Lily of the Valley

Stocking a Small Freezer

2012-01-25T13:42:00.004-05:00

This week, I have been busy stocking my freezer with meals. I was inspired to better utilize my freezer over the fridge, after watching Jess's video about how you can freezer cook without a deep freeze. Jess's tips are great for getting your feet wet in freezer cooking.

What I have made so far:

Baked Ziti (It was pretty easy because I just doubled the recipe when I was making it for dinner one night.)

Honey Baked Pizza Dough (makes 4 crusts)

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

3 pounds of browned beef (divided into one pound bags)

3 portions of cooked chicken breast (for three separate meals)

Shredded Mozzarella (We shredded it, divided it into 2 cup portions, and put the small bags of cheese into a large freezer bag.)

Breakfast Sandwiches (This is a super easy breakfast for hubby. These cook in the toaster oven for about 20 minutes. This makes enough for two work weeks.)

Still Left to Make:

Refried Beans

No Bake Energy Bites (x 3) I keep making these, but they are eaten so quickly. I may need to hide some in the freezer.

Other items in my freezer:
Organic Cherries and Berries for smoothies (bought on clearance)
Frozen Bananas (for smoothies)
1 pack cooked black beans (cooked in CP)
1 organic can grape juice
1 can limeade
2 loaves of store-bought bread bought on clearance (used for toast)
2 loaves of sprouted,organic bread, on clearance (my treat- for toast. I love it toasted and then topped with mashed avocado, with a dash of salt and pepper)
Shredded Cheddar

I used to buy the shredded cheese at the grocery store. This was our first time shredding a 5 lb block. Since shredded cheese contains cellulose(wood pulp), we figured it was well worth about 10-20 minutes of our time to shred it ourselves.It tastes a lot better and I was able to fill many more baggies with cheese, than with the pre-shredded variety.

Each summer, we usually have a large harvest of tomatoes, much more than we could use at one time. I am excited about making this freezable tomato sauce with my fresh garden tomatoes.

A Few Freezer Cooking Tips:

1.Start small. Don't overwhelm yourself with making 30 meals in one day. Try doubling casseroles and freezing one portion for another night. Waffles, cookie dough, and pizza dough are easy to double or triple.I divided my list of freezer meals into seven days worth of managable tasks.

2. Start with a plan. Create a grocery list and a menu plan of freezer meals, even if you are starting with one or two meals.There is nothing more frustrating than running out of an ingredient during a cooking session.

3. Use as many "kitchen helpers" as you can. Bread machines, crockpots, and waffle irons can be great assets in the kitchen. Let your kitchen helpers multi-task for you. A bread machine can be whipping up dough, a crockpot may be making chicken stock, while you are free to make waffles in the waffle iron. Work smarter, not harder.

4. To save freezer space, don't freeze pans for each individual dish. The mold technique allows you to use a minimal amount of freezer space. With this technique, you only use a dish while you freeze that particular meal. Afterwords, you remove the meal from the dish, allowing you to save room and to use the dish again. If you are serious about freezer cooking, you may want to invest in a Seal-A-Meal. A more frugal option is to use a freezer bag, and to remove excess air from it with a straw.

5. Freezer Cooking is a great way to save money. Instead of buying beef each week, when the price will fluctuate, you can stock up on it when it is at a rock bottom price. Freezer cooking allows me to cook all of my meat at once, rather than heating up the oven and stovetop, multiple times, throughout the week.

Do you freezer cook? I would love to hear your tips!

Helpful Freezer Inspiration Links:

The Happy Housewife's Bulk Cooking Videos She inspired me to make a whole chicken in the crock pot and to make my own chicken stock. Great inspiration here!

Stocking the Freezer @ Annie's Eats

Space,Time,and Money Saving Freezer Tips

Erin's Freezer Meals

Freezable Foods

Tammy's Freezer Tips

This post is linked to Kitchen Tip Tuesdays.

$10 Sam’s Club® Gift Card Offer PLUS $25 Gift Card Giveaway!

2012-01-25T12:11:00.001-05:00

$10 Sam’s Club® Gift Card Offer PLUS $25 Gift Card Giveaway!

$10 Gift Card Offer

For a limited time, from February 1–29, 2012, you can get a $10 Sam’s Club Gift Card when you purchase any two of the following baby items at Sam’s Club:

• Pampers® Swaddlers® or Pampers Cruisers® Diapers
• Pampers SoftCare™ Scented Baby Wipes
• Similac® Advance® Powder or Similac Sensitive® Powder
• Dreft® Liquid Laundry Detergent

So stock up on your baby basics today and save even more at Sam’s Club!

For more offer details, visit Sam's Club. (This particular offer won't show up until February.) Online request must be submitted by March 14, 2012.

$25 Gift Card Giveaway

One blog follower will win $25 in Sam’s Club Gift Cards!

To enter, become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment telling me your top money-saving idea.

For additional entries (please leave a separate comment for each):
• Become a fan on my Facebook page.
• Tweet, blog, Facebook, etc. this giveaway (comment once for each).

The winner will be drawn on Friday, February 10th by random.org. U.S. residents only.

Disclosure: The Sam´s Club Gift Card and information have been provided by Sam´s Club and P&G through MyBlogSpark.

Winner

2012-01-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Raw Crunch Bars is #6, Raya. Raya, please e-mail me your address at aprongirl at gmail.com so I can send those bars out to you.

10 Healthy Snacks for Busy Moms and Children and a Giveaway!

2012-01-12T15:51:00.002-05:00

Healthy eating is such an integral part of feeling energized and well. Every mom I know needs every ounce of energy that she can get! I have found that if I keep healthy food around, that is what my children and I will eat. Though we have processed treats, on occasion, we try to limit those occurrences. I find healthy foods to be very addictive, because they are so invigorating. Many of the categories below are whole foods. One great thing about keeping whole foods around is that you can use each item to make several snacks. If you stock up on apples, you can make apple chips in the dehydrator, applesauce (blend in VitaMix), smoothies, apple fruit leathers, and more.It would be much more expensive to buy all of those things individually. Here are a few healthy (and tasty!) snacks that we enjoy/are planning to try soon:

1. Fruit/Veggie Strips- organic baby carrots, broccoli, green pepper, cucumber, etc.. Veggie strips are delicious in homemade guacamole. Guacamole is a delicious way to eat raw garlic, tomatoes, avocados, fresh lemon juice, etc., which are packed with enzymes and loaded with health benefits.

2.Almonds- I buy a large bag of plain, unsalted almonds.I snack on these, make raw almond milk, and make goodies like raw peanut butter cookies. (Raw peanut butter cookies are so delicious! All of the goodness of an unhealthy peanut butter cookie, with zero guilt.)
Banana Almond Smoothie This is my absolute favorite smoothie to make when I need a protein-rich drink. Loaded with frozen bananas (so sweet!), almond milk (though any milk will work), raw honey, flaxseed, and nut butter, this drink is hearty enough to be a heavy snack/meal replacement. Raw honey is packed with energizing enzymes. Don't miss out on this scrumptious treat!

3.No Bake Energy Bites- These are so easy to make and are so tasty. These keep well in the fridge, so you can grab as few or as many as you want to eat at a time. (Though I dare you to only eat one!)

4.Chia- As a child of the 80's, I remember being indoctrinated (via commercials) into thinking that if I wanted to have healthy bones, I had to drink cow's milk. The more, the better. While I do believe that there can be benefits to raw cow's milk (if it is from a clean, reliable source), there are many other ways to get a healthy dose of calcium. Chia seeds are one of those ways. Chia contains 500% more calcium than milk. I cannot wait to try this Chia Seed Pudding.

5. Green Smoothie- If you have been reading this blog for a while, it is no secret that I adore green smoothies. I am absolutely convinced that there is no better way to ensure that you are getting a sufficient amount of green leafies, than to drink them in a smoothie.(kale, herbs, spinach, collards, etc.) It might sound scary to try it, but you gotta take a chance on this one. It is one of the best health investments ever. I highly recommend the Raw Family website for green smoothie tips and recipes.If you get a chance, check out this video (it is a long, but worthy watch) about the Miracle of Greens.We try to start our morning with a green smoothie,every day, but they are also great as an afternoon snack.

6. Yogurt/Kefir- Yogurt, especially those containing probiotics, are a great way to ensure a healthy gut. Making yogurt in the crockpot is fairly simple and economical.

7. Banana Ice Cream- All you need to make this treat are some frozen bananas and a splash of almond milk. Mix until four mounds form on the bottom of your blender. So delicious! Freeze really ripe bananas to make the healthiest banana ice cream. Throw in a few berries before blending to make a colorful berry ice cream.

8. Kale Crisps- Any dried/dehydrated fruit, greens, or veggies will do. I mention kale because, pound for pound, kale is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. A one cup serving contains 684% of our recommended daily Vitamin K allowance. Dehydrating at 115 degrees or below keeps all of the enzymes and nutrients in the food intact.

9. Pita Chips and Hummus- My favorite brand of pita chips are Stacy's Pita Chips.(plain flavor) The ingredients are decent for being such a convenient food.

10. Healthy Bars- Raw Crunch bars are my absolute favorite bars because they are raw and delicious! I was so excited to learn about an uncooked, enzyme-rich, nutrient-dense bar. They were kind enough to send me a 12 pack box of their bars to review (a $30 value!), and another 12 pack to giveaway on my blog. The four Raw Crunch Bar flavors are: Raw Crunch Bar with Organic Cranberry, Raw Crunch Bar with Organic Goji Berry, Raw Crunch Bar with Organic Dark Chocolate (a little piece of heaven on earth), and Raw Crunch Bar with Organic Blueberry. My favorite flavor was a tie between Cranberry and Dark Chocolate.

Raw Crunch bars contain a total of 13 Raw Organic ingredients, depending on which flavor you choose: blueberries, cashews, celtic sea salt, cranberries, dark chocolate (not raw), flax seeds, goji berries, raw honey, macadamia nuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds.Raw Crunch Bars are unprocessed, handmade,and uncooked. The raw nuts and seeds in the Raw Crunch bar can help to detoxify your body.Raw Crunch bars are perfect for breakfast or a quick snack on the go. These would be great to give at a baby shower, as they are terrific snacks for laboring moms and their coaches or nursing moms!

Win a 12 pack of Raw Crunch Bars:

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with your e-mail address, telling me what your favorite healthy snack is.

Additional Optional Entries:
1. Like Lily of the Valley on Facebook.
2. Like Raw Crunch on Facebook. Leave a comment on their page letting them know that Lily of the Valley sent you.
2. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.(or leave me a comment letting me know that you already do so)
3. Blog, facebook, or re-tweet about this giveaway.

This contest ends January 19th, at 12 pm EST. It is open to US residents only.

This post is linked to Sortacrunchy.

Disclosure: I received Raw Crunch Bars to review and giveaway in exchange for an honest blog review.

The Winner of The Money Saving Mom's Budget is....

2012-01-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

The winner of The Money Saving Mom's Budget is #5, Erin.Congratulations, Erin!

Reflections on 2011 and My 2012 Goals

2012-01-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

Reflections on 2011
2011 was a year of blessings and learning through trials, for my family and I.

During 2011:
We bid on two houses,and lost both bids.
My baby turned one.
Our home was broken into in June.
Our van was broken into in October.
My husband received a promotion.

God has taught me a lot this year about what is truly important.(and I have so much more to learn!) Earthly goods really can be stolen, and are not where my emphasis should be. I am so thankful for God's protection over my family and I during the challenging times. The blessings he pours out to me are so much more than I could ever deserve. I am thankful that no matter what happens, He is always teaching me. I am thankful for my little children, who teach me how to forgive, when they pray daily for those who broke into our home and van. It can be easy to tremble at the unknown awaiting me, this upcoming year. But all I need to remember is that my Father will guide me and help me every step of the way.

My 5 Favorite Books Read in 2011:
1. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
2. Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman
3. A Love that Multiplies by the Duggars
4. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
5. The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine

My 2012 Goals

As the new year approached, I spent some time pondering what goals I wanted to commit to in the new year. My largest goal is to simply Abide. I want to Abide in Him and to dwell in the present moment. I also decided to set goals in different realms,such as organization, health, walk with God, financial, etc.. Some of these, I have already been implementing and are a continuation of my current goals.

Health
Exercise 30 minutes daily. ( Even walking is great.) This video inspired me to just get moving.

Drink at least one green smoothie daily.

Aim to go to bed as close to 10 pm as possible.

Organization
Declutter the house room by room. Use this calendar to help with this goal.

Get rid of excess. Sell/Donate unwanted items.

Financial
Continue saving each month.

Look for ways to be a better giver of the talents, time, money, other resources entrusted to us.

Pictures
Take a picture daily in 2012 and create a scrapbook via Shutterfly.

Walk with God
Read through the Bible chronologically.

Read through New Testament with the children.

Journal. I was so inspired by Ann's journal.

Make Scripture memorization a priority.

What lessons did God impress upon your heart in 2011? What were your favorite reads? What are your goals for 2012?

This post is linked to Money Saving Mom's goal post.

