Heavenly Homemakers

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Easy and Inexpensive Stocking Stuffers

December 9, 2020 by Bethany Lotulelei 8 Comments

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

Perhaps you’ve gotten the majority of your shopping done for Christmas, but you still need a few small gifts for stockings? I’ve got you covered! Today I am sharing a list of my absolute favorite easy and inexpensive stocking stuffers!

Can you let you in on a little secret? Stocking stuffers are my favorite thing to make or buy. There is something about a stocking stuffer that’s so much fun! Throughout the years, I’ve discovered many ideas for fun stocking stuffers including homemade goodies, purchased trinkets, and other fun gift ideas!

When we were kids, our parents always put a pomegranate in the toe of every stocking. So we would open every little gift, and then fish out our pomegranate. We never purchased pomegranates any other time of year, and even now, whenever I eat a pomegranate it makes me feel like it is Christmas day!

Side note: if you, as the mom, love stuffing your family’s stockings, but yours always seems kinda empty, might I suggest you stuff a friend’s stocking, and she stuffs yours? Laura’s done this for years! She shares all the details here!

Consumable Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Everybody

  • A pomegranate
  • A small jar of homemade Vanilla Extract
  • A jar of Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix
  • A jar of Homemade Italian Dressing Mix
  • Annie’s Mac and Cheese box
  • Juicy Juice 100% juice
  • Pack of Gum
  • Honey Peanut Bars
  • A Can of Black Olives
  • A Favorite Candy
  • A few Chocolate Cookies in a pretty bag
  • Packets of Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
  • Cereal Bars
  • A bag of granola
  • A Small Jar of their Favorite Jelly
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Chocolate Crunch Bars
  • Beef Jerky
  • Fruit
  • Peanut Butter Honey Rice Krispie Treats
  • Fruit Leather

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

  • A homemade gift certificate for an Experience Gift
  • Veggie Tales DVDs
  • Card games like Blink, Old Maid, Skip-Bo…
  • Regular decks of cards
  • Mittens or gloves, hats, scarves, ear muffs
  • Socks
  • Fun bandaids
  • CDs
  • Books
  • Hair clips and such for little girls (although I have no experience in this area!!)
  • School supplies

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Women

  • Good quality pens
  • A Butter is My Love Language Shirt
  • Small (and pretty) note pads
  • Kitchen Towels
  • Earrings
  • Lotion Bars from MadeOn – this stuff works miracles on my dry skin!
  • Wooden Spoons and other Kitchen Utensils
  • Warm Fuzzy Slipper Socks
  • Flexi-Clip from Lilla Rose – because they’re beautiful and SO easy to use and inexpensive and pretty and…
  • Chapstick holder for a keychain
  • Sunglasses
  • A nice hat or gloves
  • A pretty scarf

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men

  • A new tie
  • A nice pair of socks
  • Good quality beef jerky
  • A back scratcher
  • A grill scraper
  • A magnetic wrist band to catch screws and nails
  • This neat pen tool
  • A pack of cards
  • A fun brain teaser
  • A bag of good quality coffee
  • A head massager

Your turn to share! What is one of your favorite stocking stuffer ideas?

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

The Best Gift Ideas for Men

December 6, 2020 by Bethany Lotulelei 8 Comments

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

Once again, Bethany (my assistant) comes through for us with this awesome list of gift ideas for men!!

The men in my life are notoriously difficult to find presents for Christmas. I don’t know what it is, but every year I struggle to nail down the perfect gift for them! So this year, I decided to make a list of the best gift ideas for men that I’ve used over the years, or found while I was doing a bit of online shopping, to share with all of you!

Take a look through this list, pop a few items in your cart, and you are set!

