Laura, Author at Heavenly Homemakers

30 No-Bake Treat Recipes

June 27, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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Avoiding the oven this summer? Me too! To help us out, here are some awesome No-Bake Treat Recipes for us to make!

Allow me to highlight some of my favorites for you. As you can imagine, I had a hard time narrowing it down. Ah, the difficulty of choosing ones favorite treats…

As far as “cookie bars” go, this Easy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars recipe is my current favorite. Can you blame me?

As for drinks, you already know that this Chocolate Frappe is my very favorite in the summer.

When strawberries are in season, I feast on these Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits. It’s like heaven in a bowl.

Or I mix things up a bit and make Chocolate Whipped Cream to put on my strawberries.

I super love that I have figured out how to make No-Churn Ice Cream varieties! These recipes only take 5 minutes to prepare, and they are so good! See #26-#29 below for all the recipes, but here’s the Low Sugar Chocolate Ice Cream recipe to get you started!

These Peanut Butter Honey Rice Krispie Treats are so very simple, and I love the sweetness with the crunch!

Last but not least (because I have an entire list of No-Bake Treat Recipes below!), I must highlight my two favorite “jello salad” knock-offs. Spoiler: There is no jello involved in the making of these recipes. Simple real food ingredients, plus delicious fresh fruit make these awesome salad treats!

Here’s my Pineapple Fluff Salad…

And my Strawberry Fluff Salad…

Ready for the entire huge list? Here you go!

30 No-Bake Treat RecipesYum

Have fun making these great No-Bake Treat!

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77 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids

June 25, 2019 by Laura 1 Comment

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Looking for some fun activities to do with your kids this summer? I’ve enjoyed 22 summers with kids (and counting!), so I certainly have a few ideas to share! (Subscribe here so you won’t miss out!) Today’s post includes: 77 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids

Huge List of Screen-Free Activitiesfor Summer Fun

List of Screen-Free Activities for Summer Fun

You might remember seeing this list a couple summers ago. It is huge and wonderful, and therefore well worth posting again! Get ready to be inspired as you see all of these great screen-free activity ideas!

Ready to get lots of ideas of ways to spend time with your kids and their friends while staying away from screens? Here we go!

Read, Read Read!

We’ve already talked about all the good books to read! (Did you see this list?) First and foremost, cooling off under the fan with a good book is a perfect screen free option this summer. Look over our list of great book suggestions. Join our Summer Reading Party. Read, read, read!

Have a Board Games Tournament

Huge List of Screen-Free Activitiesfor Summer Fun

Select any of the following, making adjustments depending on your kids’ ages. If your kids are old enough, enjoying any of these games in tournament form could be a blast! Even if your kids are “too old” for little kid games, sometimes it’s fun to pull them out and have a “Throw Back Game Day!”

UNO
Skip Bo
Rummikub
Chutes and Ladders
Farkle
Checkers
Monopoly
Scrabble
Bananagrams
Rummikub
Headbanz

Have Fun With Bubbles

Have Bubble Races – Hold your bubble on your wand and see who can go the farthest.
Set up a Bubble Obstacle Course – Create an obstacle course and try to get through it without your bubble popping.
Hold a Bubble Contest – Compete for who has the biggest bubble, smallest bubble, one that flies the highest, one that lasts the longest…
Make Big Bubbles – Use lids from different sized cottage cheese, yogurt, or sour cream containers to cut into fun bubble rings. Dip the the rings into the tubs of homemade bubbles, made as directed below. This makes great big bubbles!
Check out these Bubble Guns for an extra level of fun!

Need a Homemade Bubble Recipe?

5.0 from 1 reviews

Homemade Bubbles

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Author: Laura

Ingredients

12 cups water
1 cup dish soap
1 cup cornstarch
2 Tablespoons baking powder

Instructions

Mix ingredients in a bucket or tub, stirring gently.
Allow mixture to sit for one hour before having bubble fun!

