a bit.

Bonus Resources:

Time to make vanilla again!

Enjoy this fun price dip and the discount we receive to go with it. Make some vanilla to enjoy in your kitchen – how fun!!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

How Can a Mom Take Care of Herself?

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

This is the question I’ve been asking myself for the past thirty-twelve years. With all her other responsibilities, how can a mom take care of herself?

Here’s what I know to do to take care of myself:

  • Eat nourishing food
  • Drink water
  • Exercise
  • Take some time alone
  • Go to the chiropractor and/or to get a deep muscle massage as needed
  • Take time with the hubby
  • Get enough sleep every night

But right now, I look at that great self-care list – and then I look at my five kids under seven, my high schooler and his needs and his friends, my two college kids and their needs and their friends, my adult kid and his girl that I don’t see nearly as often as I’d like, my husband who is busier than ever right now with huge work responsibilities – and I launch into that freakish laugh-cry thing moms do when the thing is not at all funny, so it kinda hits you funny, and then you cry because it’s not funny but there you are, still laughing. Bless.

I know what to do so that I can take good care of myself. Yet in reality, I find it very difficult to pull off right now. But awww, would you just look at all these beauties:

Silly but true: sometimes I’m jealous.

How silly that I would ever be jealous of anyone else, seeing as I love my life as mom! But if I’m not careful, I can see what other adults around me are doing – super extravagant things like going to the bathroom alone or reading books without pictures – and I start to feel a tad bit jealous. “Must be nice,” thinks me. After all, I have very few chances to head to the bathroom without toddlers following me to pull down toilet paper and squirt hand soap into their hair while I pee.

They look so innocent when they aren’t in the bathroom with me.

Fun fact: when my husband needs to go to the chiropractor, he simply calls and makes an appointment.

But I’m not jealous of this, of course, because I’m a super sweet wife who is always super sweet. I am truly very happy for him to go to the chiropractor when he needs to go. Because I am super sweet.

So you must be wondering…can I actually not go to the chiropractor? Can I not read a big girl book? Is everyone around me living their lives in total freedom while I, the mom, languish at home alone – though never, ever actually alone – need I remind you of all who accompany me to the bathroom?

The truth is that I can do any of the things I need to do to take care of myself. But I sometimes feel like I have to move a mountain or three to make them happen…

This seems like the right time to talk about the cookies.

Do you know why a usually reasonable and rational mom might sometimes grab cookies or chips instead of eating the salad she knows she should eat? I think the reasons are two-fold:

1) Because cookies and chips are faster than salad. Faster food is important while striving to keep toddlers from emptying glitter bottles into their mouths or smearing oatmeal all over themselves. And…

2) Because the days can feel long and hard and a mom may feel a little bit deprived. This may lead her to think that a cookie will help her to feel better. Maybe it will bring a little joy in the form of a chocolate chip, you know?

It’s a temporary fix, and as we all know, chocolate doesn’t actually bring true joy. “Only Jesus brings joy, amen,” says the healthy mom. But shucks if she doesn’t try again tomorrow to let the fulfillment come from a Dorito.

You thought I was kidding about the oatmeal…

…and the glitter.

I love my life!

There’s nothing I want to do on earth more than to be these kids’ mom, to be my husband’s wife, to be my friends’ friend, and to live this full, abundant life God gave me. So I’m not complaining – not even a little bit. I’m just sharing a little bit of my current motherhood reality. Basically, I need to make a chiropractor appointment, and I can’t figure out how. That is all. Thanks for listening.

So How Can a Mom Take Care of Herself?

Beats me.

Just kidding.

Heh.

Twenty-three plus years into this gig, I’ve learned that motherhood-self-care takes some doing. It doesn’t just happen. It really does seem easier to reach for a cookie than to get out the carrots and hummus. But this leads to a mama feeling sluggish and depleted, so don’t get sucked in to thinking that the chocolate chips will help. (Now, coffee on the other hand…)

Advocate for yo-self, sista

I’ve found that I have to recognize where I’m lacking. Where I’m feeling depleted. And I have to advocate for myself.