The Best Gift Ideas for Men

$10 and Under

  • Magnetic Wrist Band Cuff
  • 11 Tools in 1 (pocket size)
  • Carhartt Boot Socks (very warm!)
  • iPhone Charger Keychain (so handy!)
  • Papa Bear T-shirt
  • A Head Massager
  • I’d Rather Be Fishing Socks (for the fisherman in your life!)
  • Warm Thermal Touchscreen Gloves
  • 4-in-1 Pen Tool (pretty nifty!)
  • Telescoping Back Scratcher

$20 and Under

  • Long Cotton Plaid Scarf
  • A Leather Money Clip
  • Bluetooth Beanie (for the runner!)
  • This Beard Grooming Kit
  • A Tactical Pen and Self Defense Tool
  • Vincent Van Gogh Guitar Picks (for the musician)
  • Double Wall Coffee Mug
  • A bottle of this Gourmet Hot Sauce
  • 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks (yum!)
  • A Thermal Neck Warmer

$50 and Under

  • Neck and Back Massager
  • A Dartboard and Darts
  • A Survival Gear Set
  • Men’s Moccasin Memory Foam Slippers
  • Backyard Golf Cornhole Game (looks like fun!)
  • Exotic Game Sausage Sticks (including venison, wild boar, and elk)
  • Columbia Fleece Jacket
  • Wood Phone Docking Station and Organizer
  • Smokehouse Grilling Spice Set
  • Acupressure Foot Massage Slippers
  • YETI Insulated Tumbler

The Weirdest Gifts I Found

I don’t know what to tell you about these, except they made me laugh!

  • 71-Inch Burrito Blanket
  • Chopstick Light Sabers
  • Dinosaur Taco Holder
  • Hot Dog and Bun Toaster
  • Wearable Fleece Blanket

Looking for some additional ideas? Check out the last few year’s guides as well!

  • Huge List of Books That Make Great Gifts
  • Gifts For Men
  • 65+ Gift Ideas for Men

Do you have any additional gift ideas? Share in the comments below!

 

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

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Women

December 1, 2020 by Bethany Lotulelei 4 Comments

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

It’s here: the Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Women. (Huge thanks to my assistant Bethany for putting this together for us!!)

I created this list of tried and true gift ideas to help take the stress out of your Christmas shopping. There’s nothing worse than standing in the aisles of Wal-Mart the week before Christmas, desperately trying to find something for everyone on your list. Even typing that scenario makes me sweat a little. I’ve had Christmases where I procrastinate my shopping until the last minute, and years where I’ve gotten it done ahead of time, and I can tell you: I vastly prefer getting it done early!

Just in case you, too, are hoping to cross your shopping off the list in November this year, here is my very best ideas for your mom, sister, and bestie!

You might, also, want to send this list to your hubby. He might appreciate a few suggestions as well. And if there is something in particular you love on this list, give the guy a little head’s up. ;-)

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Women

10 Gifts for Women Under $10

  • This beautiful Prayer Journal
  • A Stainless Steel Water Bottle
  • Pretty Rubber Spatulas (these bright-colored spatulas are my favorite! I like to slip one in each stocking.)
  • Burt’s Bees Essential Gift Set
  • Clip On Reading Light
  • Linen Apron
  • A Starbucks Gift Card
  • This beautiful Pashmina Scarf
  • A set of 6 Luxury Facial Masks
  • These Cozy Slipper Socks

15 Gifts for Women Under $30

  • Pioneer Woman Cookbook Holder
  • Vanilla Bean Soy Candle
  • A Birthstone Necklace for moms
  • Boy Mama Baseball Cap
  • Heavenly Homemakers’ Simple Real Food Recipes Cookbook
  • A lovely Wall Mounted Jewelry Organizer
  • Fleece Lined Gloves
  • Women’s Memory Foam Slippers
  • Bluetooth Earbuds (to listen to music or podcasts, these are a great price right now!)
  • *Just Published!* Heavenly Homemakers’ High Five Recipes Cookbook
  • Fleece Sherpa Blanket (so many fun colors!)
  • Leather Leaf Earrings (Joanna Gaines style)
  • A Grandkids Photo Frame (soo sweet!)
  • This beautiful 3/4 sleeve Robe
  • Stacking Sterling Silver Rings for moms

10 Gifts for Women Under $50

  • A garden stool with a tool bag
  • This Whirley-Pop Popcorn Maker
  • A luxurious Back Massager (this looks wonderful!)
  • A Chemex Coffee Maker
  • A Triple Insulated Coffee Mug
  • Cedar Bird Feeder for the avid bird watcher
  • This beautiful Journaling Bible
  • A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree for the plant enthusiast!
  • This fun Record Player
  • A Milk Steamer for Lattes

10 $75+ Gifts for Women (when you want to splurge!)