Use Sidewalk Chalk in a Fun New Way

Use Water – Dip your sidewalk chalk in water and see how that changes the color and consistency of the art.
Have Sidewalk Chalk Contests – Compete for who can draw the silliest, biggest, smallest, brightest, largest, most accurate, etc.
Use Sidewalk Chalk to Decorate Rocks – It is like dyeing Easter eggs, only with chalk and rocks!
Spread the Love – Write a message of love, encouragement or fun on a neighbor’s sidewalk. Leave a Welcome Home message on a vacationing family’s driveway.

Enjoy Outdoor and Backyard Games

Ladder Ball
Bocce Ball
Kubb
Lawn darts
Soccer
Water Balloons
Hopscotch
Jacks
Four Square
Obstacle course / Outdoor Olympics
Hold jump rope contests, hula-hoop contests, or roller skating contests
Leaf, bug and flower collections or tree identification game
Cloud identification and imagination game

Set up Some Water Games

Jump on the trampoline with sprinkler underneath
Use a fun sprinkler to add fun to the play
Slip and Slide
Fill a kiddie pool with ice cubes and water

Set up Sand Box Fun

Use the sand to draw pictures
Bury small toys in the sand box and let the kids hunt for them
Add water to build castles and other creations
New sand toys and shovels are always fun
This dump truck won’t rust if left out in the rain
Durable watering can, shovel and rake

Go on New Adventures

Park Hop – Go from one park to another in your town and surrounding areas, take a friend, have a picnic
Have a Progressive Dinner – Start with salad at one house, hors d’oeuvres at a second, main course at another and end up with dessert at a final house
Go Geocaching – With a smart phone and some hiking shoes, you can make this happen. Don’t have a smart phone? Try a handheld GPS. You will have to scout your locations in advance and bring a list.
Go on a Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt – Create a series of clues and a treasure at the end.
Go a New Way – Have a destination to which you like to bike or walk? Try taking a different route.
Look Online – Use the internet to find new, fun, free things to do in your area
Camp out in the backyard – If you can’t do over night, then pitch the tent in the yard for an instant playhouse/fort/hideaway

Set up Creative Indoor Play

Sensory Bins with Rice, Beans, or Salt – Let kids play in containers of rice, beans or salt. They can draw letters, shapes and pictures.
Play with and draw in Shaving Cream
Make Homemade Playdough (Mix 2 cups baking soda, 1 cup cornstarch and 1.5 cups warm water. Stir all together and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour into something to cool. Once it is cool, knead it and you can play away. If you want to add color, put food coloring in the water before boiling the mixture.
Paint with Water Colors – Cover the dining room table with large sheets of paper and let the kids paint away
Make a Selfie – Take a large sheet of paper and trace the child’s whole body. Let them decorate and draw the shape to resemble themselves.
Hold a Talent Show – Do Mom and Dad have talent? What about the kids? Show it off! Don’t forget the video camera!
Get out Simple Art Supplies – Use pine cones, pipe cleaners and googly eyes to create a miniature family
Have a Lego Contest
Hold a Coloring Contest

Cook Together

Make Popsicles
Hold a Chili Cook-Off
Make a Picnic
Hold a Cooking Contest (i.e. Who makes the best cookies?)
Take advantage of this time to Teach Your Kids to Cook

Fun Kid Friendly Recipes

Here’s to a great summer of fun with our kids! Here are other ideas we’ve shared so far:

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Easy Recipes for the Grill

June 23, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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Need some easy recipes for the grill? Keep your summer food simple, and make it taste great too! Here are some great recipes for you!

We fire up our grill multiple times per week during the summer! I love how easy the grill makes lunch and dinner, all without heating up the house.

TIP: To put a super simple, healthy meal on the table during the summer:

Cook your meat on the grill
Toss a salad
Slice fresh fruit
Serve and enjoy

There is nothing easier and nothing more nutritious or delicious! The side-dish possibilities are endless during the summer since the garden fresh produce is plentiful!

Ready for our favorite summer recipes?

11 Easy Recipes for the GrillYum

I can’t stress how easy and delicious this Perfect Grilled Chicken is! Simply throw on some sauce and grill. SO GOOD! So simple!