Why does a mom have to advocate for herself? Is it because no one respects her or cares about her needs? Nope. I think it’s the opposite! I think we are highly respected by all! And I think moms are really good at momming! In fact, we’re so good at it that it’s possible that our husbands or friends (or even our very own selves) don’t always realize that we might be one toddler-filled pee-break away from a freakish laugh-cry break-down.

On the outside, I can look like I’m doing great. The kids are clean(ish). The house is – well, it hasn’t quite fallen down around us. There’s food on (but also under) the table. I always smile hugely and beautifully when hubby comes home at the end of the day. (He thinks I’m just happy to see him. Well, sure I am. But the truth is that I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM!!!!! Because he brought his arms home with him and now he can also hold one or two of the children.)

So moms? We have to advocate for ourselves. We have to recognize what we need and go ahead and move those mountains to make them happen.

Sometimes I don’t even know how to do this and therefore find it hard to reach out for help. This is not because I don’t like asking for help (being served by others is glorious!). But I’ve found that asking for help also takes effort. Effort that seems hard to come by when keeping everyone safe and happy until bedtime seems difficult enough each day.

But one or two texts sent out to friends? We can make that happen, right? We can say something like, “Hey, are you free to stay with the kids while I head to the chiro tomorrow morning?” See, that wasn’t so hard.

I think I may try this. I’ll let you know how it goes.

And how about you? Are you working to take care of yourself – even though it’s legitimately hard – though not impossible – to do?

When it comes to nourishment, you can do what I do and drink a salad every day. It goes down fast and easy and can be enjoyed even while children are hanging on your legs. They may even want to drink some too.

I don’t have much time to exercise right now (and winter doesn’t help) but I do run up and down the stairs carrying children or laundry baskets multiple times a day and I try to do some yoga-type stretches in the living room a few times each week. As soon as the weather is nice again, we’ll be doing what I call The-Best-Mom-Fitness-Program: loading kids up in strollers and bikes and taking long strolls which is super good for all the reasons – exercise, fresh air, sunshine, good conversation. But the best reason of all: IT WEARS THE KIDS OUT SO THEY TAKE BETTER AFTERNOON NAPS. This is for their own good. This is all I care about. The good of the kids. ;)

Let’s review and let’s do this!

  1. Moms, we need to take care of ourselves, on purpose, for a purpose, because we are fantastic and wonderful and so very loved by so very many.
  2. And speaking of love, I haven’t even mentioned God yet. Oh dear one, God loves us all so much. He wants so much good for us. He’s right there, daily providing for our every need, every minute.
  3. Ask for help. There is no “Way to go, you did it all alone!” trophy. Who would even want one of those? I’d rather have a daily “You made it through the day because of your awesome community!” sticker. Sign me up. I want this. I have this, praise God.
  4. Rest when you can. We really won’t be tired forever. I promise, because…
  5. This season will turn into a different season. I’ve done this before so I know that it’s true. Eventually, everyone will be able to wipe his or her own bottom – true story. Eventually, the kids can unload the dishwasher and do their own laundry and STAY HOME ALONE WHILE MOM GOES TO THE CHIROPRACTOR. I am so serious. This season is temporary and so very precious.
  6. See the good. I will never be that mom who says “enjoy them while they’re young because they grow up so fast yada yada blah blah” because I’ve been there and done that and I’m doing it again. WE MOMS ARE ENJOYING THEM WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG but we are also tired and covered in spit-up. Much of the day is hard, but much of the day is also oh-so-good. The sweet cheeks and squishy kisses, the way they say words wrong, the times they share with their sibling and giggle and have fun, the way they let us dress them in adorable outfits and don’t have opinions about their attire. I could go on and on. There is so much good in every day. God sees to that. Our job is to see what He sees to. <— Read that again. We can easily see all the good He provides when we are looking for it. It’s constant because He is God and He is good.