  • Instant Pot (you know I LOVE mine!)
  • A Kindle Paperwhite (for the reader)
  • A 3-Month Gourmet Coffee Subscription Box
  • I bet she’d love a Blendtec Mixer (here’s my review of the Blendtec!)
  • This pretty (and useful) Dutch Oven
  • Kitchen Aid Mixer (so many great colors!)
  • This Ice Cream Maker (no ice needed!)
  • Under Armour Leggings (for the athlete)
  • An Espresso Maker (for the woman who loves her coffee)
  • A Self-Care Subscription Box

I hope you found something for your loved one on this list!

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

Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract for SALE!!!!! (While Supplies Last!)

November 29, 2020 by Laura 4 Comments

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

Exciting news!! We have a batch of our delicious Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract bottled up and ready to ship out to you!

Our Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract is perfect for:

  • Holiday Baking!!
  • Gift Giving!!

What is most exciting right now about us offering our vanilla for sale is that while vanilla extract at the store is pretty pricy right now, we can send you our completely pure (no sugar, not watered down!) vanilla at around the same price (or less!) than it can be found at the market. And with FREE SHIPPING too!!

BONUS – free High Five Recipes Cookbook!!!

When you buy 2 or more 8-ounce bottles of vanilla, or 3 or more bottles of 4-ounce bottles of vanilla, we’ll send you a FREE copy of our brand new High Five Recipes Cookbook! No coupon code necessary – the book will simply be included in your order. :)

Our quantities are very limited, so get this while you can!

Heavenly Homemakers Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce <p>Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that\'s it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!</p>
$31.00

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

$31.00
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

$31.00
Model Number: 8-ounce-vanilla-extract
Maximum quantity exceeded
Minimum purchase amount of 0 is required
Maximum purchase amount of 0 is allowed
OUT OF STOCK
10000000
Categories: Vanilla Extract
Manufacturer: Heavenly Homemakers
  • Description

Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that's it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!

Heavenly Homemakers Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces <p>Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that\'s it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!</p>
$19.00

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

$19.00
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

$19.00
Model Number: 4-ounce-vanilla-extract
Maximum quantity exceeded
Minimum purchase amount of 0 is required
Maximum purchase amount of 0 is allowed
OUT OF STOCK
10000000
Categories: Vanilla Extract
Manufacturer: Heavenly Homemakers
  • Description

Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that's it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!

How we make Vanilla Extract

Want a peek into how we make our Vanilla Extract? Here you go! We highly recommend that you try this at home. ;)

Want to make it quickly – even in time for Christmas? Here’s how to make Vanilla Extract in your Instant Pot!

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

Amazing Lilla Rose Black Friday Deals!

November 27, 2020 by Laura Leave a Comment

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

It’s the sale we’ve all been waiting for…the Lilla Rose Black Friday Sale!

Save up to 50% on everything!

Get Free shipping and a Free Essential with a $75 purchase (So many new “essentials” like Rose Water spray, dry shampoo, luxurious bamboo hair towels, a deep-conditioning hair masque and more!)

Get an additional 10% off with a $150 order

Get a chance to Win your Order for Free as well as a chance to Win $500 Cash with every $50 purchase! Wow!

Save 30% on beautiful Gift Sets! These are a super-easy way to find the perfect gift for anyone on your list! I don’t know about you, but I like “easy”! They even come packaged in a pretty organza bag.

Here are just a few of the gift sets, from daughters to teachers.

 

There are also gift sets for every hair type, from thick hair, fine hair, curly hair, to short hair! Be sure to click on “gift sets” to see them all!

So many pretty new things that I can’t show them all here!

As always, if you have any questions at all, please contact my Lilla Rose stylist Paula Ramm, and she will be more than happy to help you out!

Sale starts at 6am PT/9am ET on Friday, Nov. 27 and ends at midnight PT on November 30.

I will leave you with this gingerbread man Flexi and bobbies…what a super-cute gift these would make! Have fun shopping! ?