Review and Giveaway of The Money Saving Mom's Budget

2011-12-29T10:39:00.000-05:00

My top blog recommendation for learning how to get out of debt and to save money is the Money Saving Mom blog . I have read Crystal's blog for years, now, and I am still learning so much! I was so elated to hear that she has written a book called The Money Saving Mom's Budget. Her publisher graciously gave out dozens of review copies, and I was thrilled to be one of the initial reviewers.

In the beginning of Crystal and Jesse's marriage, they had a very modest income. Their grocery/household needs budget was about $35-$40 per week. Instead of feeling bogged down by that small of a budget, Crystal took it on as a challenge. She learned how to thrive off of a very small income, and she shares many of the tips/strategies that she used during that time.

My two favorite sections of the book were: "Give Yourself and Instant Raise Without Increasing Your Take-Home Pay" and "25 Ways to Lower Your Grocery Bill Without Cutting Coupons". It often seems like people think that when money is tight, the only solution is to find more income. I loved Crystal's recommendations on lowering your expenses, in order to save more money/have a workable budget each month. Finding ways to save money can be just as validating as finding ways to earn it. I loved the chapter about lowering your grocery bill without coupons, because I am in a phase in life, which isn't very coupon friendly. (I have four children, ages eight and under.) Some of her ideas include: having a meatless meal each week, bake your own bread (with a bread machine), and ditching cereal for breakfast.

The last chapter of the book, which deals with embracing today, choosing contentment,and blooming where you are planted, is well worth the price of this book. Crystal has inspired me to be more of a giver, and not to focus on collecting things for this fleeting life. All of the proceeds from the sales of The Money Saving Mom's Budget are going to Compassion International.

Win a Copy:
Mandatory Entry:
Leave a comment letting me know that you would like to win a copy of this book.

Additional Optional Entries:
1. Like Lily of the Valley on Facebook.
2. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
3. Blog, facebook, or re-tweet about this giveaway.

This giveaway ends January 12, 2011 at 12 pm EST.

Disclosure: The review copy and giveaway copy were given by the publisher, in exchange of an honest review.

Merry Christmas and December Musings

2011-12-22T14:09:00.000-05:00

I hope you are having a wonderful advent season and that you have a lovely, joyful Christmas! This past month has flown by so quickly; it is hard to believe that I haven't blogged in a few weeks. Here is an update of sorts:

* We visited extended family for a few days, after Thanksgiving. It was so much fun to see so many relatives, many of whom I haven't seen in years. Lily loved holding my cousin's precious baby boy. (He happens to have a darling twin brother, too!) My parents let my hubby and I go out in their canoe. It was a definite adventure to say the least.

* I have been reading so many amazing books. Recent reads include: Grace for the Good Girl (perfect for recovering perfectionists/people-pleasers like me!), Forgotten God, and Money Saving Mom's Budget (review to come!). My children absolutely love The Building on the Rock series devotionals published by Christian Focus Publications. Christian Focus Publications sent me one of their books, How God sent a Dog to Save a Family, for review purposes. Each of these devotional books contain captivating, edifying stories, followed by a few insightful questions, and relevant Scriptures. This book has left my children with a greater understanding of the truths of God's Word. These are very easy to use as a devotional, and I hope to collect The Building on the Rock set.

* I may have a slight obsession with Pinterest. I can admit it, and that is the first step to recovery...tee hee. It is such an awesome way to file away recipes, fun for the children, and even Creative Repurposing ideas. I have tried over 20 recipes on my "To Eat" board, and it is an invaluable way to corral all the delicious sounding meals from bloggyland. If you are on pinterest, I would love to follow your boards!

* Artisan bread in Five Minutes is revolutionizing my life. Needless to say, my bread machine has been collecting dust for a few months now. The basic concept of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes, is to make up one bowl of dough for a week's worth of bread loaves. The quality of the loaves is stellar, and is similar to artisan loaves which sell for about $3-$5 a loaf. I love that you can use the dough to make cinnamon rolls, pizza dough, etc.. The basic unbleached flour recipe is here, and the whole-wheat recipe is here. It is so much fun with experimenting to make different shaped loaves. I think my bread machine may continue to collect dust for a while.

* The Joy of a Simple Christmas: This Christmas, we have scaled back quite a bit. My children chose to pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, rather than receive gifts from my husband and I. (note: my children still receive gifts from other relatives) They had the best time picking out gifts for needy children, and are learning the joy of giving. We are definitely hoping to make Operation Christmas Child a yearly tradition.These are the kind of things we want to focus on, as they are great blessings to us! Spending less time in stores and more time as a family is an immense blessing. I loved Ann Voskamp's post, When Christmas Gets Radical. Her family gleans His catalogs, to give to others, generously. I am utterly inspired.

*One Christmas joy that my children and I cherish is baking together. This year, we were requested to bring desserts to Christmas dinner, so we are bringing Chocolate Peppermint Roll with Chocolate Ganache and Apple Cake with vanilla ice cream. I am hoping that the chocolate peppermint roll works out without a glitch. I have made a pumpkin roll, a few times, and I must say that my heart races every time I peel back the parchment paper on the cake. Rolling the cake just about makes me break out in a sweat.

*Other Web Inspiration:

This lovely house tour is inspiring. I love how Meg creatively decorates her home with Scripture.

Lily and I are taking Crochet School lessons online. Crochet School contains 30 lessons with online videos, for free. Highly recommended.

When I am busy doing something seemingly mundane (though nothing is mundane when done for His Glory!) I love to listen to the Simple Mom podcasts. My favorite recent episode was Major Purge, all about decluttering, which is something I am really hoping to jump into, in this new year!

One of my favorite websites for larger family inspiration is Large Families on Purpose. Large Families on Purpose is written by Bob and Erika Shupe, who have nine children, and live in a 1100 sq. foot house. They are so organized!

I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season! Many blessings, dear friends!

This post is linked to the Modest Mom.

Disclosure: I received How God sent a Dog to Save a Family in exchange for an honest review.

The Winner of the $20 Dayspring Coupon Code

2011-11-17T16:55:00.001-05:00

The winner of the $20 coupon code to Dayspring is commenter #13, Jaclyn Hicks . I don't think I have your e-mail address, so if you could send me your contact information (address and phone number) at aprongirl at gmail.com, that would be great! Congratulations!

Christian Kids Explore Biology Review

2011-11-15T16:41:00.001-05:00

Before I had an official homeschooling child, I happened upon Bright Ideas Press. I love how adaptive their curriculum is for teaching multi-aged children all at once.

I love Bright Ideas Press' motto,

"Bright Ideas Press publishes curriculum that moms love. We promise to publish Christian-oriented curriculum that will fit into your hectic life, curriculum that is both affordable and easy-to-use with children of different ages at the same time. The team at Bright Ideas Press prays that our products and resources will not only simplify your life but also inspire, encourage, and enable you to effectively educate your children."

We love using the Mystery of History for our history studies. I was so delighted to learn about the Christian Kids Explore science series and to have the opportunity to review the Christian Kids Explore Biology curricula.

One of my great hopes, as a homeschooling mother of four (a third-grader, first-grader, preschooler, and a toddler) is for my children to learn together. Bright Ideas Press makes my hope feasible.

Much like the Mystery of History series, which will consist of four books (once complete), the Christian Kids Explore series consists of four books. Once you go through each of through each of the four books (at a rate of one per year) , you can cycle back through again. This year, as we are studying Creation-Christ, in history, our science studies consist of learning biology.

What I love about Christian Kids Explore Biology curricula:

Multi-Age Adaptable
I love that I don't have to buy separate science curricula/materials for each child; we can share one fantastic resource! Learning together is such a joy!

Simple Lessons
Each lesson consists of only a couple of pages. The lessons are meaty enough to capture my children's attentions, yet they aren't cumbersome. When time allows, we make a weekly visit to the library to learn more about the subject we are studying. I love the amazing resource guide in the back of the book, which contains video, book, and game suggestions to supplement your learning.

Gorgeous Coloring Pages
I usually read each lesson aloud, while my little ones color the detailed and gorgeous coloring sheets included in this book. It is a great way to keep little hands busy so their minds can focus on the lesson.

Fun Experiments/Projects
So far, in our first couple of weeks using this curricula, we have made a cell out of jello and beans, are creating animal alphabet pages, and food web charts. These projects have been a blast!

Creation-Based Lesson Plans
Each lesson draws my children into more awe of their Creator. This curricula is such a blessing to me and my family!

Disclosure: I received a copy of Christian Kids Explore Biology in exchange for an honest review.

Truth

2011-11-15T15:30:00.000-05:00

"The best things in life are gifts from the One who steadfastly loves us. But an important question to ask ourselves is this: are we in love with God or just His stuff?" -Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love

The Winner of the Pure Bar Giveaway

2011-11-15T14:16:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Jessi, entrant #4! You are the winner of the Pure Bar giveaway.I will sending you an e-mail with more information. Thank you again, Veronica, for hosting this giveaway!

Giving Thanks: Dayspring Review and Giveaway!

2011-11-10T12:40:00.000-05:00

When I think of all of my blessings, I am in awe of my Creator. Yet, everyday, it is so easy for me to take these blessings for granted. I shudder at the fact that even though He has been so lavish with gifts to me, I have to remember to be thankful! In Deuteronomy 6:9, God's people were commanded to write His Word on the posts of their homes. Filling our homes with reminders of Him remind us to keep a Godward focus and to remember to be grateful for His manifold blessings.

One of my favorite makers of Christ-centered home decor products is Dayspring. I was so blessed to be able to receive Dayspring's Wooden Caddy for review purposes.

I love how sturdy, rugged, yet elegant this utensil caddy is. It really is a versatile piece and I am enjoying finding other uses for it like this....

Art Caddy: I can already tell that we will find a lot of uses for this in our homeschooling/crafting times. I am a minimalist (or at least an aspiring minimalist), so I love it when an item is useful for a variety of purposes.This would be great for holding other art tools like knitting needles, crochet hooks, etc.

My favorite part of the Dayspring's Wooden Caddy, is the inscribed message, "Give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love. Psalm 107:8" What a beautiful tangible reminder to stop, and offer praise and thanks to God!

This lovely piece would make a wonderful Christmas gift, as well.

Dayspring is graciously giving away a coupon code for $20 off their products to one Lily of the Valley reader.

To Enter:
Visit Dayspring, come back here and let me know what product you would love to have.

Additional optional entries:

Additional Optional Entries:
1. Like Lily of the Valley on Facebook.
2. Like Dayspring on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall telling them that Lily of the Valley sent you.
3. Follow Dayspring on twitter.
4. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
5. Blog, facebook, or re-tweet about this giveaway.

Giveway ends November 17, 2011 at 12 pm EST. This is open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received a free product to review in exchange for an honest review.

Pure Bars: Review and Giveaway!

2011-11-08T12:27:00.001-05:00

Veronica Bosgraaf first created PureBars when her daughter turned six. She wanted to make a nutrient-dense, vegetarian snack, without all of the additives and preservatives. I was delighted when PureBars sent me two of each of their yummy bars to sample! They come in eight yummy flavors: Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Brownie, Wild Blueberry, Superfruit Nutty, Peanut Raisin, Cranberry Orange, Apple Cinnamon, and Cherry Cashew Bar.

I have to say, hands down, my absolute favorite was the Chocolate Almond Bar. The day I sampled it, I definitely felt like I could use an afternoon pick me up. I cracked up when I read the front of the package, "Rich dark cocoa with heart healthy crunchy almonds.Your chocolate prayers have been answered". Indeed, any snack this yummy and healthy is definitely an answer to prayer. Now, I was preparing for this to taste like "one of those other" health bars. You know, the kind that taste funky, but you know it is good for you? Well, this bar was a complete and utter surprise to me. Not only was it chocked full of healthy goodies like rich in Omega 3's chia seeds, dates, almonds, and organic rice protein, but it tasted amazing! Just as good as a snickers, without the guilt. That is a win-win in my book!

I also loved the Apple Cinnamon Bar. It tasted like good old fashioned apple pie, without all of the crumbs. The Apple Cinnamon Bar is delectable and completely organic.

Purebar is graciously giving away two of each of their bars to one reader of this blog.

To Enter:
Leave a comment letting me know which Purebar flavor you are most interested in trying.

Additional Optional Entries:
1. Like Lily of the Valley on Facebook.
2. Like PureBar on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall telling them that Lily of the Valley sent you.
3. Follow Pure Bar on twitter.
4. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
5. Blog, facebook, or re-tweet about this giveaway.

Giveaway ends November 15, 12pm EST,when I will select one winner via Random.org. Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received Pure Bars in exchange for an honest review. Pure Bar also supplied the samples for the giveaway.

One Essential for Every Mommy's Medicine Cabinet

2011-11-07T17:04:00.001-05:00

My dear Hubby spent most of yesterday getting sick to his stomach. Then, in the wee hours of the morning, my eldest daughter, Lily, started throwing up. My mom reminded me of an old remedy for stomach ailments that my Grandmother always swore by, activated charcoal. I have been researching quite a bit about it, and find it to be just fascinating. After experiencing a horrible bout of food poisoning this past January, I should have made getting activated charcoal a priority! Nausea, tummy aches, food poisoning, heartburn and even vomiting can be stopped in a matter of minutes by taking some activated charcoal. It works by soaking up toxins in the body, allowing you to painlessly expel them. Needless to say, this mommy isn't going to be without this amazing product again. We ordered some activated charcoal today and I hope to review it soon! It is so important to be prepared especially as winter approaches (as well as the flu, stomach bugs, etc.) I also am researching if this can be taken during pregnancy to help cope with morning sickness. I am not currently expecting, but would love to have something natural that would help me to better cope, should the Lord bless us again. During all four of my pregnancies, I have had severe nausea and vomiting spells. I am so hopeful about this product!