Motherhood-self-care looks different through the seasons. Eventually, it will actually be easier to do what we need to do for ourselves each day. But for today, let’s do what we can. Let’s drink the salad. Let’s make the stress-free simple meals. Let’s enjoy the fun books with pictures. Let’s take walks in the sunshine while pushing the stroller. Let’s have Jesus-discussions with our babes and be made aware all over again why Jesus called the children to him and told us to have hearts like them.

Let’s learn and grow from the place where we are. God provides. Always.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. I finished writing this article (thanks to babysitters, woohoo!), moved a few mountains (texted friends and asked for help), and I’m happy to report that I will be going to the chiropractor on Tuesday at 11:45.

P.P.S. Turns out, it wasn’t so hard to move that mountain so I moved a couple more. I’ll be getting my hair trimmed next Thursday at 1:00. And tomorrow afternoon I’m going to go see my therapist for a much-needed session in hopes of turning my currently too-frequent freakish laugh-cries into my more typical I-love-my-kids-so-much-laugh-cries.

P.P.P.S. Decided to send hubs a heart emoji and some words of encouragement because he works so many long, hard hours every day and still comes home with a smile and arms so willing to help his weary wife with the littles (and the bigs).

P.P.P.P.S. Your turn. Go move a mountain. You are so loved. :)

 

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Club Member Exclusive Printable Pack for March

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Winter has been brutal. This, of course, makes me think about tomatoes. You too? I thought so. ;)

What I mean is, I’m ready to get our garden plans in place for the year. Many of you have likely already started this and now that it’s almost March, it’s time to get serious!

Introducing our Heavenly Homemakers Club Member Exclusive Printable Pack for March!

Remember, along with all of our eBooks, eCurriculum, Simple Meals Plans, bonus articles, printables, and everything else included in our Membership Site – we are now offering an exclusive monthly printable that is only available for members.

This month it only seemed right to create a Garden Planner Pack for us all to enjoy! Current members can go download it now. Not a member yet? Please head over here to learn about all our members have access to. Then sign up to join us. You’ll be amazed at all you’ll get!

 

 

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

10 Easy Food Items You Didn’t Know You Could Make at Home (Save $$!)

by 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I bet you didn’t know you could make these food items at home! (Actually, if you’ve been reading here long, you probably do know about most of these, but act surprised anyway.) ;)

The old me used to make EVERYTHING from scratch. Some of you probably remember that girl. I made homemade ketchup, homemade tortillas, homemade grape nuts cereal, homemade hashbrowns, homemade tator tots… Wait. Homemade Tator Tots?? Yes. It was a reader request and I figured out how to do it! I was what one might call “an overachiever.” (Or “that really crazy heavenly homemaker lady.”)

Now I’m in a different season in life with a big houseful of littles and have decided that there are some food items that aren’t worth my time to make at home. Loving my people is more important than making Homemade Peanut Butter Captain Crunch. Oh my goodness yes. I even tried that too.

But today I want to share 10 food items that are easy to make at home, will save a lot of money, and are worth your time!

10 Easy Food Items You Didn’t Know You Could Make at Home

1. Vanilla Extract

We’ll start with my favorite! This saves a lot of money and is amazing to make in your very own kitchen!

2. Peanut Butter (super creamy – spreadable, like Skippy or Jif)

This tastes so much better than any store brand and is so much fun to make. Watch peanuts turn into peanut butter! So cool.

3. Gatorade

This costs pennies and is so much better for us!

4. Chicken Wings

I always thought this was restaurant food. Turns out, it’s super cheap Friday night dinner at home.

5. Whipped Cream

No, it isn’t cool whip. It’s 1,000 times better.

6. Ranch Salad Dressing

Hidden Valley who?

7. Poptarts

These taste so incredibly good and are easy to make in bulk amounts to freeze and pull out for easy breakfasts!

8. Graham Crackers

The kind from a box will never taste as good as these gems. You can even make them chocolate!

9. Instant Oatmeal Packets

Make a bunch of packets or make a big batch in a jar for easy, inexpensive breakfasts!

10. Frappe

Because why pay $5 at a coffee shop when you can make it for much less at home?

Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Frappe

Which of these have you tried? Ready to try something new?!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Join Our Surrendered Heart Marriage Builder Series!

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Calling all married couples! Join our Surrendered Heart Marriage Builder Series! (FREE for one week only!)

The tools you’ll receive each week during this special 6-week email series are designed to offer you and God meaningful, quiet, reflective time to help you surrender your heart to His work in and through you.

Want to build a stronger marriage? Of course, we all do! Think it takes hard work? I beg to differ. Here’s what I’ve learned: I can work and work and work at strengthening my marriage, but what I’m really doing through that work is relying on self. And unfortunately, my self is pretty weak and powerless.

But Spirit? Oh, the Holy Spirit living inside of us and working in and through Christians is powerful and strong! The real work is the Lord’s, and He can do ANYTHING. (He already won the victory over all sin and death for all time, praise God!)

So what is our role? Our role is to surrender. Stop trying and working and striving and being constantly disappointed when your fleshly self can’t live up to what you know you want and need to be in your marriage. Surrender. Breathe deeply at the thought! Let go of striving and let God know that you’re ready for Him to do His work.

This 6-week email series will guide you through this wonderful process and you are sure to be amazed at His work in you and in your marriage. Our Surrendered Heart series includes lessons, printables, and journaling guides. We’ll dig into scripture and dig deep in our hearts seeking healing, wholeness, and joy that only Christ can bring.

Sign up for this free Surrendered Heart email series here.

For one week only, we are opening up registration for this series and giving it all to you for free! Spread the word, get everyone on board!

Signing up is easy (and free)! We’ll start right away by sending you weekly emails filled with lessons, encouragement, scripture, journaling pages, and printables to help you build a binder that will help you build your marriage on the One True Source of good.

Don’t miss this great opportunity! (Registration closes February 24.)

Sign up for this free Surrendered Heart email series here.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

How to Fight Off Winter Blues

by 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Every winter, by the end of January/early February the winter blues threaten to set in. Lack of sunshine, frigid weather, feeling cooped up – these all attribute to the blah feelings that seem to come and go sometime between Christmas and Springtime. Here’s what I’ve found through the years to be helpful.

How to Fight Off Winter Blues

Some of what I’m going to share may seem trite, you know, like when I say, “Hey, you should pray about it.” But don’t read this list while thinking “Well yeah, duh, I’ve already tried that.” Read this with an open heart, praying while you read, to see what God might offer you if you also struggle through winter blues. And please leave a comment to add to the list, sharing what has worked for you too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: I feel I should add a disclaimer. Winter blues are nothing like depression. I am not an expert and am not suggesting that those struggling with severe depression simply “drink some water and you’ll be just fine.” Reach out for big help – it is there and God will provide! I’ve been there and have been so grateful for what God has healed (and continues to heal).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, since I already mentioned it, how about we start with:

1. Hey, you should pray about it.

What I want to suggest though is that we don’t simply pray, “God, help me get through this winter. Help me get through this day. Help me get through until lunch…”

Those are fine prayers, but here’s what I’ve found to be more effective to help free my mind when the enemy tries to get me down:

  • “God, clear my mind of lies and help me to hear your voice of Truth. Help me to believe your Truth and live fully in it.”
  • In the name of Jesus, empty me of self-pity, sadness, despair, and discouragement. Fill me instead with your Spirit, and let the fruit of your Spirit pour out. Your joy, your peace, your goodness, your love…”
  • “God, help me to see life and people through your eyes today.”
  • “Lord God, change me. I need you. I’ve been trying to live through my flesh and it lands me in a place of pain. Work through me so that instead, I will live through your Spirit where there is hope and goodness in abundance!”
  • “God, please open my eyes and my heart to all the goodness you are providing today.”

And then breathe deeply and see that He will absolutely answer these prayers in fullness! God always says yes to everything we ask for that is for our spiritual good! He has already fought every battle and won! He will help us to live in this victory!

2. Dig into the Word.

Yep, we already knew this one too. But what if we dug in and read page after page of Scripture as if our life, our health, and our well-being depended on it. Because it does.