Great Sauce and Dressing Ideas to Marinate The Simplest and Best Grilled Chicken

bbq_sauce

These are our favorite sauces to marinate our chicken in prior to grilling. But just about any of your favorite sauces will work!

How to Make Perfect Grilled Chicken

Here’s my best and favorite tip for making perfect grilled chicken!

Use boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts. This makes all the difference.
Marinate the thighs in something delicious before grilling (suggestions above)
As you can see from the picture below, I blackened the chicken more than I meant to – and the meat still turned out juicy and flavorful! This is because chicken thighs have more fat than chicken breasts so they are much harder to ruin.
We usually cook boneless thighs for 10-15 minutes on each side, turning it from time to time.

TIP: Chop your leftover Grilled Chicken into a fantastic Chef Salad for lunch!

Yum, grilled chicken in a tossed salad makes an awesome meal!

Here are our favorite Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes:

What to serve with your grilled food:

Need some side dish ideas? Here are our favorites…

16 Simple Summer Dips
A tossed salad
A steamed vegetable (such as green beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower)
A roasted vegetable
Cream Cheese Corn
Honey’d carrots
Baked beans
Simple Strawberry Fluff (with real food ingredients, of course!)
Pineapple Fluff

Oh how I love summer food! What are your favorite foods to grill?

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Join us for a Treasure Hunt!

June 21, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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I am here to let you know about the “5-Day Email Treasure Hunt” that I am hosting where you can learn more about the Flexi clip. Allow me to tell you why it is so awesome!Most of you know that for years I’ve raved about Lilla Rose products, particularly the Flexi-Clip, which is my very favorite! I have several now, along with their Hairbands and Bobby Pins. They are all incredible quality and they are extremely pretty!

The 5-Day Treasure Hunt will be super-fun! You will receive one email a day for 5 days. Each email will contain a clue. Each clue you find will earn you an entry to win a gorgeous small Anchor Flexi clip! And EVERYONE who finds ALL 5 clues will get a prize of a super-soft drawstring microfiber bag for holding jewelry, eyeglasses, Flexi clips, personal items, or whatever you want to put in it!

The party will run Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28.

If you’d like to join the treasure hunt, just click this link and enter your name and email address!

I am very excited about this, and hope you can join us!

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

Easy Recipes for Fourth of July

June 20, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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I shared this post two years ago, and wanted to re-share as we all get ready for this fun holiday! Here are our favorite easy recipes for Fourth of July! Plus some tips for keeping your holiday prep simple!

Yum

The thing about making special food for any holiday is that too often the cooking and the clean up take away from our holiday fun. Here’s what I suggest you do this Fourth of July and every special day:

Choose simple recipes.
Make everything you can ahead of time so you can enjoy the day.
Stick with basic sides like watermelon and other fresh fruit, corn on the cob, and tossed salad (all easy to prep!).
Get your family involved in helping with prep and clean up.
Embrace the paper plate. (Do whatever you want with this piece of advice. Most of the time I avoid disposables, but to everything there is a season. So if I really want to enjoy my people and not stand at the sink rinsing a bunch of dishes, I pull out the paper products.)

watermelon

Now let’s talk about the simple recipes. Of course we will choose simple recipes. We love Simple. This is how we survive each day and also how we make holidays special. We keep it simple. We stick with basics. We go with what we know everyone likes. The beauty of all of this is that our food tastes amazing even without extra effort! (Real food is cool like that. It tastes great because it’s real and it can’t help but taste wonderful!)

13 of my favorite simple recipes for the Fourth of July!

Along with the typical grilled burgers and hot dogs, there are so many simple recipes for fun treats and side dishes that are perfect to enjoy on this special day. All of these recipes allow me to make them ahead of time and serve at mealtime. They taste amazing and are festive too!

1. Americana Cheesecake Parfaits

The cheesecake part of this recipe (white) whips together in just a few seconds. Add strawberries (red) and blueberries (blue) and you’ve got a beautiful and super delicious treat for the 4th!