Have you tried activated charcoal? I would love to hear your experience.

This post is linked to the Homestead Barn Hop.

Disclaimer: Links within this post contain my affiliate links to the Bulk Herb Store.

The Winners are...

2011-11-07T13:33:00.000-05:00

The Winner of the Manna Organics Bread Giveaway is # 6, Courtney.
The Winner of the Cascadian Farms Giveaway is #17, Mom .
Congratulations! There are some more fun giveaways coming up!

Review and Giveaway: Cascadian Farm's New, Organic Tail Mix Chewy Granola Bars

2011-10-31T14:54:00.000-05:00

I was elated to be able to try Cascadian Farm's New, Organic Trail Mix Chewy Granola Bars, which are just perfect for fall. The two new, yummy flavors are: Dark Chocolate Cranberry and Vanilla Almond Cherry .Both of these bars are delectable, and contain at least 95% organic ingredients. These bars are an easy way to enjoy many whole foods, in a convenient package!

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Chewy Granola Bars
These scrumptious bars contain raisins, dried cranberries, peanuts, dark chocolate, and rolled oats. These were my favorite new variety. The marriage of dark chocolate and dried cranberries, is a heavenly one, in my opinion.

Vanilla Almond Cherry Chewy Granola Bars
My favorite thing about these bars is that they contained a lot of fun, flavorful ingredients including: vanilla chips, pretzels, almonds, and dried cherries. The vanilla chips and pretzels blended so well, together.

Cascadian Farm is graciously giving away some of their new trail mix bars to one Lily of the Valley reader.

Win it:
1. Leave me a comment telling me which flavor you would most like to try.

Additional Optional Entries:

2. Follow Cascadian Farm on facebook. Write on their wall telling them that Lily of the Valley sent you.

3. Follow Lily of the Valley on GFC. (or leave me a comment telling me that you have done so)

4. Share on your blog, facebook, or via e-mail.

Contest ends November 6th, at 12 pm EST. I will select one winner via random.org. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received trail mix bars from Cascadian Farm in exchange for an honest review. Cascadian Farm also supplied the products for the giveaway.

Manna Organics Review and Giveaway

2011-10-31T13:38:00.000-05:00

I am so delighted to be able to review and to host a giveaway of Manna Organics Bread. Manna Organics sells quality sprouted and sourdough breads that are so delicious. Manna Organics sprouted breads are: salt-free, unleavened, high fiber, contain no added sweetener/flour/oils, are yeast-free, and contain nothing artificial. I was so impressed by the ingredients of their breads. Manna Organics sent me a pack of four of their breads: Fig Fennel Flax Sprouted, Bavarian Style Rye Sourdough, Banana Walnut Hemp, and Sunseed Sprouted Bread.

1. Fig Fennel and Flax Sprouted Bread

I loved all of the delicious seeds, including flax, poppy, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower, on this bread! I was so pleasantly surprised about how sweet this bread is, despite having no added sugar. The reason is, according to the Manna Organics website,

"By fully germinating our grains, we convert the starches into easily digested natural complex sugars, similar to those found in fresh fruits, hence the sweetness."

The fig and fennel seed tasted so good and gave it a black licorice taste!

2. Bavarian Style Rye SourDough

This bread was very rich in flavor due to it being a sourdough bread.This is just perfect for making sandwiches!

3. Banana Walnut Hemp Sprouted Bread

Banana Walnut Hemp Sprouted contains all of the deliciousness of banana nut bread with no added sugars! We loved eating a slice for breakfast, right after drinking our green smoothies. It is just perfect with a cup of tea.

4. Sunseed Sprouted

Sunseed sprouted contains six seeds: organic sunflower, organic sesame seeds, organic flax seeds, organic millet, organic poppy seeds, and organic caraway seeds. It is naturally sweet, and one slice contains a whopping 28% of your recommended daily fiber. It also contains 13% daily iron recommendation. It is an excellent source of Omega 3's.

Manna Organics is graciously hosting a giveaway of a four loaves of bread: Fig Fennel Flax, Bavarian Style Rye Sourdough, Banana Walnut Hemp, and Sunseed to one reader of this blog. This blog giveaway is open to continental US residents only.

Giveaway (mandatory entry)
1. Leave a comment letting me know that you would like to be entered into this giveaway.

Additional (optional entries) (leave a separate comment for each)
2. Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley and Manna Organics.
3. Follow Lily of the Valley on GFC (or leave a comment telling me that you already do)
4. Follow Manna Organics on twitter here.

Giveaway ends November 6th at 12 pm, EST. I will select one winner via random.org.

Disclaimer: I received four loaves of bread to review and bread for a giveaway, via Manna Organics, in exchange for an honest review.

Sunwarrior Protein Powder

2011-10-31T12:39:00.001-05:00

I had heard great things about Sunwarrior's Protein powder. I am really picky about the types of protein powders I will try because many brands contain harmful ingredients. I was so impressed by Sunwarrior's stellar ingredients. Both the chocolate and vanilla flavors contain only 5 ingredients: whole brown rice protein (Bio-fermented raw sprouted whole grain brown rice protein), vanilla/cocoa, pectin, xanathan gum, and stevia. Both the vanilla and the chocolate samples were delicious. I was pleasantly surprised that stevia made both shakes taste so sweet. I love that SunWarrior's protein powders are 100% raw foods. As a nursing mom, I love being able to whip up a quick healthy shake, or to make a shake for one of my childrens' snacks. Would you like to receive free samples of Sunwarrior's products? E-mail your sample request to support@sunwarrior.com .

A Great Opportunity to Bless A Child this Christmas

2011-10-31T12:37:00.000-05:00

Operation Christmas Child is a division of Samaritan's Purse ministry. Through this program, you can pack a shoe box(es), with Christmas gifts for a child in another country. More than likely, this may very well be the only gift that child has received in his/her entire life! There have been many testimonials from those whose lives have been radically transformed, from those who have received a shoebox the past. Giving a tangible gift to those in need, is symbolic of Christ's free, life-transforming gift of Salvation. Those who receive a shoebox gift are given a Bible, as well as the opportunity to take a Bible class for twelve weeks, in which the Gospel message is presented to them. The gift and then the Bible class have been tools that God has used to bring many to Him. Making the time to pack a showbox may seem simple, but is such a gift of love that can, through Christ's grace, me instrumental in changing a life. We may not be able to help every child, but we can start somewhere. How about making a commitment to pack just one box, this year, to help one child? The boxes will be collected November 14-21 at various locales across America. To find your closest shoebox drop off point, visit here.

Here is a video showing how one woman's life was transformed through receiving a box. She has traveled with Samaritan's Purse to pass out shoeboxes to other children.

I think this could be one of the best homeschooling experiences, we will do this fall! Not only will it be fun going on a shopping spree for someone else (even getting a few items at the Dollar Store would be a huge blessing to a child), but you can also learn geography because you can track which country your box is going to. So, this project can help teach your family the joy of giving and geography!
Some families have box-filling parties, where one family member brings 10 toothbrushes (one for each box), another brings 10 t-shirts, another brings 10 tennis balls,etc. Imagine what a blessing it would be to have a party (complete with yummy drinks and goodies) while filling boxes with gifts for children in need. What a blessing that would be!

Divided the Movie

2011-10-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

I just watched this movie, and it is phenomenal. Divided presents a biblical paradigm for worship, and shows the pitfalls of youth ministry.

Divided Trailer from NCFIC on Vimeo.

You can watch it for free here.

"My message to you fathers is a simple one and that is that God has given you an unbelievable gift, the gift of investing into the life of your children, and your children's children. Somehow, somebody has convinced us that the best thing we can do with that gift is to pass it on to someone else."
-Voddie Baucham

October Musings

2011-10-24T16:06:00.001-05:00

I realized that it has been a while since I shared a more personal update. Here are a few of my musings as of late:

* My baby is 19 months old. I will continue to call her "baby" until/if God sees fit to send us another blessing. For now, I am just relishing this toddler stage. She comes up with new words every day, and is growing way too fast. It is a joy to see how much her older siblings love watching each new phase as well. We are all quite smitten by Olivia Grace.

* My favorite snack, as of late are pitted dates. They are so sweet and healthy. They even help me when I am craving something like chocolate. I need to keep plenty of them on hand.

* Speaking of dates, I would love a date night with my hubby. Having four younger children, we hardly ever go out just the two of us, and we have gotten used to "date" nights at home. But we both really want to see the movie Courageous , while it is in the theater. We love supporting Sherwood Baptist Church's movie-making ministry. It is the only time we are willing to pay full price for movie theater tickets. It feels much more like supporting a ministry rather than just watching a flick.

* We have been so sick. I really hope we are getting over it. I didn't have a voice for 4 days, which is very challenging, especially as a mother to little ones. I am so thankful to have my voice back, and I hope I will never take it for granted, again. One of my daughters keeps getting a stomach bug. I hope all of this illness will be gone for good soon.

* While I was sick, someone broke into my van and stole my GPS. I am so thankful that it wasn't worse, but it really is frustrating that someone keeps stealing our stuff. I really felt like my GPS was my brain when I travel, and I really miss it.

* Since my house was broken into in June, and now my van, I am starting to understand Matthew 6:19-21,

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt , and where thieves break through and steal : But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt , and where thieves do not break through nor steal : For where your treasure is , there will your heart be also "

Every earthly good we have on this earth is so fleeting.

* Speaking of treasure in heaven, I was so blessed to read how this woman graciously spent her birthday blessing others. She taught her children volumes simply by including them in her gracious giving.

*One thing that I am so thankful for is that God recently answered "no" to two of my prayers. Over the past couple of months, we found two dream homes at dream prices. Both homes were foreclosures, and were in good condition. One house was 2500 sq. feet and had 5 acres. This was an absolute dream to me, as my hubby and I would love to have a simple homestead, one day. We only felt comfortable to bid up to a certain point because we still have to pay on our current home until it sells. We were outbid and lost that home. Then, a couple months later, we bid on another lovely home on about an acre. Once again, we were outbid. At the time, I was so upset that we lost both homes. But now, considering the economy, I am very, very, very grateful that I don't have two house payments. Our current plan is to save diligently, continue paying off our current house, and to sell our home before bidding on any others. The waiting period until we sell may even be a few years. It would have been so stressful for us to sell our house quickly, when most houses in my neighborhood aren't selling as swiftly as they had in the past. I am so thankful that God protected us from what could have been very taxing to us monetarily.

I would love to hear how you and your families are doing! Blessings, friends!

Navitas Naturals Review

2011-10-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

Navitas Naturals recently sent me a few of their quality products to sample. Navitas Naturals sells a variety of healthy snacks, seeds, berries, and more, which are nutrient-dense.

I absolutely loved their Trail Mix, which contains all organic products including: mulberries, goji berries, goldenberries, raw cashews, and cacao nibs.

I loved the intense flavor of the berries, cashews, and cacao nibs. This was the best trail mix that I have ever had!

I also received two sample packs of Navitas Naturals Power Snacks: Cacao Goji Berry and Raw Citrus Chia. These bite-size snacks are perfect for on the go, and taste delicious. They contain several superfoods such as chia, maca, cacao, goji berries, and more. These are perfect snacks to have on hand for busy moms! I love the ease and convenience of Navitas Naturals prepackaged foods without the guilt of preservatives.

Disclaimer: I received some product samples from Navitas Naturals in exchange for an honest review.

Deliciousness

2011-10-14T15:29:00.000-05:00

Sandwich containing: Sprouted bread, alfalfa sprouts, romaine lettuce, nitrate-free meat, raw cheese

Homemade Raw Almond Milk

Banana Ice Cream This is super easy to make in the Vita Mix. Ingredients: Just a smidge of raw almond milk and several frozen bananas. Great healthy snack when you are craving something sweet.

What deliciousness have you been enjoying?

Kashi TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars Review

2011-10-14T14:57:00.000-05:00

I was delighted to review the Kashi TLC peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars as a member of Green Moms Meet. I received a large Kashi bag chocked full of these delicious granola bars to sample with a few of my mom friends. Peanut and Dark Chocolate are a flavor match made in heaven; these bars are delicious. I had to hide the bag of bars in my bedroom closet until the meet up, because my little ones loved them so much! Not only are these bars scrumptious, but they are also high in fiber and contain no preservatives.

My little ones adored their Kashi bars

It was so much fun to plan a meet up with other moms (though not everyone was able to make it due to illness) and to share more about such a delicious product. The consensus is that these are some of the tastiest granola bars that we have ever sampled. These Kashi bars are available at most major grocery stores at about $3.89 a box. In my opinion, these bars are much heartier than your average granola bar, and are a great value.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Find Kashi on the web here.
Find Kashi on facebook here.

