Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Quick and Easy Fabric Bracelets ~ Homemade Gifts For Less Than $5

by 6 Comments

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

Homemade Gifts for Less Than $5

Don’t even want to spend $5.00 on a gift? Well then, how does 8¢ sound to you?  Yeehaw.

Remember when I asked “what do you get when you cross some scraps of fabric with shower curtain rings?” THIS. This is what you get. (I found the idea here.)

Easy Fabric Bracelets for Less Than $1

Now I know what you’re thinking, but just settle down. Cute as these are, you need to leave your shower curtain right where it is. Your family will not be nearly as thrilled to see your creations at the end of the day if they walk into the bathroom and see the shower curtain crumpled on the floor.

Instead, I suggest that everyone of you needs to head to the store right this minute (after you finish reading this) to pick up a package of shower curtain rings. I got a 12-pack for just 97¢.

If you have little girls in your life, you should pick up several packs because these bracelets are sooooo much fun to make! These would be perfect gifts for friends at school, cousins, nieces – and if you cut off the end of the ring, these should fit many adult ladies too.

I made 12 bracelets in less than an hour using my handy new $3 hot glue gun. If I can make these, anyone can make them – guaranteed. If you have bits of fabric lying around, this is a great way to use it up and avoid spending extra money on this gift.

Fabric Bracelet Supplies

How to Make Quick and Easy Fabric Bracelets

What You’ll Need

  • Shower Curtain Rings
  • Fabric Scraps, cut into about 1/2″ x 18″ strips
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Scissors

What To Do

  1. Begin by hot gluing one end of the fabric strip to the inside of a shower curtain ring.
  2. Tightly wrap the fabric around and around the ring, adding one or two more drops of hot glue to secure the fabric as you go.
  3. Cut any left-over fabric off at the end and glue in place.

Quick and Easy Fabric Bracelets

I plan to gift some of these to my elementary-aged prayer pal at church – a little reminder that I’m praying for her. I’ll let my nieces pick out a few. Malachi even suggested that we send some to Gladis. Won’t she have fun sharing some of these with her friends!

Hope you have as much fun with these as I am having. Thanks to everyone who has sent in Homemade Gifts for Under $5 ideas. Keep them coming! I’ll be sharing them here soon. You won’t believe how many great ideas there are for inexpensive homemade gifting!

Now, go. Go buy shower curtain rings.

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

Heavenly Homemakers Parade of Recipes and Cooking Tips!

by 95 Comments

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

Yum

So many recipes. So little time. It’s this big problem I have right now. I have at least seven new recipes or cooking tips that I am excited to share with you…and I just don’t feel like spreading them out over the course of several weeks. 

When a girl needs to share her healthy(er) chocolate fudge frosting recipe, she should not have to hold back.  But she’s also been promising to share  how to cook brown rice and she has this really cool tip about squash and she really should stop writing in third person but now that she’s started it’s just a little bit hard to stop.

She’s – I’m done now.

So, brace yourself, arm yourself, prepare yourself. Beginning tomorrow evening and going on through Friday the 29th, I’ll begin sharing a parade of recipes and cooking tips that I hope you will find as exciting as I do. You’ll need to check back in several times a day to keep up. And while I currently have seven recipes and tips lined up to share, you just never know when something else might just join the parade. There may even be a giveaway or two.

Beyond all the recipes and cooking tips, there will be a few other non-food related posts too. Wowza. Are you up for it all?

The most fun part of the parade will be on Friday, October 29.  That’s the day YOU get to share one or more of your favorite recipes with all of us!  I’ll post a Mr. Linky with my final recipe for the week and give you a chance to link up your recipe(s) too! There is no theme or criteria about which recipe or recipes you can share with us. Just share one or some of your favorite recipes! By the end of this week, we’ll all have so many new ideas of yummy dishes and treats to make and bake…there will be Heavenly Homemakers all over the world with tomato sauce in their hair, egg dripping down their elbows and frosting stuck to their chins. Oh how I love being party to that.