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

Make Easy Christmas Potpourri Gifts

November 25, 2020 by Laura Leave a Comment

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

Need an easy homemade gift that is unique and inexpensive? These Easy Christmas Potpourri pouches are fun and simple!

I began making these a few years ago and love how fun and easy they are. The combination of ingredients is perfect for the holidays, and you can make several at once which is very inexpensive and perfect for gifting teachers, neighbors, church members – whoever you want!

Easy Christmas Potpourri Gifts

Make Easy Christmas Potpourri Gifts
 
Save Print
Author: Laura
Ingredients
  • ½ cup cranberries
  • 1 small orange
  • 3 Cinnamon Sticks (use the code “HOME” for a 15% discount!)
  • 1 Tablespoon Mulling Spice (use the code “HOME” for a 15% discount!)
  • 2 Tablespoons Star Anise
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients in a bag. (I use bags like these.)
  2. Tie up with a ribbon and a gift tag, which can be downloaded and printed below.
3.5.3251

Download FREE Christmas Potpourri Pouch Gift Tags Here.

Christmas Potpourri Gift Tags

I get most of my ingredients for these at Olive Nation (free shipping if you spend $50 or more; 15% off any size order when you use the code: home).

Other fun things to make with cinnamon sticks

If you’re going to take advantage of that 15% discount I mentioned and grab cinnamon sticks from Olive Nation (I buy them in large quantity this time of year!), here are some other great ways to use them:

Make Cinnamon Extract. Get the details and directions here.

Buy a fun holiday candle and glue cinnamon sticks onto the jar for a fun and festive look! Get the details and directions here.

Make Cinnamon Pancake and Waffle Syrup. Get the details and directions here.

Purchase a small plant and glue cinnamon sticks around the pot. The example shown below is one I made in the summertime. But for a holiday gift, purchase a small poinsettia or another wintery plant. Tie with a red ribbon and you have a lovely gift! Get the details and directions here.

Make Crockpot Cranberry Apple Cider. This is always a hit with guests and so very easy to make!

Need another homemade gift idea?

Try making Homemade Vanilla Extract. EVERYONE loves receiving this gift!

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

Holidays? Moms Need Help in the Trenches

November 23, 2020 by Tasha Hackett Leave a Comment

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

Whatever time of year, I can attest to the fact that moms need help. But during the holidays, we may need help even more and in a different way. Enjoy this gem from Tasha…

Holidays? Moms Need Help in the Trenches

By Tasha Hackett

When moms need help desperately but don’t even know where to start…

Shucks, life is fun, amiright? Those cute baby snuggles, warm apple pie, bright orange leaves in piles, glittering snow, creamy hot-chocolate, sizzling butter and garlic… mmmm. But geez, Moms need help. I need help. We mothers of young people are overwhelmed. The close-knit communities aren’t there anymore. Everyone has their own life and responsibilities. Social media, though originally designed to bring us together, only makes us feel worse. With the holidays upon us, where can I even start to get help? 

“Happiness is a decision,” said the well-meaning, but unhelpful person.

I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Happiness is a decision. For the overwhelmed mom, that is as unhelpful as telling her, “Enjoy them! They grow up so fast.” (Read Laura’s post on what to say instead.) Truthfully, it’s not helpful to say either of those things to the mother who dreads going to sleep at night because she knows the baby is going to wake in 45 minutes and then cry for the next two hours before he sleeps for another 45 … and the mother who dreads the morning because the other three littles are going to want to eat and wear clothes and they’re going to chatter and need love and attention and they’ll play and make messes.

Perhaps that mom is dealing with a cloud of emotional strain and doesn’t even know what she needs because her brain is overwhelmed from the aforementioned sleep deprivation and she forgot to eat food again. (Would it fool anyone if I said these were hypothetical examples? I was there last year.)

To quote Rabbit and Winnie-the-Pooh, “How about Lunch?”

Don’t tell her happiness is a decision, what she needs is (Okay, yes, Jesus. She needs Jesus, but also,) sleep. She needs sleep and she needs food, and she needs to know that she is in a place that won’t last forever. Her people need to support her with prayers for peace from the Holy Spirit in order to fully embrace life at home with littles. What really helps her is an older mom to say, “It’s gonna be okay. And I’ll bring dinner over at 5:00 pm.” And when that is offered, she needs to accept it and say, “Thank you.” If all the real moms will please stand up and support each other, we’ll be okay.