ProBar (coupon code)

2011-10-14T11:33:00.000-05:00

In my quest to find healthy snacks for my family, I happened upon ProBars. I have picked up a couple at a local health food shop, and my family loved their delicious taste. Each of the Art's Original Collection ProBars contain 15 whole foods and are suitable for a meal replacement. They contain no preservatives and are about 70% raw. Many ProBars contain chia seeds, which are the highest whole-food source of Omega 3 acids. ProBars is graciously offering Lily of the Valley blog readers a 40% discount on their first order by placing an order here and entering the coupon code: blogger.

October Update

2011-10-14T10:49:00.000-05:00

I am sorry that I have been scarce at blogging.We have been battling terrible chest colds/illness this week. I lost my voice on Wednesday night, which has made mothering very challenging! I miss reading to my babies. This morning, my four year-old , Annie, has gotten sick to her stomach. Keeping Olivia (19 months) away from Annie has been a great challenge as well. I greatly covet and appreciate your prayers for a swift recovery. Thank you so much!

Nutiva Coconut Oil Review

2011-09-27T10:52:00.002-05:00

I was thrilled to be able to review Nutiva's Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I love cooking with coconut oil because it is so healthy and has a high heat point. Unlike olive oil (which is great for cold dishes), coconut oil has a high heat point, and so it can be used for cooking/baking, without creating free radicals in one's body. Free radicals harm cells and can cause illnesses and even cancer. Coconut Oil is one of the healthiest foods on earth; it is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-microbial. It contains lauric-acid, which is a very healthy fat, also found in breast milk.

I have enjoyed using Nutiva's Coconut Oil in my recipes, this past month. I have tried several different types of coconut oil, in the past, and I must say that Nutiva's Coconut Oil is one of the best I have ever tried. I love how it has a delicious flavor, yet it isn't overpowering. I used it to coat my pan before cooking omelettes, and there was no over-powering coconut smell to my eggs! I made a pizza with Nutiva's Coconut Oil and it was divine. I am so glad that I got to try Nutiva's Coconut Oil, and I will definitely be ordering more!

I received a jar of Nutiva's Coconut Oil in exchange for an honest blog review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review; the thoughts contained herein are my own opinion.

Getting Real Food on the Table, Simplified

2011-09-27T10:04:00.002-05:00

My goal is to prepare a nourishing meal for my family, every night. I try to keep it pretty simple, to ensure that I will be able to get a meal on the table, as well as completing my other tasks, such as homeschooling, cleaning, etc.. With the arrival of the fall season, I love making soups and a few other dishes which normally take longer to prepare. I noticed that some afternoons, it was taking an hour or more for me to prepare dinner. I came up with a plan that would help me to do the bulk of my kitchen prep work, one day a week. I usually grocery shop on Fridays or Saturdays, so I decided to assemble a list of kitchen prep tasks for one day a week, usually Saturday night.

Here is my first Saturday Night Prep. Tasks: Chop Veggies for the week, make zucchini fritters, soak beans for soup, hardboil 9 eggs, make no-bake energy bites.

I chopped all the veggies for all the recipes I was using that week, and put them in labelled baggies. This made it so easy to prepare meals every day. Hardboiling eggs in advance makes it easy to whip up egg salad. I cooked zucchini fritters in advance, so that on breakfast night (usually Tuesday nights here), I could just reheat them in the oven.

This tip has revolutionized my time in the kitchen. I will gladly spend an hour or two in the kitchen on the weekend, to ensure that a healthy meal makes it on the table. (without having to work in the kitchen for hours each afternoon)

Do you have any kitchen preparation tips to share? I would love to hear them!

This post is linked to Kitchen Tip Tuesday, Homestead Revival, WFMW, and WLW.

The Winner of the Larabar Giveaway is.....

2011-09-23T18:34:00.003-05:00

The winner of the four pack of Larabars is.... Liz .

Healthy Snack Giveaway

2011-09-12T15:26:00.000-05:00

As much as possible, I try to eat fruits and veggies as snacks throughout the day. When I run errands, it is very helpful to have a healthy snack, which is already prepared. Unfortunately, too many processed foods are full of preservatives and are so unhealthy. I was so elated to happen upon Larabar products , which contain 100% real food. Each bar contains no more than 9 ingredients, and they come in a variety of flavors. I was elated to be able to sample a four pack of Larabars. They currently offer 19 choices of scrumptious bars. I chose to sample Apple Pie, Carrot Cake, Key Lime Pie, and Chocolate Chip Brownie. I was so impressed at how delicious and fresh the Larabars tasted! My favorite flavors that I sampled were Apple Pie and Carrot Cake. My hubby tried the Key Lime Pie Larabar, which he loved! The Apple Pie Larabar contains only six ingredients: dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon. These bars generally cost more than your average granola/energy bar, but that is because of the stellar ingredients they contain. These are great labor or nursing snacks. It would be a great idea to tuck a few of these in a gift basket for an expectant mother.

Win a 4-Pack of Larabars!

Larabar is graciously giving away a four pack (of any flavors of your choice) to one of my blog readers.

Mandatory Entry:

Visit the Larabar website, and let me know which flavor(s) you would choose if you win.

Additional Optional Entries:

1. Become a fan of Lily of the Valley.

2. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect. (or leave me a comment saying that you already do)

3. Blog, tweet, or share on facebook about this giveaway. (leave a comment each time you do this; you can do this once a day.)

4. Become a facebook fan of Larabar on Facebook. Tell them that Lily of the Valley sent you.

This contest will end September 23, 2011 at 12 noon. EST, and is open to US residents only.

Disclaimer: I received food samples and the giveaway pack from Small Planet Foods in exchange for an honest review.

Our History Resources for 2011-2012

2011-09-09T16:24:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite aspects of homeschooling is being able to learn alongside my children. I enjoy combining all of my children for read alouds, Bible time, science, and history lessons. This year, we are using The Mystery of History as our spine for history lessons.We are planning on going through the entire series of the Mystery of History books, using one per year. This year, we are starting with book one, which covers history from Creation to the Resurrection. I love that The Mystery of History is chronological, Christian, and can be adapted for various age ranges. We complete three lessons per week, which seems substantial enough, yet not overwhelming.

Veritas Press History Cards

The Veritas Press cards can be used to make an easy timeline!

This is our first year using the Veritas Press History cards, and they are so impressive! They each contain a famous work of art depicting the historic event. On the back of each card, there is a brief synopsis of the event and resources to further one's study about the event. The Mystery of History isn't very colorful , yet it is meaty, and I find these two resources to complement each other very well. The Veritas Press cards provide much color and visual stimulation for my children as I read aloud to them. One of our favorite games is for me to show them the Veritas Press cards,one at a time, and see who can tell me about each event. Whoever described the most events is the winner.

Hold that Thought

Hold that Thought's Tower of Babel page

The 10 Commandments page

My third grader and first grader each have a history binder, which we are beginning this year. Each binder is divided into four sections, one for each year of history we will be studying in chronological order. We using a combination of blank notebooking pages, as well as some sheets from Hold That Thought. Hold that Thought sells simply amazing notebooking sheets, which cover a plethora of topics. They sent me a couple cds to review, and the one we are using most of all this year is the Advanced Old Testament cd. These pages are stunning, and correspond beautifully with the rest of the history materials I am using this year. I was so surprised by how many printable sheets are on one cd! They also sell cds of timeline figures, which are of great quality!

Here is a screenshot of the event sheet topics for the Advanced Old Testament cd:

I am hoping that the history notebooks we are creating will be treasured by my children, as they grow. Hold that Thought sells so many amazing notebooking sheet cds. I would love to try this for my kindergarteners, one day!

Books, Books, Books

We go to the library once a week or bimonthly, to pick up the books I have reserved via inter-library loan. Rather than searching for various books with my four children in the library (aka....known as chaos) , I generally reserve the books online. We are enjoying reading a variety of books correlating to our history and science studies.

Between using The Mystery of History, Veritas Press History cards, Hold that Thought notebooking pages, and reading a ton of books, we are having a great time learning history, this year.

I would love to hear how you enjoy learning with your little ones!

Disclaimer: I received Veritas Press History cards and Hold that Thought cds for free, in exchange for an honest review.

The Purpllinker: A Great Learning Tool for Children of all Ages!

2011-08-22T21:10:00.001-05:00

When I first received the Purpllinker to review fromTimberdoodle, I knew it would be a perfect fit for my four-year old daughter. What I didn't expect was that my seventeen month old, six-year-old, and eight-year-old would have a blast with it, as well!

What is Purpllinker, you may ask?

Purpllinker is a learning tool made of 7 durable, plastic pieces and rivets. Here is a link to a sheet showing some of the shapes, letters, etc. that you can make with the Purpllinker. Upon first glance, it seems like a very simple concept, but there is a lot that can be done with it! My four-year-old is learning the alphabet, and loves using the Purpllinker to learn in a tactile manner. We will be using it to help reinforce the letters of the alphabet and numbers. My six-year-old son is using it to make different house shapes, animals, and letters. I am planning on using it to teach my eight-year-old daughter geometric shapes and the Greek alphabet.

My favorite feature of the Purpllinker is that it is very portable. I can easily carry it in my purse, and keep my four-year-old productively occupied. I may need to invest in a Purpllinker for each of my children, as it has been an instant hit around my house.

The Purpllinker is a component in Timberdoodle's Preschool Curriculum Kit. Timberdoodle does a terrific of selecting fun learning materials for homeschooling families.

Olivia has had a blast with the Purpllinker!

Disclosure:
As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free Purpllinker in exchange for an honest review.

Our Chore Packs

2011-08-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

I was inspired by Courtney's posts here and here to start a chore pack system for my children. It is vital that children learn the importance of hard work and diligence, especially at an early age. I found some great printable chore cards here, and printed them out. I was thrilled to see that my local Walmart has the card holders that are in a necklace style. These have a back compartment where I can store completed or extra chores. My little ones have loved coloring their chore cards. There are also blank cards, so I can create chores which are unique to our home. I started making them for my son, first, and he has been so delighted with his chore pack! He loves knowing what he needs to accomplish without me needing to keep reminding him. We have tried chore charts in the past, and this works so much better for us. I think this is an excellent method for readers and pre-readers alike!

The printable chore cards that my son colored.
I would love to hear your tips for how you manage chores at your house? What rewards do you use for diligence?

The Winner is....

2011-08-19T14:58:00.000-05:00

The winner of Rejuvenate with Serene is #6, Delilah. Congrats, Delilah! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Surviving without a Microwave

2011-08-18T15:03:00.001-05:00

About a year ago, I noticed several health advocates encouraging others to dispose of their microwaves. I must admit that the concept of abandoning my microwave didn't sit very well with me, at first. After all, as a child of the 80's, a microwave oven had always been a part of my life.As a busy mama to four little ones, I was concerned that living without a microwave would make my time in the kitchen too cumbersome. For about one month, I completely brushed off the notion of living microwave-free. Then, I was reading one of my favorite health books, Green for Life, all about green smoothies and raw nutrition. The author, Victoria Boutenko , shared that Russia, the country she is from, banned microwaves years ago for health reasons. I decided that it was time to make a baby step towards change, so with my husband's blessing, I moved our microwave out to our garage for one month. I decided that if I could live without it for 30 days, I would get rid of it. If I couldn't live without it, I could easily rescue it from my garage, and restore it to its previous location.
My experiment went well, much to my surprise, and we made do without our microwave for the entire 30 days. It has been about 10 months since my experiment, and I am happy to report that it was much easier than I thought it would be to live without a microwave. I have a smaller, galley-style kitchen, and my counter space is at a premium. Getting rid of the microwave helped me to reclaim some of my counter space.

I am loving my "new" counterspace.

Here are a few ways that I make do without a microwave:

Heating up Beverages

I have a small saucepan that I use to heat up water for hot beverages on the stovetop. It only takes a minute or two longer than it would have in the microwave. I also use this method for melting chocolate, re-warming coffee, etc.. Another great alternative would be an electric kettle or a tea kettle.

Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens offer the same conveniences of a microwave without compromising the nutrition content of your food. There are many dishes that can be used in the toaster oven to reheat leftovers. Almost everyday, I use the Pampered Chef Small Bar Pan to heat/reheat food in my toaster oven. It is perfect for making crispy quesadillas, toasted sandwiches, or for heating a single slice of homemade pizza! My hubby would never eat baked potatoes when I zapped them in the microwave; he said they were too mushy and odd tasting. I started making them in the toaster oven and he loved how crispy the potatoes were. We have gotten a lot of use out of our $20 toaster oven. When it eventually "bites the dust" we are planning on upgrading to a convection toaster oven, which will cook food even quicker than our current model.

Popcorn

Even before we "kissed our microwave goodbye", we had made the switch to air-popping our popcorn. Many manufacturers of microwave popcorn had been adding diacetyl to their popcorn. My little ones get very excited whenever we bring out our popcorn popper. If you don't have one of these handy gadgets, try this stovetop method.

Crock Pot

Keeping foods warm throughout the day prevents the need to reheat.

Living without a microwave is much easier than I ever expected. There is one non-food purpose that I miss having a microwave for, and that is to heat up my corn pack. It was an absolute Godsend when I was in labor with babies #3 and #4. It felt amazing applied to my lower back during contractions. I have tried to find an adequate substitute, but haven't been able to yet. My husband got me an Instant Heat Therapy Pack, which you have to boil after each use. It often takes 20+ minutes to make it ready to be reactivated. Other than that, I don't miss my microwave at all. If you have any ideas about a good substitute, I would really appreciate it!

