Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting
Once again, we are behind at our house in completing Cake Boys episodes. This week, the boys finally finished this video that they began last January. So many videos, so little time!
Obviously, you’ll see that the boys add a little drama in an effort to be like the real show, Cake Boss. They always laugh at the real show when the characters are so dramatic over nothing. ;)
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!Games and food. Food and games. Acting goofy. Trying something new. Spending time together.
This is what memories are made of. None of it costs any money – except for the food. But we have to eat anyway, right? So in my book, it’s like not spending any money at all to have extra Christmas fun.
Christmas can so often become about stuff and things and getting and having and wanting. I’ll be the first to admit that since we don’t buy stuff for our boys any other time of year, it is super fun to surprise them with great gifts they’ll enjoy at Christmas! But I believe the richest Christmas memories are made in simply doing what is normal – and adding a fun Christmas twist.
Like these Snowman Pancakes we had today. We needed to eat breakfast anyway, right? But having our pancakes in the shape of snowmen was a little more special.
Here’s our favorite pancake recipe.
I love all the blessings God gives for us to enjoy. Enjoying my family during this season is the most wonderful blessing of all.
Now your turn. Share what you’re thankful for! Leave a comment on this post letting us know how God is working in your life. If you’ve written a blog post about what you’re thankful for, leave the link in the comments so we can visit your blog to read about it. We love sharing and reading about God’s blessings!
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!More Than Alive has been wonderful to work with here at Heavenly Homemakers! They’ve offered food package giveaways and even a Berkey Water Filter giveaway. Today, they’re offering a giveaway that is perfect, and so much fun right before Christmas!
Scarves, scarves, scarves! They carry a huge variety of beautiful silk scarves. Right now, they are heavily discounted. Plus, you can use the code DECSILK25 to get 25% off. And, the best news of all: Today they are giving a scarf of your choice to 12 of you!! Twelve! This is so much fun!
More Than Alive sent me several of their scarves to try out and I love them! Every single one is beautiful. These are classy, practical, soft, and comfortable. I love that there are so many to choose from. These scarves are wonderful accessories and make great gifts!
Head over to the Clothing Accessories section of the More Than Alive website. Look through all of the scarves they offer (notice their great sale prices!). Come back here and let us know which scarf you’ll pick if you are a winner of this giveaway. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. I’ll draw 12 random winners on Thursday, December 12. Be watching for a post stating the winners as you will be responsible for contacting me if your name is chosen!
And don’t forget, if you’re making a scarf purchase, use the code DECSILK25 and it will take 25% off of the already discounted scarves!
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!
We got our first big snow of the year! It’s the soft, fluffy kind of snow that is absolutely beautiful – perfect for the Christmas season!
Here’s what we’ll be eating this week:
Sunday, December 8
Homemade instant oatmeal, dried fruit
Lunch at church to raise funds for teen mission trip
Small group – I’m making Chicken noodle soup and everyone else is bringing sides
Monday, December 9
Oatmeal breakfast bars, pears
Pizza boats, green beans
Cheesy salsa enchiladas, tossed salad
Tuesday, December 10
Cream cheese pumpkin muffins, applesauce
Taco potatoes, oranges
Beef stew, quick mix biscuits
Wednesday, December 11
Snickerdoodle muffins, bananas
Homemade tomato soup, grilled cheese
Calico beans, fruit salad
Thursday, December 12
Fried eggs on toast, clementines
Hamburger cream cheese dip with chips, pineapple
Tuna casserole, peas
Friday, December 13
Whole wheat waffles, blueberries
Taco corn fritters, green beans
Homemade pizza, tossed salad
Saturday, December 14
Scrambled egg sandwiches, fruit
Leftovers
Tilapia, rice, steamed broccoli and carrots
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!
It’s a free shipping weekend at Tropical Traditions! I’m excited because they are also featuring a Buy-One-Get-One-Free deal on their highest quality coconut oil. It’s always great when a sale and free shipping happen at the same time.
This Virgin Coconut Oil does have a mild coconut flavor. I love using it to make popcorn, and in almost all of my baked goods. It’s also great to use topically. (It’s great for wind-burn in the winter.) It is the best coconut oil you can find anywhere.