Not sure where to start? This can help.

During some of my most difficult days, God’s Word has served to be so much more than a bandaid on my emotional wounds. It holds real answers to real needs in the perfect way that only God can offer.

3. Serve someone.

I have been amazed by how much better my mood can be when I ask God to tell me who I can serve and how I can serve them. He brings someone (or multiple people) to mind and tells me how to reach out. Even something as simple as baking and delivering treats to someone can help me get out of my own head and instead help me to focus outward on others’ needs. Encouraging others, seeing others, loving on others, giving something to others, talking to others, asking about others’ needs – this is an incredible way to take our minds from melancholy to meaningfulness.

P.S. Get your kids involved. ;)

4. Try to get enough sleep.

This is often easier said than done depending on our season of life. But wow do I feel like a different woman (emotionally and physically) if I’ve gotten the rest I need. When I’m tired, I often cry more easily, feel sorry for myself, feel discouraged, can’t think straight, wonder what’s wrong with me…

Then I get a power nap or a better night’s sleep and suddenly I feel so much better overall.

I guess it’s worth it to say this based on what I’ve personally experienced: Maybe we aren’t down or depressed, maybe we’re just tired. If that’s the case, work extra hard to get to bed at a decent time, to let others help you more, and to get as much needed rest as possible.

5. Ask for help.

Please learn to do this. Asking for help has been incredible and necessary for me, and I think it’s necessary for every person, no matter what. We can’t do life alone. We aren’t good at it. It doesn’t work. God created us to need people.

I have to ask for help with my kids, with my housework, with my emotional needs (praise God for my Christian therapist!), with my blog work – everything. It’s amazing to watch God work through others. Ask for help. You will be so glad you did!

(This is Justus and his girlfriend Kelsey in a pile-up on our floor with our 7-year old and 5-year old. These darlings and many other college students and friends are on call to come help when and if they are available. I’m so very thankful!)

6. Eat your vegetables. Drink your water.

Man, in the wintertime those cookies just seem so much more appealing. But sugar can really kick in the winter blues, so be sure you’re focused on nourishing food that keeps your heart and mind happy instead of sad and sluggish.

Don’t forget: Spring’s a comin’! Look for the beauty in every day. Let’s not get stuck thinking that we’ll feel like this forever. And again, if you’re experiencing more than winter blues, reach out for deeper help.

It’s time to tell the enemy to get out and then ask God to fill our minds with His joy and peace! Winter doesn’t win, and the enemy certainly doesn’t! Nope. No way. Not today Satan. (Or tomorrow. So there.)

Breathe deeply of God’s goodness and let Him walk you through each day. That sun is going to shine soon and boy are we going to ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!!!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

How to Make Chicken Wings

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Here’s how to make chicken wings at home. You’ll wonder why you never tried this before!

Truly, this is as easy as the “Just Dump Some Sauce on Some Chicken” idea I shared a while ago. I’ll share a recipe below, but if you don’t even want to read that far let me just give you the simple instructions now:

How to Make Chicken WingsYum

  1. Put chicken wings in a crock pot. Who cares if they are still frozen?
  2. Dump on some sauce. Use whatever sauce you have. The final plops of three different bottles will work just fine.
  3. Cook this on low for a few hours.
  4. Eat the chicken as it falls off the bones.
  5. Smile and wipe yo mouth.

Chicken wings seem to be something we only order at restaurants. They seem like one of those hard-to-make special foods when in fact, all you have to do is dump some sauce on some chicken and let your crock pot do the rest.

I love fun food like this. {Sheds a tear.}

Oh, and if you serve your Chicken Wings with some Homemade Sweet Potato Fries, you will make your family feel like they’ve gone to a restaurant when in fact you’ve all stayed home and spent a total of $5.78 to feed your entire family.

Other great side dishes to serve with your Chicken Wings

How to Make Chicken Wings

How to Make Chicken Wings
 
Save Print
Author:
Serves: 4-8
Ingredients
  • 2-5 pounds of chicken wings
  • 8-16 ounces of sauce (barbecue, teriyaki, sweet and sour, anything you like!)
Instructions
  1. Put chicken and sauce in a crock pot.
  2. Cook on low heat for 6 hours or until chicken is falling off the bone.