Do you use a microwave? Do you think you could live without it?

Further Reading

The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking

Why We Should All Get Rid of Our Microwave

Do You Microwave Your Food?

Minding the Microwave: Reseach Notes

This post is linked to Women Living Well, Healthy2Day Wednesdays,Kitchen Tip Tuesdays, and WFMW.

Pin Curls: An Easy and Elegant Hair-Do!

2011-08-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

Pin curls are such a fun way to style your hair! No fancy styling gadgets are required, simply use a few bobby pins. Lily loved wearing her hair in pin curls at bedtime, and was thrilled to have a set of curls in the morning. It is a great way to keep your hair up during the day, and then wear it down, curly, at night.

Before:

After:

Complete directions here.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-08-15T07:34:00.003-05:00

Monday:
Breakfast- Green Smoothies, Bagels
Snack (reading time)- carrots and hummus
Lunch- Chickpea Salad, quesadillas, leftovers (I like to make one meal, at the beginning of the week for the children and I to eat each day for lunch. It helps me to make sure that we are eating something healthy, and yet I am not scrambling to figure out what to make.)
Snack- Banana Almond Smoothie (These are amazing!)
Dinner- Salad and Spaghetti

My Littlest enjoying a green smoothie

I love her!

Tuesday:

Breakfast- Green Smoothies, Oatmeal
Snack- Carrots and Hummus, fruit
Lunch- Chickpea Salad, Quesadillas, or leftovers
Snack- The Avocado Smoothie (This is a good source of healthy fats especially for mothers and young children!)
Dinner- Omelettes and Baked Soaked Oatmeal

Wednesday:

Breakfast- Green Smoothies, 10 grain hot cereal
Snack- Carrots and Hummus
Lunch- Chickpea Salad, Quesadillas, or leftovers
Snack- Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie (so yummy!)
Dinner- Salad, Thai Peanut Noodle

Thursday:

Breakfast- Green Smoothies, Oatmeal
Snack- Carrots and Hummus
Lunch- Chickpea Salad, Quesadillas, or leftovers
Snack- Banana Almond Smoothie
Dinner- Chicken Burritos

Friday:

Breakfast- Green Smoothies
Snack- Carrots and hummus, fruit
Lunch- Chickpea Salad, Quesadillas
Snack- PB Chocolate Smoothie
Dinner- Homemade Pizza

I would love to hear what is on your menu this week. Blessings, friends!

Rejuvenate with Serene Dvd Giveaway!

2011-08-12T10:20:00.000-05:00

So often, as mothers, there are so many pressing needs to meet, and it is easy to neglect our own health. Bearing children and nursing them is a great blessing, yet can be very fatiguing especially if we aren't consuming proper nutrients. I was so excited to be able to review Rejuvenate with Serene, made by Franklin Springs Media. Serene Allison emphasizes the importance of eating healthy during all of the seasons of childbearing, and how to encourage your family to eat healthier. Serene has a contagious enthusiasm and passion for helping others to prepare delectable, healthy meals, and thus reverse/avoid disease. One aspect of this dvd , which I absolutely love, is that Serene encourages others to make baby steps towards eating healthy. Rather than trying to persuade others to remove every processed food from their shelves, she encourages the viewers to bring healthy choices into your home in addition to what you already have. Also, she recommends adding a raw dish here and there as a supplement to dinner, rather than getting rid of all of your normal meals all at once. I enjoy the baby steps approach, and feel like it is a much better way to get one's family on board with healthier choices, rather than going "cold turkey". I had read Serene's cookbook, Rejuvenate Your Life, and enjoyed watching her make some of those recipes in this dvd. In Rejuvenate with Serene, you can watch her make Pizza (the healthy way), Banana Ice Cream, Rich Cheesy Sauce (without cheese), and a Healthier Salad. Serene shows how to use a young coconut, which is very nutrient dense. I appreciated this part of the dvd because she showed how to open a young coconut, which I always struggled with before. Serene shares the importance of pregnant/nursing mothers drinking young coconut water. It is full of natural electrolytes, and is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral. When you drink coconut water, it goes right to one's liver, which results in an energy boost. I think I need to stock up on these the next time I visit my local Asian market! Serene's three basic steps to health, which were outlined in this dvd are excellent!

Rejuvenate with Serene - Trailer from Franklin Springs on Vimeo.

Serene's three recommended Steps to Improved Health:
1. Eat More Whole Foods. (get rid of white flour, white sugar, etc..)

2. Avoid Toxins.

3. Eat more raw foods. Raw foods are the secret to vibrant health. Cooking destroys 80-90% vitamins and nutrients in food, and destroys 100% of food enzymes.

Rejuvenate with Serene contains great bonus features including recipes and an interview with Nancy Campbell, Serene's mother, about Serene's health journey. This dvd is only $9.95 right now.

I am so excited that Franklin Springs Media is giving away a copy of Rejuvenate with Serene, to one of my blog readers. Serene's enthusiasm for health is contagious and is such a vital message for all mothers.

To Win:
1. Leave a comment telling me why you would like to win this dvd. (mandatory entry)

Optional Additional Entries:

2.Become a fan of Franklin Springs Media. Write on their Wall that Lily of the Valley sent you.

3. Become a fan of Lily of the Valley.

4. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect. (or leave me a comment saying that you already do)

5.Blog, tweet, or share on facebook about this giveaway. (leave a comment each time you do this; you can do this once a day.)

6. Visit Franklin Springs Media and tell me what other video they sell looks like something you would like to see.

This contest ends August 19th, 2011 at 12 pm EST, and is open to US residents only.

Disclosure: Franklin Springs Family Media provided me with a complimentary review copy and a giveaway copy

July Books

2011-08-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

Throughout this past month, I read two fantastic books, Lessons at Blackberry Inn and A Love that Multiplies. These are two of the best books I have read all year!

Lessons at Blackberry Inn

Homeschool catalogs are replete with "How to Homeschool" Books for the home educating mother. Encouraging and edifying fiction, which are full of homemaking inspiration are few and far between. It is a joy to enter Carol Weaver's world, circa 1930. Carol Weaver is a home-educating mother and homemaker. Inspirational snippets of Charlotte Mason-style education are woven throughout Lessons at Blackberry Inn.

Here is a delightful excerpt of Lessons of Blackberry Inn, detailing how the the Weavers use dominoes, on occasion, for math lessons:

"During our morning lessons the children used dominoes to practice arithmetic. We covered the table with dominoes, facedown. Taking turns, they picked one and read the sum of the sides. As they played, they increased their speed." - p. 38

I was inspired to employ creative ideas such as these, into my homeschool as well.

A beautiful Christian theme is woven throughout Lessons at Blackberry Inn. What a joy to read about a Christian, home-educating family! Whether Carol, the main character of the story, is canning a large bushel of tomatoes, making a yo-yo quilt, or making pie crusts, joyful homemaking and home education is a common theme throughout this story.Lessons at Blackberry Inn is a top recommendation, especially for those desiring to home school in a Charlotte Mason style.

A Love that Multiples

The Duggars have been an amazing inspiration to me, and the more I learn about them, the more inspired I have become to live a godly life. They have such a vibrant love for the Lord. I have enjoyed both of the books they have written, which include so much wisdom they have gleaned throughout the years. They have inspired me to be joyful and kind to others (which is definitely a work in progress), even if others say uncharitable things about my "large family". A Love that Multiplies contains so much wisdom including inspiring children to entrepreneurial endeavors, homeschooling rubrics, learning to follow God without question, and so much more. A Love that Multiplies is such an encouragement; it is a resource that I will definitely glean from for years to come.

I received a complimentary copy of Lessons at Blackberry Inn for review purposes. I was not compensated in any way for this review.

A Healthier Lunch Meat

2011-08-02T18:58:00.000-05:00

According to a variety of studies, lunch meats containing nitrates or nitrites can increase one's risk of cancer by about 67%. Leukemia increased 700% when children consume hot dogs regularly. Nitrites and Nitrates are commonly found in bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meat, and pepperoni. Once I learned of the increased cancer risk associated with these foods, I sought to eliminate these foods from our diet/find healthier alternatives. For the past several months, I have been purchasing Hormel's nitrite/nitrate free lunch meat . I am excited to see that they also carry uncured pepperoni, which would be great for pizza night. I am so excited that these products are highly accessible; even my local Walmart carries these! If you still eat traditional lunch meat, I highly recommend finding a nitrate/nitrite-free alternative. I received no compensation from Hormel, nor a product to review. This is just a heart-felt recommendation from a fellow Mom seeking to raise healthy children.

This post is linked to Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Women Living Well, and Works for Me Wednesday.

The Winner of the $25 Walmart Gift Card is....

2011-07-29T17:21:00.000-05:00

Congrats to JC. You are the winner of the $25 Walmart Gift Card.

My Healthy Living Goals (Part Two)

2011-07-27T17:11:00.000-05:00

Find my first three healthy living goals here.

4. Reduce/Eliminate Refined Sugar

This almost raw ice cream was made by blending frozen bananas and Chocolate Almond Milk.

This is one of the hardest challenges for me, as I have a major sweet tooth. I want to avoid refined sugars, and replace them with raw honey or fruit, as a natural sweetener.

2. Maintain/Increase Green Smoothie Consumption

I have been drinking green smoothies, almost daily, for a few years. I usually drink a quart of smoothie a day, and would like to increase that to two smoothies, daily. I am convinced that there is no better way to drink to your health than to drink green smoothies. Using a high powered blender, like the Vita Mix, breaks open the tough cell walls of plants. These cell walls aren't usually opened by merely chewing alone. Blending opens these cell walls, unleashing all of the nutrients within the cell. A few benefits of leafy greens include:
*helps prevent cancer *provides iron to organs *makes the body more alkaline *purifies the liver *helps unclog arteries naturally *relieves sore throat *cleans and deoderizes bowel tissues *improves vision *improves varicose veins *helps sores heal faster *and much more.
It has been estimated that 70% of cancers are attributed to nutritional deficiencies/overload of toxins. Green leafies supply the revitalizing nutrients and expel the toxins that are stored in our bodies. One American dies from cancer every minute. If even some cancer cases can be prevented through nutrition, it would be well worth it. Here are some of my tips regarding how to make green smoothies more palatable for beginners/children.

3. Milk

Pasteurized, homogenized milk has been linked to some adverse health affects. According to the book, Cancer Step Outside the Box, pasteurized milk is incapable of building bones, since the enzyme phosphatase, which is required in order to absorb calcium is destroyed in the heating process. Raw milk is illegal to purchase in my state. (It is so important that if you are in a state where it is legal to buy raw milk, that you make sure that you get it from a very clean, reliable source.) I use almond milk as a substitute for cow's milk. I would love to make my own, but have had trouble finding an affordable source of almonds. (Note: I do buy a half gallon of cow's milk, on occasion, for cooking purposes.) I have also read that goat/Jersey cow milk confers more health benefits than Holstein cow milk. I would love to own a milking goat, one day. I highly recommend doing your own research about milk. This is a great place to start. A natural, alternative source of calcium is broccoli or green leafies.

I would love to hear what your health goals are! Blessings!

This post is linked to Women Living Well and Day2Day Joys.

My Healthy Living Goals (Part One)

2011-07-20T14:28:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine recently posted a few of her health goals for this year, and it inspired me to put together a list of goals that I have/will be working on!

1. Pure Water

The Imperial Berkey, my beloved water filtration system.

Drinking healthy water is so fundamental in living a vibrantly healthy life. It can be downright depressing reading about all of the potential adverse effects of drinking municipal water. Chlorine and heavy fluoridation were two of many ills that I wanted removed from my water supply. (I checked what the fluoridation levels were for my local water supply, and they greatly exceeded the recommended amount. If we aren't supposed to swallow toothpaste with fluoride, why should we drink large doses of it?) So, one of my first goals towards healthy living was to purchase a Berkey filtration system. We ordered the Imperial Berkey, which is the second largest filtration system offered by Berkey, which filters 4.5 gallons. More than Alive offers a free gift with orders over a Berkey filtration system, and I selected the PF-2 Arsenic and Fluoride reduction elements. We have used this system for several months and are so please with our purchase. We couldn't think of a better investment in our health, than pure water! We also use a KDF shower filter, to prevent absorbing or inhaling chlorine, while taking a hot shower.

2. Exercise

When you have little ones to tend to, it is easy to brush exercise off as a low priority. (I avoid exercise more often than I should!) But it is one area that is so vital for our health! Exercise has been found to reduce one's cancer risk, lesson depression, and even aid as an immune system boost. Aerobic exercise is especially helpful, as it delivers oxygen to every cell of our bodies. So many days when the last thing I feel like doing is exercising, I remind myself that I am doing it for my husband and my children, so I will be healthier. The cardio workouts that I have been doing are The Shred and Crunch: Fat Burning Pilates. (If you have Netflix, Crunch: Fat Burning Pilates is on instant watch.) I also try to take my children out for some exercise, daily, especially in the evening, because it is so hot here!