Moms need help. Mmk? We may need lots of help for the Holidays. The sooner we can embrace that, the happier we will be. 

When my firstborn was a few months old, Ben and I had opposite shifts. I worked days, he worked evenings and weekends. Saturdays were LOOOOONG. I was 100% an extravert (still am), trapped at home for 12 hours with a tiny baby that didn’t sleep much and cried when left alone. The emotional strain to be EVERYTHING for this tiny human ate at my core and I was isolated, worn out, drained, and lonely. 

I was (am) an interesting person with a broad skill set and none of that mattered on a twelve-hour workday with an infant. What mattered was giving, and giving, and giving. Spit-up on my pants, milk stains on my shirts, the house falling apart, chores half-done… you know. Foremost priority was loving this child, but it was breaking me in two.

One evening I sucked up my pride and walked myself to the neighbors: “I need help. I feel like I’m falling to pieces. He cries unless I hold him, and I’ve hardly been able to eat and I could really use a shower. Would you be willing to keep him for half an hour?” She said she’d gladly hold him for as long I needed. I showered. Cried. I ate some food. Cried. I pulled myself together and went back to claim my baby. He was happy. The neighbors were happy. And that evening will stick with me forever as the first time I was brave enough to ask for help. 

What does this have to do with moms and help for the holidays?

This season is going to be different. Know your limits and go easy on yourself. Don’t try to make everything perfect. Ask for help. Take time to enjoy this season as best as you can. Have fun. 

As a mother, wife, and homemaker, why do we play the martyr when no one has asked it of us? I’ve been in hard places far too many times the past eight years where the service of my community has kept me from falling apart. 

I’m afraid to share this because you may be astounded, “Tasha sounds depressed! She has anxiety.” What if you read this and think, “I can’t relate to this at all. Tasha needs help…” Um… yes. That’s the whole thing here. I do need help, but listen up, I’ve talked with many other young moms and we are all in the same boat! Some more than others, of course, but the general consensus is that WE DON’T HAVE IT FIGURED OUT. The water is pouring in faster than we can bail it out. We are in desperate need of older women to come alongside and get into the trenches to show us the way out.

Calling all experienced mothers! Moms need help! 

In tears, five years ago I called an older friend, (her youngest was six, oldest in high school,). I was home with a baby and a chatty 3-year-old. I said, “I have to get out. Can you come? I just need 10 minutes.” She said, “I’ll be there in five.” 

No joke. I had my coat on, boots tied, and was pulling on my gloves when she pulled into my driveway. I left the house and took off running. Literally. I’m sure I was a sight. I made it three blocks before I slowed because January-in-Nebraska. Five degrees is too cold to be gulping air. 

I let the wind suck my breath away. Crying, I begged God to bring me peace. What was wrong with me that I couldn’t enjoy my two precious babies? 

Dear mothers of young children, you are not broken. 

Author Johann Hari says to those with depression/anxiety, “You are not broken, you’re not weak, you’re not crazy. You’re not a machine with broken parts, you are a human being whose needs are not being met.” Loneliness, loss of control of your environment, the inability to get outside, feeling your life has no purpose, not feeling valued, emotional needs that are not being met, grief (perhaps the grief of lost freedoms?) are all causes of depression and anxiety. (Watch his TED Talk here.) If you’d like to learn more about this, read Hari’s book Lost Connections. He is not a Christian, but his research is phenomenal and while reading his book, I was astounded at how many things correlated with the overwhelm that is common with stay-at-home moms. 

tasha

Help for the weary (even during the holidays)

God promises rest for the weary and my logical brain argues, “Yea, but… you gave me four kids.” He promises peace and I say, “Yea, but, somebody still has to make food and do dishes.” When he reprimands Martha and nods in approval at Mary sitting at his feet, I say, “Mmmk…. But, I have toddler boys who literally pee all over the toilet and the floor.” 

Laura keeps reminding us that Jesus takes over and it’s not her doing it, but him. What does that look like? I think it looks like being able to have fun, being at peace, even while wiping pee off the floor. 