I wish I could give more specific instructions but truly there are no perfect measurements for such a simple recipe idea. Just put your chicken in your crock pot. Cover it with sauce. Let your crock pot do the rest. You’re going to love this!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Tips and Tools to Make Menu Planning EASY

by 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

It really is possible to make menu planning easy, even if it’s a task you’ve never enjoyed. Here are my best tips and recommended resources to help. :)

Tips and Tools to Make Menu Planning EASY

Let’s just dive right in, shall we? Here are some of the tips I’ve found that are really helpful for simple menu planning. After I share these, then I will present you with some really great tools. :)

When it comes to figuring out food for your family…

1. Decide to have a good attitude about menu planning.

If you’ve always hated figuring out what to feed your family every day, keeping a good attitude about it can be tough. Even if you don’t mind or even actually enjoy menu planning, the daily grind of it can sometimes get old and tiresome. But the truth is that we all need to eat every day; therefore we do need some sort of plan so that we don’t become stressed out over food.

It’s possible you hate menu planning because you don’t plan your menus. (Eh?) What I mean is, if you don’t decide on a simple meal plan before it is mealtime, you’ll find yourself trying to figure out food for your family at the point in which they are all hungry, you are too hungry to think of good ideas, and you’re trying to make plans AND make food in the middle of ALL THE HUNGER.

This is no fun. It does not work. And it gives our brains the message that meal planning is hard and awful.

Take a deep breath. Pray. Choose joy over stress and angst. Menu planning can become easier. Learn what works for you (lots of ideas below), and decide to believe the truth that YOU CAN DO THIS.

2. Recognize that there are many ways to plan – so figure out what works for you!

Some people make a menu plan for an entire month. Some for each weeknight. Some for every single meal and snack of the day. Some subscribe to a menu planning subscription. Some make a plan each morning to carry out through the day. Some write down all the specifics on meal planners. Some make plans on a marker board. Some don’t write anything down at all.

These are only some of the methods and options – which proves that there are many ways to plan and that no one way fits the needs and preferences of every person or family.

If I was a once-a-month menu planner (which I am not, but if I was), and I told you “you should do it just like I do it!!” and then you tried it and it didn’t work for you, you might decide that menu planning isn’t for you. But the truth is that while once-a-month menu planning (and all the other methods) works for some, it doesn’t work for everyone. Menu planning is definitely not a one-size-fits-all thing. Toy with ideas, use resources that are available – and there are many! – and find a method that works for you.

3. Keep it simple.

Unless you really love gourmet cooking and creating elaborate meal plans, there is no reason to make menu planning and cooking for a family more difficult than it needs to be.

Discover simple recipes that you know your family will enjoy and that will not take long to prepare. Keep them in your back pocket (literally, if it helps; see below for details!). Jot down meal choices in a notebook, in your daily planner or calendar, or on pretty printable menu planning pages to keep on your fridge.

Think about and decide on your main dish, then consider simple fruit and veggie side dishes to round out your meal with nourishment.

We’ve all gotta eat. But we do not all gotta spend hours every day to make this happen!

Now I’m going to show you some wonderful tools that can make menu planning much easier.

Tools to Make Menu Planning Easier

We’re going to look at some tools that:

  • Show you how to budget when grocery shopping
  • Provide kid-friendly menu and snack planning ideas
  • Give you hundreds of recipes that are both easy and healthy
  • Walk you through how to get started with menu planning
  • Offer printables and planners to make the job easier
  • Teach you about basic nutrition, weight loss options, and special dietary needs
  • Help you get organized, actually, easily :)

I have somewhere around 60 resources to tell you about, but first, take a look at one of my new favorite menu planning tools!

The Easiest Recipes, in a Flipbook!

A few weeks ago, I took the recipes from my High Five Recipes eCookbook (recipes that all call for only 5 or fewer real-food ingredients!) and I turned them into a super handy Recipe FlipBook. Man, I am loving this – and this is what I was referring to when I said, “Keep simple recipes in your back pocket!”