3. Prepare and Eat Alkaline Meals

According to the book, Cancer Step Outside the Box, we ought to eat 20% acidic and 80% alkaline to maintain health. Unfortunately, most readily available foods are acidic, and these can be quite toxic to our bodies. Preparing healthier meals definitely requires more planning, but is well worth it in the long run. I love gleaning from healthy recipe blogs such as The Nourishing Gourmet.

The following is a list of alkaline foods: (listed in Cancer Step Outside the Box)
most raw veggies and fruits, figs, lima beans, olive oil, honey, molasses, apple cider vinegar, miso, tempeh, raw milk, raw cheese, stevia, green tea, most herbs, sprouted grains, sprouts, wheatgrass, barley grass

Acidic Foods:
Sodas, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, tobacco, aspartame, meats, oysters, fish, eggs, chicken, pasteurized milk, processed grains, sugar, peanut butter, beans, pasta

One of our favorite dishes is this healthy Mexican Quinoa Salad.
It contains spinach, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, corn, quinoa, garlic, and cilantro. Many of these ingredients are extremely alkaline and contribute to overall health! Cilantro is an amazing herb, which can help pull heavy metals out of your body.Avocado Tomato soup is another alkaline meal we enjoy, chocked full of living enzymes and nutrients.

I would love to hear what your health goals are! I have quite a few more health goals to share with you, as this is an area that I am very passionate about! Blessings!
This post is linked to :

Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for More than Alive and my affiliate links are used in this post.

Giveaway: $25 Walmart Gift Card

2011-07-19T16:17:00.002-05:00

This Giveaway is now closed.

The Boxtops for Education program is a fantastic way to contribute money to a local school. Most Walmart stores have up to 70 items containing 4 box tops each!
Walmart is one of my favorite places for buying school supplies for my children. Though I homeschool year round, I love to stock up on school supplies at the back to school sales. One money saving tip is that Walmart price matches competitors printed ads, so save all the ads, and get all of your school supplies at one place, for a great price. Talk about a life-saver right there, I am not fond of taking my littles into several stores at once, if I can avoid it! I am so excited to be able to giveaway a $25 Walmart gift card to one of my blog readers!

To Enter the Giveaway:
1. Leave a comment telling me what back to school supplies you usually purchase from Walmart. (Please leave an e-mail address.)

Optional Additional Entries:
1. Share about this giveaway on facebook, twitter, or your blog.
2. Follow Lily of the Valley and Walmart on Facebook.
3. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.

Contest is open to US residents, ending on July 29th, 2011 at 12 pm. EST. One winner will be chosen at random via Random.org.

Disclosure: The information and $25 gift card to Walmart has been provided by Walmart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

My Annie Rose is 4!

2011-07-11T14:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my Annie Rose turned 4. There is a lot of life in those four years. She cracks me up more times than I can count, in a day, and she brings us so much joy!

She is:

- Very Feminine-She loves pink, ruffles, and lace.

- Happy- She wakes up giggling every morning (well...most days!)

-Spunky

- Fiercely Loyal - She will defend a sibling or other loved one if someone criticizes him/her.

- Fun Loving

It is amazing how these little blessings, whom we hope and dream to mold, through God's constant Grace, more and more into His image, change us. Annie was my first natural birth...I learned a lot through that experience. Labor fizzled out a bit while I hit a natural alignment plateau, and I had to draw from the amazing Bradley classes that I took, my midwife and doula's aid, and most of all, God's constant help, to continue on. God was faithful, and I was forever changed when I held my baby, still in shock that I really and truly gave birth without medication. I was no longer a skeptic that natural birth was possible...I became a natural birth advocate that same day. (Please note- I know that natural birth is not always possible in every situation, but I know from experience that it can be a great blessing and a life-changing experience.) She has been my spunky gal who brings joy to my every day. I am so grateful that God saw fit to send me my precious Annie.

The Winner of The Well Planned Day Planner is...

2011-07-08T11:21:00.001-05:00

Congratulations, Michelle! You won via random.org. Thank you to the Home Educating Family Publishing Company, for the review and giveaway copies! Blessings!

The Well Planned Day Planner Review and Giveaway

2011-07-01T13:05:00.000-05:00

There is nothing that I love more than a good organizational tool. Homeschooling mothers are often challenged to find a planner that works with homeschooling, rather than traditional schooling. The Well Planned Day Planner fills this need, very well. In the past, I have used a hybrid approach to planning, utilizing a store-bought planner and printable sheets from the internet. This works alright, but have often thought that it would be so much more convenient to have all of my planning sheets in one location, and to not have to make copious amounts of copies. Last year, I took my printable planning sheets to Staples, to get my book spiral-bound. After my planner was bound, I realized that I wanted to put a lot more sheets in it, such as book lists, etc.. I was so disappointed that most of my planning materials weren't in one simple resource.

My usual hybrid approach to planning, using printables and a store-bought planner

The Well Planned Day is an amazing resource for not only planning out homeschooling schedules, but also for planning grocery lists, dinner menus, recording book lists, grade keeping, chores, and so much more. I love the plentiful amounts of bible verses, inspirational quotes, and a weekly catechism memorization goal. It is like a dream come true that I can get everything I need in a single, pre-bound book! The Well Planned Day Planner is an invaluable resource, which would be great to save each school year. This planner contains schedule forms, curriculum needed/purchased, report cards, chore lists, etc. for up to four children. The holiday planning pages are an amazing bonus!

The Class Plan and scheduling sheets for up to four children are a great way to make sure that you have what you need for each child. You can preview this amazing planner here. Win It! Mandatory Entry: Go here, and leave a comment in my comments section, telling me which planner you are most interested in.
Additional, Optional Entries: Leave a separate comment per entry!
1. Become a Facebook Fan of The Well Planned Day. Leave a comment on their page that Lily of the Valley sent you.
2. Become a Facebook Fan of Lily of the Valley.
3.Become a follower of Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
4. Tweet, Share on Facebook, or blog about this giveaway.
This contest ends Friday, July 8th , at 12 pm noon, and is open to US residents only.

Thank you to the Home Educating Publishing Company for providing the review and giveaway copies of their planners, in exchange for an honest review.

What Man meant for Evil, God meant for Good!

2011-06-26T18:34:00.001-05:00

This past Friday, I did my weekly grocery shopping in the afternoon. After completing the task of shopping at three stores with my four children, I was eager to unpack all of the groceries, and to catch my breath for a minute. As I approached my house, I noticed a deputy's vehicle close to my home. I tried to reassure myself that everything was ok, assuming that something had probably occured at the vacant, bank-owned home next door to me. I pulled up my driveway, and went quickly onto my front porch. As I was about to insert the key into the front door, the deputy stepped out of his vehicle and said, "Ma'am, I am afraid that I have some bad news." At that moment, I think I swallowed my heart...I was so scared that the deputy was going to say that something had happened to my husband. It took, what it seemed like to me, an eternity for him to say the next sentence..." Your house has been broken into." It was quite hard to comprehend in that moment, as everything looked perfect from my front porch. Some guys had kicked down my back door and had broken into my house, shortly after I had left for the grocery shopping errands. My mind was all over the place....I needed to unpack all of those groceries... my children needed to get out from the heat...I needed to tell my husband what happened....what exactly had been stolen? I called my husband, and asked him to please hurry home. My hubby couldn't believe that we had been robbed. I entered my house with the deputy, to find so much in disarray...plastic bags strewn about so the thieves could more easily carry out our goods, my dresser drawers wide open and obviously rummaged through, cords violently hanging out of my tv armoire due to our tv being ripped out. As far as we can tell, all of our goods have been recovered. The robbers dropped the stolen goods when they were being pursued by the deputies, and many of the electronics (laptops, cameras, etc) were destroyed when the items were thrown on the ground. This has been most challenging for the children, but I have been praying that mine and my husband's response would be pleasing to God, and that we would be a good example to the children. It is challenging to see my little ones when they are afraid at night! I have always emphasized to my children that things don't matter, people and relationships matter. Everthing else can be replaced and truly doesn't matter. Shortly after the incident, I reminded my children of Joseph in the Old Testament, who was treated so poorly (by his brothers, his own flesh), yet he saw God's providential hand throughout it all!

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

Another verse that is of a great consolation during trials is Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose."

I am so thankful for God's protection, and that none of my children nor my husband were harmed. I am more convinced, than ever, that things are just things. They are fleeting...moths, dust, and definitely thieves can destroy them here. Our treasure needs to be in heaven. I am so thankful that God protects us, and that He reminds us that earth is merely a temporary abode; our permanent, blissful home is in heaven.

If you would, friends, please pray that I will have a proper attitude and true Christian love for the robbers. It is challenging, to say the least, and I certainly cannot do it of my own strength. Thank you, dear friends!

June Book Review: Untamed

2011-06-26T17:16:00.000-05:00

Lisa Harper, in her latest book, Untamed, casts a new light on just how amazing our Savior is. Untamed challenged me to go to the Scriptures for an accurate view of Jesus, rather than to accept a watered-down, false notion of Him.

"Our Savior isn't some wimpy, pale guy wearing a caftan and Birkenstocks; He is our radically compassionate Savior who risked everything to restore mistake-prone people." -Untamed, page 20

In Untamed, Lisa candidly shares her personal struggles and challenges, showing how Jesus is more than capable of meeting our every need. I was blessed by the message that God loves me passionately, and He wants to be an intrinsic part of my life.

Untamed contains an urgent message that I was in desperate need to hear. It can be so easy to be happy in one's own social circle. Untamed makes the case for reaching out to others who may be nothing like ourselves. It is often there, that we can be truly united with Christ, who trod that same path.

"Jesus came into the world to redeem sinners, to restore lost and lonely people from every tribe and tongue into a loving relationship with our Creator God.Therefore, He didn't limit His interaction to one socially acceptable slice of humanity. As His ambassadors, may we seek to be every bit as inclusive with our affections."- Untamed, page 153

I am grateful for this opportunity to read and to review Untamed. Casting away any pre-conceived notions or myths about our Messiah enables us to worship and to love Him for all that He is!

I received a complimentary copy of Untamed, from Waterbrook Multnomah, via Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Fun in the Kitchen

2011-06-22T10:50:00.001-05:00

My children and I have been whipping up a lot of treats in the kitchen, this summer. I know summer technically began, yesterday, but here in balmy NC, it has felt like summer for a few months, now! Our new, favorite recipe to make are these scrumptious banana bites. They only require three ingredients: chocolate chips, bananas, and peanut butter! (I omitted the coconut.) Banana Bites are so easy to make and are such a delicious, frozen treat.

Frozen banana tastes like vanilla ice cream; these are a delectable treat. Do yourself a favor, make these!

One of my favorite things to do with my Vitamix, besides making green smoothies, is making soups. This week, we tried Avocado Tortilla Soup, which was so yummy. I love that you can heat the soup right in the Vitamix! I try to heat it to warm only, so a lot of the raw enzymes aren't destroyed during the cooking process.

Avocado Tortilla Soup was a great way to use some of our tomatoes from our garden.

Avocado Tortilla Soup is delicious topped with sour cream and crushed tortilla chips.

Next time, I will have to remember to make it in two batches, as I doubled the recipe and soup went everywhere! Needless to say, clean up took longer than making the soup.

The Pioneer Woman's Sweet Cinnamon Scones are amazing! We made them sans cinnamon chips (though we would have used them if we had them) and they were delectable!

My littles loved making and eating the scones! I need to use my summer meal ideas when planning next week's menu. I am trying to utilize the oven as little as possible to keep the house cool.
What goodies and summer suppers are you enjoying? Blessings!
This is linked up to Women Living Well .

New Homeschool Year

2011-06-16T09:33:00.000-05:00

Our homeschool curricula materials have started to arrive, and we are so excited! We homeschool year round, so we can take it slow, and not feel rushed to complete our studies.

Our goodies which arrived from the Rainbow Resource Center

I love how excited my little ones are when they see all of their new learning materials. They always want to tear into everything and get started right away.These handwriting books include Scripture copywork, handwriting practice, and information about bugs, birds, and animals.

I am so excited about our new Veritas Press Bible cards.We will be using these in our Bible and History lessons. They contain 32 chronological Bible events, and they are beautiful! I am also hoping to get their History Cards, to add to our studies.

Here are the first eight Bible cards from Veritas: they cover Creation, the Fall, Cain & Abel, Enoch, The Flood, God's Covenant with Noah, Tower of Babel, and the Call of Abram. I think these will work beautifully with our Mystery of History studies.

Here is a look at the quality of a card. I love how they include the Scripture references on the front of the card.

Back view of a Bible card

Draw and Write through History: Creation through Jonah is another resource that I am eager to utilize, this year. It contains step by step drawing instructions about historical events, which we will use to make notebook pages for our history binders. Notebooking helps a child to fully in engage in learning, as he is challenged to recall events and create his own page.

I must say that Donna Young's free, printable, homeschool planning sheets make my life so much easier!

How are your homeschooling plans coming along? What learning materials are you most excited about, this year?

Early June Happenings

2011-06-02T15:07:00.000-05:00

Our garden has been doing well, overall, except the heat has really started to kick in here. Most days, the temperature has been well over 100 degrees. Keeping the garden watered and evacuating the squash bugs is a full-time job here! The garden has grown a lot since April.

Early June garden

Here is proof positive that you can have a garden even in the middle of the desert...I mean sandhills of NC! Raised Beds and compost are simply amazing!