For the older moms: 

Look around your community and find a young mother to adopt.

Pray for the young mothers by name and ask for peace.

For the younger moms: 

  • Know your limits.
  • Use simple meals when time and brain power is limited.
  • Ask for help.
  • Hire help if you can.
  • Set limits for yourself for what you can realistically accomplish.
  • Don’t be a martyr when no one is asking it of you.
  • Reach out to other young moms and get together regularly.
  • Go outside at least once a day.
  • Buy the High Five Recipes Printed Cookbook or Simple Real Food Recipes Cookbook for every adult (especially single adult brothers) on your Christmas list and consider your shopping done.
  • Stop praying for God to take away the trials, instead pray for peace.
  • Stop praying for patience, instead pray for peace.
  • Pray for peace.
  • Start a gratitude journal—it will be a blessing to look over it later.

Isaiah 40:11 “He gently leads those that have young.”

This is a revealing post. Rest assured, I am doing okay. Know why? Because I am continually asking for help. My heart aches for moms whose needs are not being met. I implore you to seek help. Help for moms can come in many different forms. For me, I’ve received it from doctors, counselors, parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, bible class teachers, elders, cousins, college roommates, my fitness coach, my husband, the librarian, and even my best friend from preschool.

Truly, you do not have to do this alone.


Tasha HackettTasha Hackett, friend of Laura, has four chatty children and a wonderfully supportive husband. It’s possible she was born in the wrong century, as she always dreamed of being friends with Laura Ingalls and Anne Shirley. Her debut novel, Bluebird on the Prairie, a historical romance set in 1879 Nebraska, will release Spring 2021. The clumsy antics of the hero, huge misunderstandings, and a humorous brother/sister relationship will keep you smiling, but you may need a tissue as the heroine works through grief. Thankfully, word on the street is the story has a happily ever after.

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

The Surprising (Money-Saving) Ways I Use an Air Fryer

November 18, 2020 by Laura 1 Comment

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

You might be surprised about the ways I use an Air Fryer, but hey, it’s tasty and saves money. Let me fill you in on all my secrets…

Matt and the boys surprised me with an Air Fryer last Christmas. But the truth is, I’m pretty sure they all wanted it for themselves and well, it was for sure a win-win Christmas gift!

I’ve made delicious Garlic Butter Shrimp in it and will never turn back. I love roasting green beans in it and will share those simple instructions soon. But can I confess how we mostly use the Air Fryer at our house?

French. Fries.

From a bag. At the store. The good kind. As in, the name brand fries because our store brand doesn’t taste nearly as good.

Wait, but Laura, don’t you make homemade fries?

Yes, I did. Past tense, at least for now. I barely have time to scrub a potato, so I do not have time (or arms) to cut potatoes into fries.

Ore Ida fries in the Air Fryer – the crinkle kind because THOSE ARE THE BEST – are so delicious and fun. We have them every Friday night and have obviously dubbed it “French Fry Friday.” We eat chicken strips and fries and watch a movie to celebrate the week. And about those chicken strips?

Those come out of a bag too. I don’t even feel guilty about this. We throw those into the air fryer with our fries. On Fridays. Before our movie night.

If I have a few extra minutes and two or even one arm to work with, I’ll steam a veggie to go with our meal. Otherwise we all grab some fruit and call it a night.

This saves money, how?

Well, how much money do you spend when you’re too tired to cook and you go through the drive-through for chicken strips and fries for your crew?

We almost never eat out, but a few weeks ago we went through a fast-food drive-through because they were giving a percentage of sales to our local school for a fundraiser. We headed that way to show our support and to give me a night off, but shucks if we didn’t sink $30 into that meal – and the receipt was only that low because only half of us were home that night.

What I throw into my air fryer – which tastes just as good and is slightly healthier than fast-food restaurants – costs around $10 for six of us to eat our fill.

What if your Air Fryer took the place of eating out?

Sure, my Ore Ida fries and Dino Nuggets or Bagged Chicken Strips are not the healthiest things I put on our table. But it’s still a step healthier than regular-fried food at fast-food restaurants.

And the money-saving aspect is huge!