I formatted each recipe to fit onto a  color-coded 4×6 card – then I sent them all to Walgreens to be printed. Just a few dollars later, I had all 86 recipes printed onto cards. I punched a hole through them, put a ring in the corner to hold them together, and tada! A High Five Recipes Flipbook!

This little tool is really handy (and fun!) because I can just grab it and start flipping through it for easy meal or snack ideas. Each section is color-coded to make it easier to go directly to the section I need: Breakfast Ideas, Main Dish Ideas, or Snacks and Treats Ideas.

The cards make it easy to see at a quick glance which few ingredients I’d need if I chose that recipe. Annnnnd since all of the recipes call for just 5 or fewer basic ingredients, I likely have most of the ingredients on hand and I know that the recipes will all go together quickly too!

I just added this new resource to my shop, so be sure to check it out!

And look what else!

We just added our brand new 52-Week Simple Meals Planning Packets Collection 2!

Sometimes you just need someone to make the plan and tell you what to get at the grocery store, you know? We’ve been offering our Simple Meals Subscriptions here for several years to help with this – and they are awesome and well-loved! This collection includes 52-weeks worth of these Simple Meals planning packets – categorized in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall sections to make your job even easier. They tell you what to make, what to buy at the store, and how to make the food in the easiest ways possible.

If you prefer the entire collection of 52-weeks worth of menu plans, you can grab those here!

How to get these fun resources for FREE!

For two days only (January 26-27) they’ve brought back the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle I love so much. Many of you took advantage of this offer in August. But if you missed it, you can get it again if you hurry!

It includes 60 amazing resources to help you easily plan meals for your family. And then after you purchase, email me your receipt and I’ll send you the High Five Recipes Flipbook file (worth $15) and 52-Week Simple Meals Planning Packets Collection 2 (worth $52) for FREE!!

  1. Get your Healthy Meal Planning Bundle here before midnight, January 27.
  2. Email me your receipt and I’ll send you the High Five Recipes Flipbook and 52-Week Simple Meals Planning Packets Collection 2! (These are both digital so you’ll get them right away!)
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

How to Still Eat Healthy When You’re in Survival Mode

by 6 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Sometimes we enjoy a season of calm. Sometimes we’re enduring a season that is more hectic, difficult, or even traumatic. For the times you feel you are simply surviving from day to day, here are some ideas to help you still eat healthy and stay physically strong.

Times of Being in Survival Mode

Being in survival mode doesn’t always mean we’re going through something difficult. Sometimes it means there’s a new baby on the way or a new baby who doesn’t sleep much at night. Sometimes it means you’re a family in transition, perhaps because of a new job or a new house or another new life situation.

Or sometimes it does mean that we’re going through something quite difficult. Someone is sick, someone has died, something tragic took place. Putting one foot in front of the other is all we can do, so making healthy meals takes a back burner – just as it should do.

Here’s what I’ve considered lately as our family has spent several months in survival mode (not because of tragedy but because of additional foster babes and a job transition for my husband that requires extra time):

Seasons of survival make it harder to eat well – at a time that we need healthy foods more than ever so that we can stay physically strong!

This is super tricky. While we feel that we are just surviving from day to day and have very little time to think about food or health, this is actually the time when we know that we need to stay healthy. Ack, what in the world?

In our family’s situation, we haven’t been getting quite enough sleep for several months. Our meal prep time is super limited and is almost done while holding a baby or three. If ever there was a time to order pizza – this is it. But also, if ever there was a time that Mom and Dad need to not get sick – this is also it. So is it hopeless, or are there ways to survive and stay healthy?