Tomato Plants

Fresh from the Garden- Greens for Smoothies

It has been such a blessing to be able to get almost all of our greens for our green smoothies, fresh from the garden! This morning, I picked turnip greens, parsley, and kale to add to our smoothies. Even if I didn't eat beets or turnips, I would grow them anyways, just for the greens. The greens are so nutrient-dense, and those are the parts that are usually cut off and thrown out.

A Morning Smoothie We adore the fozen yumminess of green smoothies, often, a couple of times a day. We love freezing most of the fruit we add for a deliciously cold concoction, without needing to add ice.

My Green-ish Smoothie

This has become our favorite lunch, as of late.....homemade sweet potato fries and corn on the cob.

Other June Happenings:

~ I am so thrilled that I was chosen to have a Discover You Can House Party. I have been scared to try canning by myself, and am so excited that I can have some family members and friends around while I learn. Remember how my June goal was to learn to can? Well, this is perfect timing! I love that canning is very retro right now; I would love it anyways, but it is delightful to see old arts making a comeback.

~ I have been been bitten by the decluttering bug. Over the past week, I have gotten rid of about a dozen bags of trash/ bags of clothes to giveaway. Even the little ones are starting to catch on that having less truly is more! I am so glad for Tsh's simple living recommendations in Organized Simplicity. I wish I didn't live two hours away from this place, although I would probably be tempted to spend too much there. (wink)

~ I cannot make these cookies, often enough! They have a much heartier consistency, in my opinion, than a plain old chocolate chip cookie. These are great to store in the freezer for hospitality purposes.

~ I have started a gratitude journal since reading this book. It is amazing how much your perspective can change merely by taking the time to list your blessings! Here are a few of Ann's quotes which have changed my life:

"I may have said yes to God, yes to Christianity, but really, I have lived the no."

"The only real prayers are the ones mouthed with grateful lips."

How has your May/June been? Blessings, friends!

Prima Latina Review

2011-06-01T14:53:00.001-05:00

In high school, I took one year of Latin, which was mandatory for graduation. Then, in college, I took four semesters of Latin. I was amazed at how much one year of Latin studies in high school helped me in my other studies. I knew that at some point, I would make sure that my children studied Latin, and I often assumed that it would be later than earlier. I decided to start my rising third grader in a beginner Latin course, after researching that language is more readily assimilated by a child under ten. Studies suggest that we use an entirely different part of our brain to study language after ten, than we did before ten years. Cheryl Lowe mentions several persuasive reasons to include Latin as a foundation in one's education.

"Latin, like math, gives the student the experience of studying one subject to a mastery level. This is what is missing in modern education, where we try to teach everything and we cover too many subjects too superficially. The student is always on the surface, always a beginner, just stuffing in a lot of unrelated facts. There are few opportunities to use higher order thinking skills when you are merely a novice. It is only when the student has studied a subject enough to have some depth that his mind can be stretched and challenged with higher order thinking skills. Latin and math give students the invaluable experience of studying one systematic subject to a mastery level over a long period of time, K-12 and beyond. This is a key to mental and character development and is the most valuable academic experience a child can have in school." -Cheryl Lowe

I was given the opportunity to review the Prima Latina course by Memoria Press. Even though I have taken three years of Latin, I was a bit nervous at the thought of teaching my eight-year old daughter Latin. Prima Latina is a wonderful place to begin Latin studies, for children in grades K-4. Prima Latina consists of a student book, teacher's manual, pronunciation cd, instructional dvds, and flashcards. The entire set costs $90.90, which is a great bargain, especially since the instructional dvds are included in that price. The instructional dvds are a wonderful resource. Leigh Lowe, the creator of the Prima Latina course, is the teacher in the instructional dvds. The Prima Latina dvds consist of nine hours of video instruction. Though Prima Latina would definitely be simple enough for any parent to teach, it is a great blessing to be able to utilize the Prima Latina dvds to teach Latin to your child. Leigh Lowe has an entertaining teaching style, which makes learning Latin (dare I say it?) fun! If I am uncertain if my daughter caught on to a lesson the first time, I let her watch the lesson again the next day; it simply couldn't be easier! In these dvds, vocabulary is drilled, memory work is practiced, and vocabulary derivatives are taught. My daughter enjoys learning new Latin sayings and greetings, such as "Salve Magistra", which she has learned through this dvd course.

Here are two screen shots from the Prima Latin dvd set:

Though the Prima Latina dvds are not essential to this course, they are an excellent tool to ensure that your child learns Latin well. The instructional dvds bring the ease of having a Latin tutor in your home, at whenever time is convenient for you!

The heart of the program consists of the Teachers Manual and Student Manual. Together, these two items are a total of $28. Prima Latina consists of 25 lessons, which makes it easy to complete one lesson a week. One lesson a week feels like a reasonable amount of Latin coursework for a child between the ages of 5 and 8 years, which this course was created for. (I would definitely recommend that your child is reading well, in order to fully utilize this course.) Tests are given after every fifth lesson. I have been impressed by the amount of English grammar that my daughter has learned, while taking the Prima Latina course. Prima Latina also contains a pronunciation cd, for only $4.95. The pronunciation cd covers all the vocabulary and memory work in this course, so I often let my daughter listen to the cd while we are running errands! The Prima Latina flashcard set is $14.95, and also covers all of the words in the subsequent course, Latina Christiana. I punch out the perforated vocabulary words for the week, and let my daughter review them. It is just another great way to ensure memorization of Latin vocabulary.

Memoria Press has a phenomenal, 60 day return guarantee. Also, they will replace any cd, dvd, etc., if they malfunction, for only a $3 shipping and handling charge.

If you are considering teaching your child Latin, but are unsure which level to place him at, this chart may be helpful to you.

Memoria Press supplied the materials for free, in exchange for an honest review.

Story Starters: An Invaluable Resource for Sparking Creativity in Writing

2011-05-25T14:25:00.002-05:00

I was so thrilled to receive a review copy of Story Starters, by Karen Andreola. Mrs. Andreola is also the authoress of A Charlotte Mason Companion, A Pocketful for Pinecones, Lessons at Blackberry Inn, and Simply Grammar. Mrs.Andreola's works are a blessing to home-educators, especially those who want to instruct after Charlotte Mason's model.

Story Starters is a non-consumable, multi-level creative writing resource, for an entire family. It consists of one large paperback book, containing the beginning to 67 captivating stories.

Story Starters is a thick, solid book, chocked full of interesting stories for your children to complete.

Story Starters is primarily intended for grades 4-12, but can be adapted to younger children, as well. My almost third-grader and first-grader had so much fun selecting stories to orally complete. It was such a fun exercise for them. As they grow older, I can follow more of the guidelines Mrs.Andreola gives for older children, including writing and polishing help. Until my children are ready to write their own story endings, I can also write down what they dictate.

Story Starters contains gorgeous illustrations which are reminiscent of yester-year.

Story Starters is so much fun! My children are always begging for "just one more", which doesn't always happen with other homeschooling curricula. I usually let my children pick out what story they are interested in, and that works very well. I love how Story Starters contains ample moral lessons emphasizing biblical principles. Story Starters is a delightful way to encourage your child's creative writing skills....and the best part is..... he may not even know that he is learning!

This post is linked back to The Homeschool Curriculum Review Roundup.
I received Story Starters in exchange for an honest review.

The winners of the Keepers of the Faith Character Books are....

2011-05-25T13:28:00.000-05:00

The winners of the Keepers of the Faith Character Books are:

                         * Joyfilled

                         * Zsuzsanna

                         * Erin

                         * Emily

                          *Style Image Studios

I will be e-mailing those who have an e-mail address attached to their profile page. If you are a winner, and I do not have your e-mail address, please e-mail me at aprongirl at gmail.com with your name and address and which title you prefer.

This giveaway was hosted by Keepers of the Faith, who supplied the review item and giveaway items.

May Learning Goal: Homemade Ginger Ale

2011-05-23T13:44:00.005-05:00

My May Challenge was to make homemade ginger ale. I have been so dissatisfied with many store-bought ginger ales, many of which contain no ginger! My children and I had a blast making our own ginger ale. It took about an hour to make the ginger syrup by simmering the ginger slices, sugar, and water. Then, I strained it, and let it cool. We mixed 2 ounces of ginger syrup per 6 ounces of club soda. I found it very tasty, with a hint of ginger, but will probable add a bit more ginger syrup to the concoction, next time I make this recipe. It is so nice to finally know that my ginger ale contains ginger! I treated my little ones to a fizzy cup of ginger ale, today, after family reading time. They were thrilled!

I love how easy this learning goal was, and will definitely make this again! I wonder if this ginger ale helps with nausea. (I would think so, since it contains real ginger.) I will definitely have to try it if the Lord sends me another blessing!

What new things are you learning?

This post is linked up to Simple Homemaking and the Homestead Barnhop.

Educational/Parenting Freebies

2011-05-19T15:41:00.001-05:00

I happened upon a few educational freebies, which I wanted to pass along to you!

The Jungle Book Literature Guide (for ages 5-15)

Veritas Press Downloads including their Grammar Stage Curriculum Guide (was $150).

10+ Real Helps for Very Busy Moms This amazing printable from Ann Voskamp is hanging on my fridge...such an inspiration! (The 10 Grace Prayers for Joyful Parenting is amazing too!) These are a must!

Learn/Practice Latin vocabulary here for free.

There are a plethora of free classical language resources here. Even my preschooler loves coloring Latin coloring pages. Greek coloring pages are also available. I love that classical languages can be presented in a fun way!

Free outline maps Print out a corresponding map whenever you read about a particular place, cut up maps and let children assemble as puzzles, etc..

Worksheet Works contains hundreds of printable worksheets that you can customize.

What are your favorite free educational websites?

Character Building/Manners Resources and a Giveaway (5 Winners) !

2011-05-18T16:52:00.000-05:00

One of my largest goals as a mother is that my children grow to be men and women of great character. (Of course, which is only possible by Christ's grace alone!) I try to build my home library with character-building resources, as much as possible.

The following are a few of my character-building/manners/devotional recommendations:

Teach them to Your Children

This is my absolute favorite resource for my preschoolers and early elementary school-aged children! It combines a Bible verse, with a character-building story, a large picture, and a poem. I love to use it to teach character building, as well as the alphabet. It could be used as a basic curriculum for a preschooler, while teaching basic letter skills for each letter.

This is currently on sale for 1/2 off at Vision Forum for only $8.50!

The Squire and the Scroll

This is my son's favorite book! In this captivating book, your children listen to the tale of a young man who withstood strong temptation. This is such an encouraging read!

Doorposts

Doorposts contains a plethora of character-building resources including studies on Proverbs, and complete courses on character building for boys and girls.

Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

I do not own this resource, yet, but I have heard fabulous things about it. I am so grateful that the Mally children wrote a book specifically about loving your siblings and building strong relationships with them. There is also an accompanying coloring book, which would be a great resource during a devotional time.

The Princess and the Kiss

Every little girl dreams about being a princess. This inspirational book shows the beauty and value of purity. It is refreshing to be able to read my daughters a book which emphasizes godliness and inner beauty.

The Basket of Flowers

The Basket of Flowers is a read aloud book that you will want to return to again and again. My children were enthralled as they listened to this tale about a godly young woman who obeyed God amidst false accusations and slander. This book shows the joy in leaning upon God's Providence in every circumstance. It also shows that, "everything works for good for those who love God". This book is also available in a captivating audio version.

Polite Moments

A homeschooling friend of mine has a set of these booklets (they now come in this one handy book). This resource is at the top of my wish list...manners really are important. I love how old-fashioned this manners book is, as well as how Biblically-centered the tips are! Great tips on using manners while visiting other families, working for others, how to be a servant and more. This is an amazing resource which would be great during circle time/ devotions!

Choice Stories for Children

I was teaching in a Christian school, many years ago, when I happened upon this treasure. I found the stories therein convicting, and I was challenged to live more wholly for Him. These stories have a flair for yester-year and are beautiful!

Keepers of the Faith Character Books

Keepers of the Faith produces a set of 18 character books, which can be purchased as a set or individually. Keepers of the Faith sent me a copy of their Diligence Character Book to review. Each character book takes approximately a month to go through, and my children and I have learned so much over these past couple of weeks about diligence. Each Character Book is a Bible study on that particular character trait. We have memorized verses about diligence, such as, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."(- Ecclesiates 9:10) There are devotional stories, copywork, questions, and journaling pages within the book. I really enjoyed the discussion my children and I had after I asked them the following questions from this booklet:

"What if????
....Noah had not been diligent in building the ark? (Genesis 6:10)
....Joseph has not been diligent in his work for Pharaoh? (Genesis 41:46)

What if you are diligent?
What if you are not?"

We were just dumbfounded when we realized what would have happened if Noah had chosen to be lazy! Shortly after reading aloud and discussing with my children, they (without being asked) jumped up and started sweeping and cleaning the floor! It has been a blessing seeing the change in their lives by applying the truths from His Word as we studied this character trait. I have to include the picture because it was just too funny and cute!

I highly recommend the Write Upon My Heart Character Books!

Win a Write Upon My Heart Character Book!

Visit their website, and let me know which Write Upon My Heart Character Book you would be interested in winning! Contest ends May 25, 2011 at 12 noon. I will randomly select five winners to receive the character book of his/her choice!