Americana Cheesecake Parfaits

2. Raspberry Sweet or Unsweet Tea

Making fruit teas like this is super simple, and this Raspberry Tea turns a pretty shade of red. I’m thinking we could throw some frozen blueberries into the glass to make it a perfect Fourth of July drink. You might also want to try Peach Sweet (or Unsweet) Tea or Mango Sweet (or Unsweet) Tea so that you can set out a variety of good choices.

How to Make Raspberry Sweet or Unsweet Tea

3. Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake

Strawberries and Blueberries appear to be the real food MVP of the Fourth of July. Raspberries too. Make this simple Shortcake Recipe, then set out blue and red berries along with whipped cream.

Strawberry Shortcake with Whole Wheat and Honey

4. Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake Waffles

This is the same idea, but you can make your shortcake in the waffle iron for a pretty and fun twist on this favorite dessert. Might as well serve it for breakfast, because why not?

shortcake waffle4

5. Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake Muffins

Okay fine. One more Shortcake variation and then I’ll move on. Sometimes it’s fun to make your shortcake batter in muffin tins and serve them as individual cakes with fruit and whipped cream on the side!

strawberry_shortcake_muffins_2

6. Very Berry Brownie Cups

Phew, this recipe has been on my site since before I had an actual camera. But the recipe is as good as ever and fun for people to build their own brownie cup!

7. Pineapple Cream Dessert

Orange you glad I didn’t say strawberries and blueberries again? This recipe is so refreshing on a hot summer day that it makes its way onto this list even though it’s not red, white, or blue. (But far be it for me to say that you can’t add strawberries and blueberries as a garnish.)

pineapple dessert 3

8. No Flour Monster Bars

This recipe makes the list because everyone loves them. Also, they are easy to make ahead of time and set out for grab-and-go snacking. If you want, you could stir in some red, white, and blue M&M’s, but you never heard that from me. Food coloring is bad. Avoid it at all costs. ;)

Real Food Monster Cookie Bars

9. Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Here I go again with the red and blue berries. Serve them with this simple dip and it will be a big hit!

strawberry_dip_2

10. Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

See if you can find some 4th of Julyish mini-muffin paper liners. Make these super simple cookies with stars in the middle!

11. Brownie Sundae Bar

This is super fun if you’re feeding a crowd, so everyone can build their brownie sundae however they like!

Build a Brownie Sundae Bar

12. Grilled Chicken

There is NOTHING better than this chicken on the grill. Click over to read how easy this is and read how to keep your chicken from drying out on the grill. This is a hit every time we make it!

13. Cream Cheese Corn

I’m not sure there is a side dish more perfect than this one for the 4th of July. Wow is it delicious! And it’s easy, and includes only 4 ingredients!

Creating this list has made me want to make every single one of these recipes for the 4th! I think I just might.

What are your Fourth of July plans? What are your favorite foods to make for the 4th?

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Summer Activities with Kids: Plan and Host a Party

June 18, 2019 by Laura 2 Comments

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Looking for some fun activities to do with your kids this summer? I’ve enjoyed 22 summers with kids (and counting!), so I certainly have a few ideas to share! Stay tuned during the next few weeks as we provide all kinds of suggestions for making your summer with your kids meaningful. (Subscribe here so you won’t miss out!) Today’s idea: Plan and Host a Party!

No need to wait for a birthday or other special occasion for an excuse to host a party! Why not host a party just for the fun of it?

But I’m NOT a Party Planner!!

Not a party planning kind of person? ME NEITHER!!!! For me, planning “parties” with my kids has been more about planning fun get-togethers with their friends. When you see the list of ideas we came up with below, I think you’ll get excited about wanting to plan a “party” too!

Today we’re talking about ways to host a party while keeping it super simple! Remember, this is about finding fun ways to spend time with your kids and love others this summer. You can work with your kids to plan a party, but if you do it right, it won’t cost much or be very difficult either!

Here’s an example of something our family did a few years ago:

When Malachi was younger, he LOVED everything Lego! So just for fun, one summer we worked together and hosted a Lego Party with his friends. (It is important to note that his birthday is in December and we hosted this party in July. Because it was just for fun! No gifts, no pressure – just good ol’ Lego fun!)