Right now, you can get two 32 ounce jars for $40.00, plus free shipping. Use the code 91312 at checkout for free shipping to apply.
I also want to point out that I’ve learned all kinds of wonderful information in Tropical Tradition’s Virgin Coconut Oil Book, which you will receive for FREE if you are a first time customer to Tropical Traditions! This book is loaded with wonderful information and recipes. Please also be aware that I receive Tropical Traditions credit if you are a new customer purchasing through my links. See my full disclosure policy here.
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!It seems like all week long, I’ve been traveling back in time to the days I was a little girl during the Christmas season. Listening to the Muppets Christmas CD has been such a fun blessing as I remember special Christmas traditions with my mom. And now, I’m thinking about my grandma. Why? Because every year she made oodles of little Peppernuts that we would munch on.
What are Peppernuts? Some of you likely eat them each year just like I did growing up. If not, allow me to introduce you to the best little cookies in the world:
These cookies are a little bit time consuming to make, but they make a large quantity for you to enjoy. They are also wonderful to package up in baggies to deliver to others.
Tell me if you’ve had Peppernuts before! And be sure to check out the recipe here.
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!It happened again tonight when Justus (our 13 year old) was eating his potato soup. I started giggling for no reason. This happens to me occasionally when my family is around the table playing games. Tonight, we had to head out the door after dinner, so we were finishing our game and eating at the same time. Justus took a bite of soup, and it was outrageously funny. Except that it really wasn’t, even a little bit.
I admit it. I was getting loopy. We had been playing Settlers of Catan, the Cities and Knights version for way too long. We started it last night after church, took a turn at breakfast this morning, played a few more rounds after lunch, and by dinner, my brain was fried. The game is awesome, but it takes some thinking skills. And we had been playing in and around our regular day of school and work and life. Thus, the potato soup eating hilarity.
Ah, but this is what memories are made of. As our boys get older and are now able to gather around the table for “big kid games” we take advantage of every spare moment we have to spend time playing together. Their schedules are busy, so we have to be intentional to make it happen. Here are some of our favorite games:
Settlers of Catan, especially the Cities and Knights version
Ticket to Ride
Bohnanza
Apples to Apples and Apples to Apples Junior
Manhattan
Uno Attack
Sequence
Farkle
Pass the Pigs
Disney Scene It
Blink
Headbandz
Don’t tell, but here’s the new one we’re getting this year for Christmas.
Now tell me about the games you and your family love to play! (And do you ever get loopy after playing games just a little bit too long?!)
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!Want to make homemade vanilla extract and get an amazing deal on vanilla beans? Olive Nation has discounted all of their baking supplies, which includes their vanilla beans. Receive 20% off select baking products when you use the code HOLBAKA at check-out. When you order only vanilla beans, you’ll also receive free shipping! (Read here about how to make homemade vanilla extract.)
Don’t forget that the 20% discount will also work for Olive Nation’s baking chocolates. These are by far the best chocolates I’ve ever worked with! I’ve experimented so far with their milk chocolate, white chocolate, and blond chocolate. These melt down wonderfully, making perfect Christmas treats! Free shipping does not apply to chocolates.
This code is only valid through Friday, December 6 – so don’t wait! Happy vanilla extracting, and chocolate treat making!
This post contains affiliate links.
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!As I stated on Facebook yesterday:
I feel a tiny bit silly (but not silly enough to keep it to myself, apparently). Growing up, my mom and I always listened to the Muppets Christmas cassette, which featured John Denver. I loved it SO much. So I just bought the album for myself. I couldn’t hold back. I mean, if you haven’t heard Miss Piggy singing the 12 days of Christmas, you’ve really missed out. (Ah, the memories…)
I had all but forgotten the album existed until my sister-in-law texted something about it yesterday. Memories flooded back. Now I can’t stop listening to it. And I can’t stop smiling. You would think that after over 9 years of being without her, I would realize that calling to talk to my mom isn’t an option. But as I listen to this music, I have had to stop myself several times from picking up the phone to dial her number. “Mom!” I want to shout, “Remember our winter nights together? Remember Miss Piggy singing ‘ba-dum-pum-pum’ in the 12 Days of Christmas? Remember how much fun we had? I just got the John Denver Muppets album on CD and I’m listening to it now with the boys, and they love it as much as we did!”