Beyond that, the fun food we cook in our Air Fryer gives us that “we just had a treat” feeling that we can get when we go out to eat.

So now you know. I keep some frozen treats like fries and nuggets on hand to throw in my Air Fryer to help me survive this busy season in life. It saves big bucks compared to eating out and it’s a lot of fun too!

Thought you’d like to know, just in case you want to put an Air Fryer on your Christmas wish-list this year. :)

P.S. I have this Air Fryer and we’ve been very happy with it!

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30+ Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

November 15, 2020 by Bethany Lotulelei Leave a Comment

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

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about menu plans! Today I’m sharing our absolute favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes!

30+ Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes!

If you are hosting this year, you might be prepping to roast a Turkey, and whip up the Turkey Gravy. With the main dishes already set in stone, perhaps you are looking for a new side dish or two to bring to the Thanksgiving table.

Turkey stuffing, cranberry relish, and dinner rolls might make an appearance on your Thanksgiving menu every year, but if you are like me, it’s fun to shake things up, and whip up a few new recipes every year!

In our family, no one wants to bring the relish tray. Sure it’s great to have a platter of fruits and veggies, but everyone wants to bring a dish with more pizzaz than simply celery and carrot sticks. Side dishes are so much fun! You can get creative with them, and pretty soon that recipe you tried a few years ago has become the dish you are asked to bring again and again. The recipes we cook year in and year out become a part of our family culture, and holiday traditions.

So are you ready to find a new family favorite dish? Here is a list of my absolute favorite Holiday side dishes for you to try. Your family is sure to love them!

Veggie Side Dishes

  • Whipped Sweet Potatoes
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Bean Casserole
  • Creamy Italian Veggie Dip + Veggies
  • Chips + Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
  • Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

Fruit Side Dishes

  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Pineapple Fluff Salad
  • Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
  • Hawaiian Fruit Salad
  • Blue Raspberry Salad
  • Fruit + Creamy Chocolate Fruit Dip

Bread Side Dishes

  • Stuffing Muffins
  • Homemade Rolls
  • Stir-and-Pour Rolls
  • Sour Cream Pumpkin Bread
  • Chocolate Swirl Bread
  • Honey Oat Bread
  • One Hour No Knead Yeast Rolls

Desserts

  • How to Make Frozen Pies
  • Cranberry Cookies
  • Pecan Pie Bites
  • Cinnamon Rolls
  • Chocolate Pumpkin Cake
  • Chocolate Fudge Pie
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
  • Chocolate Cheesecake Fudge

I hope you try (and love) these recipes!

Now you’re time to share! What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Share below!

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Family Update – More Kids, Extra Pink?!

November 13, 2020 by Laura 3 Comments

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

I couldn’t type one word of this post without tears. It’s what I do now apparently: snuggle and chase a bunch of little ones all day and cry a lot.

The tears are mostly the result of joy and awe spilling out all over my face. But there are also a few bucketfuls that are from heartache, frustration, fear, and longing. Never before these last 2.5 years of starting our foster care and adoption journey have I realized my absolute need for God’s strength and provision. I am so thankful for what I am learning. I am beyond thankful that God is perfectly in charge.

Wait. I’m not in charge? No, and it stinks. Except that it doesn’t, because so many times I pray for something that I think is best, and then God shows me that guess what? His ways are still best. Better than mine. Always.

So here’s a family life update, which is constantly changing, full, and often smells like a dirty diaper.

Family Update!

Well, let’s see, where to start? Our summer was full of long walks with the babies-turned-toddlers riding in the double stroller, and Brayden, our 6 year old walking beside me. We walked for miles, using the time to practice Brayden’s struggling speech skills. We did a lot of “unschooling” during this time noticing bits of nature, talking through math problems, finding things that started with different letters – so much learning. I will look back on this summer as one that was incredibly busy and wonderfully wonderful.

Elias graduated from high school and we were finally able to celebrate with a simple party in June. We had a cake pop and iced coffee bar (I highly recommend the iced coffee! Cake pops? They were a hit, but I’m not sure I want to take the time to make them again, ha!)

Justus was blessed to spend the summer in Texas as a youth ministry intern. As a result of his great experience, he came back in August ready to add another major to his original college plan. So now he is both a vocal performance major AND a ministry major. What a beautiful combination for whatever career God has for his future.