We spent some time on Pinterest together, looking for fun ideas others had already thought of. We spent just a few dollars to put together some small treats and activities…

We “went all out” and made a Lego-shaped pinata and guess what we filled it with? Well, Legos, of course! (In a ziplock, oy!) Once the pinata had busted open, the boys dumped them out on the living room floor and had fun building together. Cost for this fun party game? Um, practically nothing. We already had the Legos. We covered the box with construction paper. It was so simple!

Just for kicks, if you’d like to learn more about How we Hosted a Lego Party on the Cheap, here are the details!

Another time, our boys decided together to host a Nerf Gun Party. They planned the whole thing themselves, which ultimately meant that they called and invited their friends, then everyone came over and shot nerf bullets at each other. And because my boys were into making cakes back in those sweet days, after the gun war, they fed everyone cake. Ah, the love language of boys. :)

What about Teens?

I really wish I had pictures, but none of us can find them on our phones! Last summer though, Elias decided to have a very belated birthday party – even though he’d turned 16 earlier in January. He invited a bunch of friends and helped me plan what to do and what food to serve.

We got a fire going in our Fire Pit (we have this one – such a fantastic investment, by the way!). The kids made their own brats and smores, they played lawn games, they kicked a soccer ball around. It was a blast and WHY CAN’T I FIND PICTURES??? Ah, I guess the memories will live forever in our hearts.

Inexpensive Summer Party Ideas

What do your kids and their friends love to do? Just like Malachi loved Legos and planned and hosted a Lego Party, select what your kids love and go with it! No need to be fancy. No need to spend money. Just pick a theme, invite your friends, and have some fun!

Here are a few ideas to get you and your kids started on brainstorming for fun party plans!

Water Games and Watermelon Party
Sack Lunch on the Lawn Party (everyone can bring their own packed lunch!)
Sidewalk Chalk Contest
Badminton and Brownies Party
Princess or Super Hero Dress Up Party
Lego Party
Popcorn and a Movie Party
Smores Making Party
Crafts and Snacks Party
Cooking or Baking Party
Cookie or Cupcake Decorating Party
Swimming Party
Book Swap Party
Trampoline and Treats Party
Popsicles and Play Party
Board Game Bonanza
Bike Trail Party (ride bikes together, ending in a special location for a treat!)
Card Game Tournament
Ice Cream Sundae Bar Party
Lawn Games and Snacks Party

If you and your kids start brainstorming, there’s no end to the ideas you’ll come up with! See how easy? See how fun? See how inexpensive?

Need some fun Lawn Game Ideas?

Ultimate Disc Game
Kubb
Lawn Bowling
Yard Dice
Ladder Ball
Molkky
Washer Toss
Ring Toss
Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Set
Floating Pong

Need some fun Board Game and Card Game Ideas?

5-Second Rule
Spot It!
The Game of Things
Rummikub
Settlers of Catan (With extentions, which you’ll need if you have more than 4 players.)
Settlers of Catan Cities and Knights (This is an expansion of Settlers of Catan. This is our favorite add on to regular Setters.)
Seafarers of Catan (Also an expansion of Settlers.)
Ticket to Ride
Carcossonne
Bohnanza (This one is unique. Great for older kids and adults. We love this one!)
Life
Risk
Manhattan
Guestures
Taboo
Blink (Malachi and I play this quick card game a lot while the older brothers are at basketball practice.)
Headbandz
Acquire
Sequence
Clue
Apples to Apple Junior (This is probably our favorite group game. We don’t recommend the regular version of this game because the cards are less familiar to the kids.)
Scattergories
Pictionary
Cranium
Boggle (This game totally counts as school work, but no one knows they’re learning.)
Monopoly
Sorry
Quelf (I’ve actually decided that I very much dislike this one. The kids like it though.)
Racko
Balderdash
Yahtzee
Farkle
Pass the Pigs
Huskerdu (great for younger kids – still fun for adults)
Mastermind
Skipbo

Need some fun Party Food Ideas?