Please tell all (yes – every single one) of your friends to come and join the fun and come get new recipe ideas! We’re talking kid friendly, ingredient easy, mama happy recipes that are simple, tasty, healthy and fun. It all starts Sunday night, October 24.

Should I start with a sweet, or a savory recipe?!  Oh, so many new recipes…

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

Eating Out Less

by 48 Comments

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

simplesteps

Here’s what I’ve decided as I’m writing the Simple Steps Toward Healthy Eating series:  These steps can be taken in any order. There is not necessarily one step that should come before any of the others (except perhaps deciding that you need to take steps??!)

If you find yourself stumped as to where to start on your healthy eating journey, read through the Simple Steps posts I’ve written so far…and just pick something. You might start with drinking more water (and less soda or juice). You might start by eating an extra piece of fruit each day. You might start by eating out less (like we’ll talk about today). The point is that you start.  Pick something, set a goal and work toward it. Once you’ve accomplished that step, take another step. Go at a pace that works well for you. You can do this!

Okay, now let’s talk about eating out less. 

I did actually address this topic quite a while ago, so I would like to suggest you go read what I wrote previously too! The thing is…eating out is addicting. I have found that the more I eat out, the more I want to eat out. Or should I say…the less I eat out, the less I want to eat out.

I used to crave it. I used to sit at home dreaming of french fries from my favorite restaurant. I used to go out of my way to find a chance (or a few dollars) to eat out. And of course, I’d take big time advantage of the free Pepsi refills!!!

It’s amazing how the additives in fast food restaurants (and beyond) make your body crave more. And I don’t think I need to tell you that food from restaurants is hardly ever good for us? Do I need to say that? Okay, here I’ll say it:  The food from restaurants is usually rancid, poor quality, full of MSG, fried in nasty oils… Should I go on? 

How about expensive? In my experience, eating out costs more than eating at home, no matter what kind of value menu you order from or coupons you use. If you’re having a hard time figuring out how you can afford to eat healthy foods, you may find you have extra money for good groceries if you eat out less.

Now, am I suggesting that you don’t eat out at all? No, of course not. Sometimes it’s a necessity. Sometimes it’s a treat. Sometimes it’s fun. Our family enjoys the very occasional dinner out…and sometimes I go out and have a nice lunch with a girlfriend. Eating out isn’t evil…I’m just suggesting that as a step toward healthier eating…you may want to look into eating out less often.

You’ll save money and I promise that even if you aren’t eating the absolute best foods at home, eating at home is still better for you (generally) than eating out.

Okay, those are my thoughts. What are your thoughts about eating out? Do you find yourself wanting to eat out often? Have you ever craved certain fast food or restaurant food?

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

Healthy Beverages

by 31 Comments

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

simplesteps

I’ve encouraged you to knock out the soda/pop/coke…whatever you call it. I’ve encouraged you to drink more water. But is there anything you can drink besides water that isn’t bad for you?!

First, I need to remind you that if I can kick my Pepsi habit…anyone can. I used to drink a ton of the stuff. While it’s super hard to give it up…I can testify that it is 100% worth it. 

Now I mostly just drink water or raw milk (more about raw milk eventually in this series!). But occasionally I do have a few other drinks that I consider to be treats:

  • Iced Green Tea   I don’t drink tea very often, but I love it as a treat if we ever eat out…or occasionally I’ll make it at home. I drink it straight…I am not a sweet tea kind of girl. I do like the occasional lemon wedge. (See, I just sometimes like to go ALL out, huh?)  If you do like your tea sweetened, you might try liquid stevia or honey as natural alternatives to sugar. Also, I’d think putting a little bit of 100% juice into the tea might be fun.

 green_tea

  • Homemade Lemonade or Limeade  Ooh, this stuff is refreshing and SO delicious (uh, if I do say so myself). It can get a little pricey though since it’s sweetened with real maple syrup. We have this very infrequently…definitely not often enough according to my children.