How to Still Eat Healthy When You’re in Survival Mode

Here’s what our family has been doing the past few months during a season of survival:

1. We drink our salads.

I cannot share more adamantly about how great this is. This is my lunch most days and if I didn’t have it, I’m not sure where I’d be. It takes about 5 minutes for me to make a big blenderful of smoothie packed with greens and fruit. It makes about a half gallon for Matt and me to enjoy for a couple of days. I pour myself a glass when I get hungry mid-morning and drink it while I take care of all the kids. It is loaded with nutrients but I don’t have to stop and eat. And yes, stopping to eat is better – but I am simply not able to do that in the middle of the day right now.

Likewise, Matt runs home for a quick lunch each day and “drinks his salad” while he warms up leftovers to eat. Then he’s back out the door to work again.

Packing smoothies full of greens is truly a wonderful way to keep our bodies functioning well when we have very little time to eat mid-day. For the record, these are also a wonderful way to keep our bodies functioning well when we DO have time to eat. So there’s that. :)

2. We spend a little more for convenience produce items.

Yes, it’s cheaper to buy the carrots and cut them into sticks. But when I attempt that right now, my carrots stay at the bottom of the drawer of my fridge and they stare at me until I return their stare with a dirty look message of “are you kidding me right now?”

So right now, I buy the packages of fantastic little petite organic baby carrots. They probably cost twice as much as the whole carrots, but good grief, they are still just $1.99/pound and we are actually eating them because they are easy. So bring on the petite carrots in a bag. I love you, petite carrots.

Also, mini sweet peppers, carrot chips, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, bananas, clementines, and apples.

Whole pineapple? Not right now. After all, that requires the use of two hands, a knife, and a bowl.

3. We buy applesauce pouches in bulk.

These incredible squeezable applesauce pouches save us every day. All of my little ones love them. All of my big ones love them. I buy all different 100% fruit varieties (including the kind with added veggies!) and the family guzzles them down with breakfast or lunch or for snacks. Be my BFF, applesauce squeezies.

4. We also buy prepared fruit cups.

I don’t want to talk about their price compared to fresh fruit or even canned fruit. :/ But right now, the cups of peaches, pears, mandarins, and pineapple in 100% juice have a prominent place on my countertop and I don’t feel bad about it. Yes, I also buy fresh fruit (see #2 above). But I also keep a big supply of fruit cups on hand because they have been an incredible resource to help me feed all the little ones when they are all hangry at once.

Fun fact: Sometimes my teens aren’t interested in fresh fruit but they will happily eat a peach cup. If it’s a peach cup compared to no fruit, I’ll happily give them a peach cup. Amen.

5. I regularly dump sauce on chicken.

This is pretty much the easiest meal idea in the entire world so no one can ever say they don’t have time to cook a healthy meal. Use a pyrex, use the crock pot, use the grill. Just dump sauce on chicken and cook it. Get out the mixed greens and add dressing (or drink your salad as encouraged in #1). Get out fresh strawberries and wash them. This meal is the most delicious and extremely nourishing without even trying.

6. If I buy and serve convenience food, we all choose a healthy side or two to go with it.

I’ve admitted that we sometimes eat nuggets from a bag right now. See also: mac and cheese from a box and pizza from the freezer. These feed us on extra busy/hard days, but first we choose a fruit and veggie to eat with our boxed or bagged food. Worrying over what’s in the box won’t bless our health, by the way. So I eat it with relief and joy, knowing that God is bigger!

7. I know this isn’t our forever season in life, so I recognize that this is not my forever lifestyle.

Someday I’ll sleep through the night again and I won’t have three kids in diapers. Someday my arms will be available (sniff) and I’ll even be able to turn more kitchen and household tasks over to the littles who will eventually be bigs. Things will get easier again. And then they might get harder and then easier and then harder and then easier. Friends, this is why they’re called “seasons.”

We all have times that are tougher and times that are easier. When we’re surviving, we can do our best with healthy food choices and smile at the fruit cup. When we’re breathing more easily, we can cut the pineapple and cut the carrot sticks. Or not. Or whatever, because who even cares about the free-range chicken?

What God calls us to do today, He will provide and equip us for. If you’re surviving, good for you! If you can enjoy an applesauce squeezy and a green smoothie to help you survive a little better, awesome.

What ways have you found to still eat healthy when you’re in survival mode?

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!