Brownie Sundae Bar
Butterscotch Bars
Caramel Apple Dip
Cheesecake Brownies
Chocolate Chip Brownies
Chocolate Whipped Cream on Strawberries or In Your Coffee
Death By Chocolate
Homemade Ice Cream
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Monster Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars – no flour!
Peanut Butter Brownie Cups
Pineapple Cream Dessert – Low Sugar!
Pudding Pops

Ready to Plan and Host a Party with your kids this summer?

What food, game, and theme ideas do you have?

Here’s to a great summer of fun with our kids! Here are other ideas we’ve shared so far:

Stay tuned for more fun Summer Kid Activity ideas!

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

Learn and Serve as a Family – All Year Long!

June 16, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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Last week we shared 20 Great Ways to Serve with Your Kids this Summer. Today, I want to share two special big FREEBIES and a discount coupon with you and encourage you to learn and serve as a family – all year long!

To start off, we’re giving everyone our Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit for FREE!!! ($9.95 value!) Then if you want (and you really should want!) you can use the $10 off coupon we send you to get our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit. And then!!!! We’ll give you our brand new Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit for FREE! Wowza!

Many of you might remember that I wrote and introduced our popular Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve early learners curriculum back in 2009:

You can read all the details about this curriculum kit here, but here are some highlights:

Teach your child to serve…one letter at a time! This 183 page downloadable kit includes thorough lesson plans, games, crafts, recipes, memory verses, Bible story suggestions, vocabulary stimulation and discussion, play, books to read and so much more…all while encouraging service to God!

Each letter you study includes suggestions for service, such as “Take a new Bible to B__________” on Bb week, “Make soup for someone who is sick on Ss week, and “Deliver flowers to F_______________” on Ff week. Your child will make gifts or food, offer help and learn to think of others. As a family you can delight in praying together about who you would like to serve and what form of service you would like to offer!

Then in 2015, we created a supplement for our “Learn Your Letters” curriculum – adding a Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve kit to the mix!

It contains 148 pages filled with activities, patterns, printables, instructions, crafts, and games – all with the purpose of teaching your child numbers, counting, Bible stories and teachings, and a heart of service – all at the same time. Check out the details of Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve here.

Here are the main categories featured in this awesome curriculum kit:

Each lesson will offer a variety of learning activities, plus suggestions, patterns, printables, recipes, or other fun ways to use number knowledge to serve others. For example, when reading about the 5 loaves of bread Jesus served the people – make 5 mini-loaves of your favorite quick bread to deliver to 5 people. What fun, and what a wonderful opportunity for your family to look at ways to serve others!

—-> Don’t have little ones? You may be surprised at how even you and your big kids can run with these ideas! Our family is using the academic portion of this curriculum with our 5-year old this school year. But as a family – teenagers included – we will be working together on the service end. It’s a perfect and fun family project and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together for us as the year unfolds! <—–

Today, we’re offering something we’ve never offered before. Ready for the big reveal?

We’re giving everyone our Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit for FREE. ($9.95 value, for free!) You can stop there, BUT…
When you sign up to download your free “Numbers” kit – we’ll give you a huge coupon to use on our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit. ($10.00 off – this is amazing!)
When you use the $10 off coupon to purchase your “Letters” kit, we’ll give you a Bonus Freebie!! Our brand new Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit!

Yep! We’ve been busy around here. This new Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve curriculum kit is a bright and fun 33-page book full of printable activities, service ideas, recipe cards, and Bible reading suggestions. You and your kids can enjoy learning about God’s colorful creation with rainbows, flowers, animals, and more! And while you’re learning, follow the suggestions and brainstorm for ways to serve others in colorful ways too!

Learn to Serve Curriculum 3-Pack!!

It is so fun to have this entire package of Early Learning curriculum put together now!! For one week, what would have cost $42.85 will only cost you a total of $15.95!!! It’s an incredible deal full of fun, learning, and service opportunities.

Sign up for the Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve FREEBIE in the form below. Then watch for an email with the free eBook and a coupon code for you to get Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve at $10 off AND Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve for FREE! Offer ends June 24, 2019.

OFFER EXPIRED

Enjoy this discounted curriculum package as seen below!

[wp_eStore_fancy1 id=48]

Enjoy learning and serving with your family!