 lemonadesm.JPG

  • Mineral Water with 100% Juice   Okay, THIS is what gives me my “soda fix”. You know what I miss most about my Pepsi? The burn.  I just love the fizzy burn of soda. Loved. Past tense. I loved the burn of soda.  I miss the burn. Sometimes now I splurge on mineral water and put in just a shot of 100% juice (grape is my favorite). I usually mix about one part grape juice to 4 parts mineral water. Ooh, the burn is so good. If you’re used to drinking soda, this mixture will likely not taste at all sweet enough for you. However, if you haven’t had soda for a while, you may find that this is just the treat you’ve been looking for. I even find now that the less juice the better. Of course…I’m really just going for the burn. ;)

mineral_water

 

  • Kombucha    I’ve just recently fallen in LOVE with kombucha! It kinda took a few weeks to make myself like it…but now I love it! It’s a little bit fizzy and really refreshing on a hot day. And it is a super healthy, probiotic drink! Right now, a friend of mine and I have a lovely arrangement worked out:  I buy the supplies…she makes the kombucha and shares it with me. We both win! Eventually (although I make no promises that it will be any time soon), I’ll try to go take pictures of her making it and share the process with you. It isn’t hard…I’ve done it before.

Now, I am excited to share a wonderful comment that my friend Serenity left on a post several months ago. I thought it was so awesome to read about how her husband gave up coffee…and to hear about how much BETTER HE FEELS!!! Here’s what Serentity had to say…

My husband is an RN and had a coffee addiction for YEARS. He finally quit this winter when he got the flu and I can not believe how it has changed him. First, he is no longer tired. He was drinking coffee to stay awake (he works nights) but he has found that without caffeine he is actually much more alert and less tired. Second, right after quitting coffee he felt so good that he started exercising. Now he runs 3 times a week for 4-5 miles and lifts weights twice a week. He looks AWESOME! For the first time in our marriage he jumps out of bed each morning ready to conquer the day. For the past ten years I had been bringing him a cup of coffee every morning to wake him up and I would have to coax him out of bed. I am loving my energetic, motivated husband :)

What are some of your favorite, healthier drinks?

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

Drink More Water!!

by 57 Comments

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

simplesteps

Ah yes…we hear this one all the time. They say, “Each person needs at least eight – 8 ounce glasses of water each day.” I’m not sure who “they” is, but no matter. Drinking lots of water is essential for good health!

Some of you may not really enjoy drinking water, so you may not like my next statement:  I don’t agree with “they”. I don’t really think that eight – 8 ounce glasses of water is enough.  That’s ONLY two quarts. I drink that amount before 10 am. If I was only drinking two quarts of water each day, I think my body would be dehydrated. But what do I know? I just know what my body craves…I don’t know anything scientific. And by the way, I’m not really drinking the water because I feel thirsty. I just feel the need for water. I just feel better when I drink a lot of water.

If you don’t really like drinking water, can I just offer you a challenge to suck it up (literally) and drink it anyway? Water is so, so good for you. Your cells need hydration to function properly. There are toxins in your body that need to be flushed out. Your body craves water.

watersm

If you are feeling low on energy…it may be because you aren’t drinking enough water. Simple as that.

In my opinion, drinking lots of water is one of the simplest steps toward healthy eating. And the stinkin’ cheapest. If you’ve made the decision to eat a healthier diet and you’re working to add more fruits and vegetables in each day…try now to drink more water. Force yourself to do it if you have to at first. Before long, you won’t even have to try. Your body will beg for it and you’ll just do it.

Water is basically all I drink (with a few exceptions that I’ll talk about another time soon). I keep a full glass by the sink all day long and I chug the entire thing whenever the mood strikes me. I love it. And yes, I potty a lot. (whoa, too much information.)