Just before school started we were amazed to get all seven boys together for our traditional back-to-school lunch. We didn’t go school shopping together like we usually do, and we didn’t go to the restaurant like we usually do. Instead, we grabbed take-out and ate together at the park.

From this:

To this:


Mid August, we got Elias and Justus moved into their college dorms/apartments. Even Keith helped. :)

Suddenly, Malachi went from the youngest of four boys to the oldest of four boys at home. He rocked this role from the start. We settled into our school year homeschooling a sophomore and a first grader while chasing two busy toddlers.

Just when we thought we couldn’t get any busier, God surprised us and changed our lives completely by putting a newborn bundle of pink in our lives. She’s a bio family member of our other bonus kids, so God’s yes was an immediate yes for us too. We were all smitten from the moment we laid eyes on her.



Our college boys come home with they can, and oh look, sometimes they have a special girl with them!! :) :) :)

Our littles love to pile on our big boys whenever they show up.


Asa doesn’t make it home often now that he is living and working in Lincoln. But he and his special girl come when they can and we treasure every minute.

Phew. So here we were. Trying to juggle this very full life with four awesome big kids, a fabulous six-year-old, two one-year-old toddlers, and a newborn. Homeschool much? Well, isn’t that the question of the year.

Malachi is a sophomore so he’s able to do a lot of his work on his own and with a tutor that God led us to hire for him. Homeschooling Brayden became a much bigger challenge, though the truth is, the challenge had started even before we got a newborn.

The past several months had revealed more of the struggles our little guy faces with academics and behavior. The time his needs were taking me every day took away from other important needs, and I found that even when I poured a huge amount of energy into his learning and behavior needs, I still wasn’t able to give him what he required. I regrouped, tried different ideas and methods, prayed, prayed, prayed.

God answered. I ignored Him though because He told us to send Brayden to school. Send our boy to school? No, that couldn’t be the answer. We’ve always homeschooled. I could do this. I would do this.

God said it again in a different way. Then again. Then again. Finally, I listened and we obeyed. Funny how I’ve always supported every person’s educational decisions for their family no matter what they chose, but goodness I had a hard time letting go of this for myself. I’ve grieved and cried because wow this change is a big one. I’ve always been a homeschool mom, I cried!! Then Justus said, pointing to Baby Sis, “Well up until two weeks ago you’ve always been a boy mom.” Well isn’t that the truth? Change might be hard, but it doesn’t have to be bad. Change can be very, very good.

God is faithful and good. He paved this out and eased Brayden’s transition, and here we are. Brayden has been going to public school for two months now, getting the extra help and resources that he so badly needed. Truly, we are so grateful.

So back to being more than just a boy mom. What a huge change, and well, it’s alright I guess. ;)

We try to sleep when we can. My kitchen floor is almost always gross. Our toddlers are almost two. One of them is likely to go back to bio family soon. Keith (our adopted toddler) is Mommy and Daddy’s sidekick whenever possible. And look at this! Asa and his film crew came from Lincoln to feature Keith in a special video. I’ll let you know when it comes out!

Malachi holds Baby Sis (diapers are a no-go though!) so I can chase toddlers and make dinner. Just when we started to feel settled in again with our newest little one, God answered a prayer we’ve prayed for a very long time…

Another bio family member of our littles gets to move in with us too! So now there’s not just one girl, but two!

Friends? We have a GIRL ROOM in our house now!

Our newest one is sweet as can be and constantly amazes us with the level of girlness she has brought to our home. Princesses, dress-up clothes, hair styling, dollies, crafts, sparkles – once again, we are smitten. I walked into the boys’ room one day this week to witness this:

So this is our life now. Seven boys. Two girls. For today. And we’re truly learning that we must live just one day at a time.

God’s mercies are new every morning. We ask for your prayers and we thank you for your constant encouragement and support. Whatever you do, don’t underestimate what God may have for your life. If He surprises you by bringing you something unexpected, lean in, and be open to all He wants to teach you through it. The challenges that come with the changes will be met with God’s strength in the most beautiful way you can imagine.

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