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Summer Activities with Kids: Find Ways to Serve (20 Ideas!)

June 13, 2019 by Laura 1 Comment

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Opportunities to love and help others are all around us, no matter where we live, the ages of our kids, or our physical limitations. We all have something to offer someone else! Even babies can serve. Allow me to share a special memory…

Even Babies Can Serve

When our oldest son was a baby, a man we went to church with was killed tragically in a farming accident. Two days after this awful event, Matt, baby Asa, and I went to visit the man’s widow and their kids.

As we stood in their kitchen, surrounded by others in our church family, I remember feeling that it was so important that I keep Asa quiet and in my arms so as not to disturb anyone! I wrestled with him as long as possible, shushing him and trying to distract him with anything I possibly could while people were coming in and out and hugging the family members.

Finally, I gave up and decided to let Asa get down and crawl around as he had so much been wanting to do. I cringed as he scurried immediately toward the crowd and then directly over to where the widow was sitting. Before I could catch up to him and pull him back, he had made it to her chair. And then it happened.

The widow found a smile. She reached down and picked up my curious baby. She cooed at him and hugged him close and told him what a sweet boy he was.

If we weren’t already all crying, we certainly all were then.

Asa, before the age of one, was already a minister. He brought joy in the midst of grief, just by being him.

I share this to let you know a very important truth about serving others with our kids:

The enemy wants us to use our kids as an excuse NOT to serve. God wants us to serve right alongside our kids!

Obviously, if our kids are older, we can serve with them in ways that we can’t do when our kids are tiny. But oh the ways we can serve, no matter the ages of our kids!

Pray and Listen!

I’m going to share some service ideas with you today, but what is much more important than reading my ideas is that you and your family pray together to become open to what God has for you to do. Open your hearts. Let God open your eyes to see the needs around you. He will show you how to serve. (He’ll also tell you when to say, “no.”) Listen and see!

My husband, kids, and I have been serving side by side for almost 25 years. As I look back, I see how our service has changed and evolved! When the kids were little, our service included having people in our home for meals, taking small gifts of food to people, making and sending cards, and the like.

Now that we have adult-sized kids, our service can include work like helping elderly people move heavy furniture, taking loads of people’s discarded items to the dump, and painting people’s houses.

No act of service is big or small. All areas of service are full of purpose and good! So don’t put limitations on what you and your family have to offer. Don’t feel like you have nothing to offer. Don’t compare yourself with anyone else. Most certainly, don’t feel like you are “too busy” to look beyond your own lives to serve.

Pray, open your eyes, and listen. God will help you see needs and show you what to do!

Here is a small list of ideas for ways you might serve with your kids:

Ways to Serve with Your Kids

Feed people who have a need! Make and deliver a meal, some muffins or quick bread, cookies, or a pie. See our huge list of recipes below for fun ideas!
Visit someone who is lonely or hurting.
Help someone fix something around their home that they are unable to fix on their own.
Babysit for someone will little children so they can have a refreshing break.
Give someone a ride to the store or to run errands if they are unable to drive themselves.
Clean out toys and clothes to give to someone who needs them more than you.
Have a garage sale and give the earnings to a special cause.
Make and send cards to people.
Call people on their birthdays and sing to them.
Plant flowers for someone.
Surprise someone who is out of town with a Sidewalk Chalk message welcoming them home.
Mow someone’s lawn.
Take someone out for ice cream.
Invite someone over for a meal, for dessert, or for a game of cards.
Visit someone in the hospital or nursing home.
Buy and deliver a coloring book and new crayons for a sick child.
Pray for people!
Clean someone’s house.
Ask a tired new mom how you can help her.
Purchase and deliver groceries to help stretch a family’s budget.

What would you add to this list?

The possibilities are endless, especially when you pray together and listen to God’s call for you and your family!

Here is a big list of recipe links that might give you some nice ideas if you are considering making food for someone…

Recipes to Consider Making for Others

Muffins

Cookies

Easy Meals

I’d love to hear ways you and your family serve together!