Here are some tips for drinking more water:

  • I like drinking my water at room temperature (or just a little cooler than that…like cold tap water). If the water has been in the fridge, I tend to get brain freeze when it’s going down, which makes me not want to drink it.
  • Make sure it tastes good…or rather that it tastes like nothing. When we were out of town recently, I tried to chug down the water in the home I was staying. It tasted SO much like chemicals that I felt I needed to chew it before I swallowed it. I could NOT drink it. If your water isn’t good, get a good filter system. Do whatever you need to do to find a good source of clean water. (Not having done a ton of research on the matter because our water at home is pretty good…we just use a Brita water filter.)
  • If you put ice into your water, be sure the cubes are made from good tasting water. If you make your ice cubes with yucky tasting tap water, it will taint the flavor of your drinking water as it melts. Ick.
  • Squeeze a lemon or a lime into your drinking water. Slices of lemon or lime will make it look pretty and appealing, it will give your drinking water a little zing!
  • Drink water out of a glass. This is just a personally preference of mine, because I simply am not a big fan of plastic. Drinking from a plastic cup makes my water taste like plastic. Find a nice tall glass and fill ‘er up. (Yes, because a tall, pretty glass is a “her”.)

Coming up soon (eventually, someday, and whenever I actually get around to it):  Other beverage choices, what not to drink, how to replace pop and other liquidy type items of interest.

After reading through this water filled post, I just bet all of you need to go potty now.

Just curious, do you like drinking water, or find it hard to drink enough each day?

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

The Decision to Eat a Healthy Diet

by 47 Comments

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

simplesteps

When I introduced this series, I suggested that the first step I felt each of us should make as we worked toward eating a healthier diet was to simply begin adding more fruits and vegetables to our diets. As I got ready to publish that post, I asked my husband what he thought was the first step people should make toward healthy eating. I wanted to see if he and I were thinking along the same lines.

Matt thought for a moment and then he said,  “Well, the first thing anyone has to do if they want to start eating healthier is to make the decision to do it. If they’re in it with half a heart, they’re likely to stay in unhealthy eating patterns. But if they decide that eating healthy is what they need to do, then a big part of the journey has already begun.”

And then he said something like, “Laura, you look absolutely beautiful today.”

Okay, he didn’t really say that part. I just made it up. I mean he has said that before…but not usually when we’re talking about vegetables and making healthy food decisions.

Anyway.

While I think that my “eat more fruits and veggies” idea is a good first step…I agree with Matt. The first, first step toward healthy eating is that you have to make the decision that you’re going to do it.

You have to decide that eating nutritious food is best for you.

You have to decide that eliminating bad food is best for you.

You have to decide that making tough changes are possible for you.

You have to decide that the difficulty of making dietery changes is worth it.

You have to realize that it won’t be as hard as you think.

You have to know that you aren’t alone and that you’ll have help.

You have to decide.

And that’s all there is to it. 

Sometimes it’s hard. You may have a hard time getting your husband or children on board with you. Your friends and family may think you’ve gone bonkers because you used to love poptarts and now you are on a mission to find a local farm source who will provide you with grass fed beef. Your local grocery stores may not supply many of the foods you are now looking for. You might still crave cheetos. You may feel overwhelmed with trying to make all the dietary changes. You might not know what to do with all the boxed, processed food that is in your pantry. There is so much information out there you may feel like you don’t even know where to start.

But you’ve made the decision to eat healthier…and that is the most important first step.

And you’re reading this, which means that you’ve come to the right place. Not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve likely been exactly where you are. I know how it feels. I’ve walked the journey. I’ve felt the frustration and been completely overwhelmed with where to start and where to turn. 

I’m going to help you do this! We’re all going to help! This is a team effort. You are not alone!

Making the decision to eat healthier is hard. Realize that if you’ve made the decision, you’ve taken a huge step into your journey already.

Woohoo…here we go! 

Are you on board?

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