So since I can’t tell her, I’m sharing this with you. Of all my Christmas memories, I have to say listening to this music while preparing for Christmas with my mom might be my favorite memory of all. I really can’t stop smiling. And crying. And laughing (“mee-mee-mee-mee-mee-mee” – you have to know Miss Piggy to get that one).
Here’s a little blast from the past for ya that I found on youtube:
This morning, I turned on the Christmas lights, cranked up the Muppets, and tried a new recipe. These muffins are simple, full of cinnamon, delicious, and perfect for Christmas time. My family and I had breakfast with Miss Piggy, Kermit, and John Denver.
Snickerdoodle Muffins
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup sucanat or brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
Snickerdoodle Topping:
2 Tablespoons sucanat or brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Stir together flour, sucanat, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add egg, butter, sour cream, and milk – stirring until mixture is well combined. Scoop batter into 10-12 paper lined muffin tins. Stir together the sucanat/cinnamon topping. Sprinkle about a 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture onto each muffin. Bake in a 400° oven for 15-20 minutes or until muffins are golden brown. 
Here’s to tasty Christmas goodies, relishing wonderful Christmas memories, and creating new memories with our own families now.
Please tell me if you remember this Muppet Christmas album with John Denver so that we can talk about Piggy Pudding together! What are your favorite Christmas music memories?
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!
It’s the question everybody is asking this time of year: What is your favorite holiday vegetable? Well don’t everyone speak up at once. Celery? Broccoli? Ahhhh, I am simply overwhelmed with magical Christmas warm fuzzies every time I think about cauliflower.
Oh, for real. Who gets excited about Christmas vegetables? Unless it’s a jalapeno stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon. Now we’re talking.
I giggle a little bit when I read magazine articles with encouragement about how to eat healthy during the holiday season. “At holiday parties,” they say, “fill your plate with raw veggies and nuts.” Spendid! Let’s party! Fill me a plate of festive Christmas cucumbers!
It’s not that I disagree with that advice. It’s a very good idea actually – to fill up on the good stuff so that you don’t over-indulge on the bad stuff. But when I think about my favorite Christmas-time foods, the relish tray isn’t at the top of my list. I eat those foods all the time, and praise God for vegetables. But at Christmas parties? Please pass the chocolate covered chocolate with a bowl full of chocolate for dipping purposes.
I kid. I mean, obviously there needs to be some cream cheese with that chocolate. And some chips. With dip. Okay then.
So what is reality, what can we do to stay healthy, and how do we maintain a good balance during this fun filled, food filled season? Here is my chocolate-covered advice:
You’ll likely be at plenty of events during the next several weeks that will offer tables laden with sugar. Knowing this, avoid having lots of sugary foods in your own kitchen. Instead, focus on eating plenty of healthy foods at home – yes, I’m talking about vegetables here. Eat salads, eat good protein, blend spinach into your smoothies, eat all kinds of nourishing foods. Your body will thank you for it, and you’ll enjoy the party treats so much more.
But wait. What if you have goodies in your kitchen because you’re having fun making treats to share with others? Awesome, that’s part of the joy of this season! This gives you the opportunity to take a nibble or two of some of your favorite holiday treats, then package up the rest to give to others.
I say, if we’re going to have something sweet and a little bit naughty – for goodness sake we’d better swoon while we’re eating it. Pass over the crumbly boxed cookies, and go for the gooey, decadent, dish of amazingness. Why waste our indulgences on something that is just so-so?
I think somehow many of us equate holiday time with over-eating. What? So we’re just planning on being gluttonous while throwing reason and self-control out the frosty window? That’s silly. Take small amounts of food, savor each bite, then when you are full, put down your plate. Christmas is more merry when you don’t have indigestion. (<– Someone should totally turn that sentence into a Christmas carol.)
Do I really need to elaborate on this one? We always need to be sipping on water. Even at Christmas. Just do it.
May each of us enjoy a holiday season that is healthy, balanced, moderate, delicious, and topped with a caramel truffle. I mean artichoke. No, no. I mean truffle. It is Christmas, after all.
What is one of your biggest struggles with staying healthy during Christmas? What would you add to this list as an encouragement to stay healthy and balanced during the holiday season?
Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!