Here’s to a great summer of fun with our kids! Here are other ideas we’ve shared so far:

Stay tuned for more fun Summer Kid Activity ideas!

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

50+ Crock Pot Recipes for Summertime

June 11, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

Too hot to cook? If it isn’t already, it will be soon. Temps will continue climbing throughout the summertime! Never fear. Here are 50+ Crock Pot Recipes to rescue you from your hot kitchen!

50+ Crock Pot Recipes for SummertimeYum

What I love about the crock pot is that not only does it help us avoid heating up the kitchen, it saves us a lot of time too! Typically making food in the crock pot means that we make our meal early in the day – then at dinnertime, the food is ready and we sit down and eat!

Most of the recipes you see listed below are main dishes. But we’ve got a few sides, drinks, and desserts too! You’ll be pleased to know that most of the recipes listed below take just a few minutes to prepare. I LOVE THIS!!!

I especially love the pasta recipes listed here. It is incredibly easy to dump dry pasta into the pot along with a few other ingredients, then have dinner ready just a few hours later!

Main Dishes in the Crock Pot

Even if you don’t like Sauerkraut, I really encourage you to try the Hamburger Sauerkraut Dip recipe listed below. It is so delicious! Make it a meal on a hot summer day!

Snacks and Side Dishes in the Crock Pot

Sometimes we feel like baking even when it’s too hot to bake!

Desserts in the Crock Pot

What Crock Pot Should You Get?

I would say that just about any Crock Pot is a good choice. But my personal preference is one that is programmable. I love that I can set it and walk away, knowing it will automatically turn off when it is finished cooking and switch to a “Keep Warm” setting. I have this one and I love it!

What are your favorite foods to make in the Crock Pot?

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Simple Seasoned Potato Wedges

June 9, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

If these Simple Seasoned Potato Wedges are healthy to eat, they must be free of fat and flavor, right? Otherwise they couldn’t possibly be healthy, right? Wrong. It’s time to pull out the fryer, my friends.

I love that when made with good oils, fried food can be healthy. I mean, fried food tastes sooo good!

(Let’s be real. Don’t tell me you prefer fresh broccoli over fresh French fries. Okay then.)

No doubt, we need balance, and plenty of fresh green veggies too. But how sad to think we have to avoid chicken strips and French fries simply because they are fried.

Obviously, not all fried food is created equally – and many fried foods are unhealthy for our bodies. But the only thing that makes them unhealthy is the oil that they’re fried in. IF you fry your food in Coconut Oil or Palm Shortening/Oil – oils that can withstand high frying temperatures without compromising their health quality – you can enjoy fried food without guilt.

And I do mean enjoy. C’mon now, fresh French fries?? There’s almost nothing better.

If you don’t have a fryer, you can brush these Simple Seasoned Potato Wedges with oil and bake them in the oven, as they are super tasty that way too! I have and use this fryer, given to me by my men for Christmas several years ago. But either cooking method works great!

Make as many or as few as you would like, generally about one potato per person.

Simple Seasoned Potato WedgesYum

Simple Seasoned Potato Wedges

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Author: Laura

Ingredients

Yukon gold potatoes (any potato variety works, but these taste much better!)
Refined coconut oil or palm shortening
Seasoned salt

Instructions

Wash and cut potatoes into 8-10 wedges each.
Fry in hot oil for 6-10 minutes or until wedges are as crispy as you prefer.
Remove from oil and sprinkle liberally with seasoned salt.
OVEN METHOD:
Melt coconut oil or palm shortening (about 1 Tablespoon per potato).
Cut potatoes into wedges and spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Brush melted oil over each wedge.
Sprinkle liberally with seasoned salt.
Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown and crispy

Grab our Seasoned Salt recipe here. Otherwise, you can purchase some like this.

Not sure where to find healthy oils to use in frying? Here are some quick links:

Organic Refined Coconut Oil (flavorless)
Healthy Traditions Organic Palm Shortening or Spectrum Organic Palm Shortening

Want some tasty recipes to serve alongside your Potato Wedges?

‘Fess up! What are your favorite fried foods?

Some of these links are my affiliate links.

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

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