Keepers of the Faith sent me a Character Book for free, in exchange for an honest review. They also are supplying the books for the giveaway. I have used my affiliate links in this post.

The Winner of the Dayspring Coupon Code is...

2011-05-16T11:15:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Scuba Girl for winning the Dayspring coupon code. Please e-mail me at aprongirl at gmail.com, and I will send you your coupon code. Blessings!

Saving Money at Warehouse Clubs

2011-05-14T12:01:00.000-05:00

Warehouse clubs such as Sam's and Costco can be great places to save money, especially on bulk items. Paying close attention to sizes and unit prices makes it easier to pick out the good deals at local clubs.
I have been a member of Sam's Club for a few years. I certainly do not do all of my shopping there, but there are some items that I buy exclusively at Sam's. I have heard fantastic things about Costco, as well, and would be a member if their store was closer. (The closest one is about an hour away from my house.)

Here are some of the good deals I usually buy at Sam's Club:

Trash Bags- 150 (13 gallon) bags for $9.68

Baking Soda- 13.5 lb. $6.16 (great for cleaning, recipes, laundry, etc.)

Frozen Fruit- 5 lb. bag strawberries- $8.28 I get all of my frozen fruit for smoothies at Sam's Club. (It is even cheaper than when I picked strawberries at a local farm, and froze them, myself. ) They also have bags of frozen blueberries, mixed berries, and tropical fruit.

Baking Powder- 60 oz. $5.78

Yeast- I would say that this is the best deal of the bunch! I kept reading on frugal blogs that Sam's Club and Costco were the best places to buy yeast, because the savings was huge! I was so surprised to find that you can get 2 pounds of yeast (32 ounces) for $4.68 , rather than $4.14 a jar at Walmart, for only 4 oz.. Two pounds of yeast at Walmart comes out to $33.12 , whereas it is only $4.68 at Sam's Club! I bake all of the time, so this deal was so exciting to me! I wish I had known this, years ago. Some people join a warehouse club for this benefit alone.

Unbleached Flour- My dream is to own a grain mill to grind my own wheat, but until that happens, I have been buying the best quality, store-bought flour I can find. Generally, I use King Arthur flour, because the quality is so much better than most. I was thrilled to find 20 lbs unbleached flour (generic brand) at Sam's Club, for only $6.98. I am going to try it next time I need flour.

What deals have you found at your local warehouse club?

Marking your Home for God and a Dayspring Giveaway!

2011-05-09T15:33:00.002-05:00

About six years ago, I attended a conference, and was blessed to hear Voddie Baucham speak in person. He was, without a doubt, one of the most engaging and inspiring speakers, that I have ever heard! He shared about his experience of being raised in a Buddhist home, which was clearly marked as such. Voddie shared how his mother's practice of Buddhism engaged all of the senses. The more senses you engage, the better your recollection will be. He helped to apply this wisdom to marking one's home for Christ. In Family Driven Faith, Voddie shares,

"I have often wondered why I remember my mother's Buddhism so vividly. I know I was around Christian people- or at least people who went to church and claimed to be Christians- but none of their practices had the long-term impact on me that my mother's did. I know this is due in part to the frequency and proximity of my mother's worship. However, I have also come to realize that there was something more. Something else embedded my mother's practices deep in the recesses of my mind.
Then I began to study Deuteronomy 6. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around the application of the principles in verse 9. This is a specific expression of the general principle of the whole passage. There should be tangible things in and about the homes of God's people that distinguish them from the homes of others." (emphasis mine)

I, like Voddie, was raised in a religion that used many external symbols and signs to convey their internal beliefs. When I came to a saving faith in Christ, I was so thankful to be free from the burden of man-made laws. God has used Deuteronomy 6 in many ways, in my life. It is the verse He used to impress upon my heart of the importance of teaching my children, and to mark my home for Him. I definitely need to work on being more deliberate in marking my home for Him!

I was delighted when Dayspring sent me their Pressed Tin Cross to review. I absolutely love marking my home with such a beautiful symbol of my faith. The design is beautiful, and no picture does it justice. I am currently displaying it in my living room, where it looks great with the beige walls.

Dayspring is my favorite place to find Christian home decor.

Win a $20 coupon code to Dayspring!

Mandatory Entry: Visit the Dayspring Store and let me know what you like that they carry.

Additional Optional Entries: (leave a separate comment per entry)

1.Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley.

2.Become a facebook fan of Dayspring.

3. Share about this giveaway on your blog or facebook.

This giveaway ends at 12 pm EST on May 16th , 2011.

Dayspring supplied the review item and the coupon code for this giveaway. Note: Shipping fees still apply to the winner's order.

Book Review: Organized Simplicity

2011-05-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider

Organizational books abound, most full of tips on how to organize everything from your closet to your medicine cabinet. Organized Simplicity is a decidedly different organizational book. Organized Simplicity is divided into two main sections. The first section gives a reason for simple and orderly living. The second section is a master plan for creating a more orderly home in ten days.

Section one inspired me to be more deliberate in evaluating my material goods, and to declutter. Tsh Oxenreider, author of Organized Simplicity, makes the case that excessive material possessions actually takes away from living a full life. When we are busy because of excessive activity/goods, we don't have as much quality time for what really matters.

"When we have more stuff, we usually have less time for relationships with other people." -Organized Simplicity, page 30

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a home you could clean in its entirety in just a few hours so that you could devote the rest of the weekend to enjoying time with your friends and family." - Organized Simplicity, page 31

Tsh guides her readers in composing a family purpose statement to help keep their eyes on their life purpose.Anything that conflicts with one's family mission statement should be re-evaluated to see if it ought to be included in one's life.

The family's purpose statement helps you to be free from feeling like you have to "do it all". Living more deliberately and saying no to the unimportant allows more time for committing to what is important to you and your family.

Tips are included for creating a home management notebook. There are a variety of helpful printables in the back of the book, such as a daily docket. Money management tools/tips are included, as well.

Part two deals with the nitty gritty details on how to purge away the things that don't matter, in order to make room for the things that do matter. Guidance is given, step by step, throughout the decluttering process, room by room.

Organized Simplicity is an absolute inspiration to me to remove the excess and to focus on the essentials. I am inspired to pare down, so that in having less, what I do have will be more meaningful.

If you crave order and more hours in your day, Organized Simplicity is a great starting point.

I received a review copy of Organized Simplicity , in exchange for an honest review.

The Winner of the Homesteading for Beginner's DVD is....

2011-05-06T16:03:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Homesteading for Beginner's Dvd I is #9: Jessica. Thank you so much to the Harrison family for supplying the dvds for this review/giveaway. Check out there awesome store for more homesteading inspiration.

Planning the Homeschool Year

2011-05-05T13:25:00.021-05:00

We just finished up our current homeschool year, and I have been busy planning our upcoming school year. We really enjoyed Adventures in My Father's World curricula. We love homeschooling year round, and find that it works really well with having a larger than "normal" sized family.Though my husband and I still need to make a few final decisions, these are our current plans for the 2011-2012 school year.

Lily (uprising 3rd grader):

Language Arts

Grammar: Easy Grammar 3 I love grammar and this curriculum looks fantastic!

Spelling: Natural Speller I found this at my local, used- homeschool supply store for $2! It covers spelling for grades 1-8. Paired with the free website, Spelling City, she can practice learning her spelling words each week. I love that Spelling City has alphabetizing games, vocabulary activities, and more.

Handwriting: Cursive Workbook

Writing: Writing letters to family and pen pals.

We are focusing on manners, this year, so we are using George Washington's Rules of Civility for

Copywork

Creative Writing: We love using Story Starters, which is a non-consumable course for multiple children.

Foreign Language: Prima Latina I loved learning Latin in school, and am looking forward to re-learning it with Lily.

Math: Teaching Textbooks 3

Stephen (uprising 1st grader):

Language Arts

Phonics: Finish up Phonics Pathways. Phonics Pathways is my favorite resource for teaching reading. It is a non-consumable resource that can be used with all of your children. Lessons are short, yet effective. Most days, it only takes 10-20 minutes for my child to read through a page or two, and practice writing a few words from dictation. My local used homeschool bookstore usually carries a few copies of this book for only $2-$5 each! (Regularly $30)

Explode the Code

Grammar/Vocabulary/Handwriting/Spelling:

Phonics Pathways

Writing: Writing letters to family and pen pals.

I Can Write Manuscript

Copywork

Math: Modern Curriculum Press 1st Grade Math

Learning Time Together

I generally tutor my children individually in phonics/English and math. Then, we join together for Bible, science, history, geography, and literature.

Bible- Old Testament Studies (which correlate to our History lessons)

Bible Memory Verses

History: The Mystery of History I

I love the Mystery of History, as it is a complete, chronological History curriculum. Kendra has some great ideas here for utilizing The Mystery of History with several ages. Her supplemental ideas are great, too!

The supplemental resources we will be using this year include Draw and Write Through History and Veritas Press Bible Cards.

Geography: I will be gleaning from the fun ideas in Hands on Geography and The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide to correlate with our history lessons.

Literature: Ample read alouds (Aiming for 1-2 hours per day) I glean from a variety of booklists such as Five in a Row and Sonlight, on a variety of topics. I will be reading a few selections which complement our history studies, such as The Bronze Bow and Twice Freed.

Science: We will be reading a plethora of books about science from the library, and will be taking nature walks.

We are having a blast with the science experiment kit that my son received for Christmas!

I know this sounds like a lot of materials, but since we homeschool year round, we can take it easy, and don't have to do it all at once. Also, some of the listed materials can be used as resources for multiple years, such as the geography resources. We love to have a fun time, everyday! We love to learn by playing games (Bananagrams, Blokus, Somebody), doing puzzles, etc.. I am so thankful for another year to homeschool my blessings!

I will continue working with Annie (almost four) on pre-reading and math skills. I hope to post soon about what resources I utilize to teach reading to my crew.

I would love to hear what you are planning on using in this upcoming school year!

This post is linked to Show off Your Curriculum Link Up .

Check out some of the materials, we have received so far, for this school year, here.

Homesteading for Beginners dvd Giveaway

2011-04-29T17:34:00.000-05:00

I was given the opportunity to review the lovely Homesteading for Beginner's dvd collection , which was created by the Harrison family. The Harrison's are ex-city slickers, gone country family. I have wanted to learn more about homesteading, for a very long time, and viewing these dvds was the very best place to start. My children and I watched these dvds over a period of a week, and found ourselves not wanting to turn them off. I was so blessed to see how the Harrison's include their children in nearly every homesteading adventure they embark upon. Just observing their children being included in every task inspired me to include my children in much more of what I am learning. In the second Homesteading for Beginner's dvd, their precious son demonstrates how to make kefir bread. It is one of the cutest clips, ever!

I also appreciated that these dvds truly were for homesteading beginners. Each new skill was covered very thoroughly, along with a helpful demonstration. The Harrison's use electricity and other modern conveniences, not expecting their viewers to be "off the grid" and have rare appliances on hand. Each of these dvds is roughly 1 1/2 hours long, and so much ground is covered!

Volume One is absolutely chocked-full of learning! It includes:
*Raised Bed Gardening
*Making Garden Signs
*Blanching Green Beans
*Canning Spaghetti Sauce (which was one of my goals to learn , this year)
*Raising Chicks
* Building a Chicken Coop
*Laying Hens and Eggs
*Butchering Chickens
*Canning Chicken Broth
*Milking a Cow

*Raw Milk Benefits
*Mozzarella Cheese
*Kefir
*Kefir Smoothies
*Buttermilk Yeasted Bread
*Old Fashioned Chicken Dinner

Volume 2 covers:
*Apple Sauce
*Herbs
*Freezing Sweet Corn
*Yogurt Making
*Cream Cheese
*Kefir Bread
*Mincemeat and Pears
*Root Cellar
*Homemade Granola Cereal
*Tea Cakes
*Canning Pumpkin
*Sprouts
*Super Green Drink
*Picnic Booyah Soup
*Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Volume 3 contains:
*Ezekiel 4:9 Bread (bread without sugar!)
*Canning beef meat and pork meat : This was an interesting glimpse into how their local community processes their meat, and then how they store it up.
*Canning Potatoes and Carrots
*Canning Tomatoes
*Beef Vegetable Soup (This is a great recipe, to utilize the canned meat, potatoes and carrots, and other garden goods.These are convenience foods at their finest!)
*Homemade Noodles
*Noodles and Patties
*Easy Egg Bake
*Skillet Dinner
*Lasagna
*Ricotta Cheese
*Homemade Pizza
*Buttermilk and sour cream
*Beef Tips and Gravy
*Mexican Casserole
*Corn Tortillas

I feel as if I have received an excellent introductory education in homesteading, just by viewing these dvds.
The Harrison family is giving away a copy of their Homesteading for Beginner's Vol 1 dvd to one reader of Lily of the Valley.

To enter, visit the Harrison's store, and leave me a comment letting me know what you are most interested in, that they sell.

Additional Optional Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1.Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley.

2. Share about this on twitter, facebook, or your blog.

3. Follow Lily of the Valley via GFC.

This giveaway ends May 6th, 2011 at 12 noon, EST.

I received the Homesteading for Beginners dvds in exchange for an honest review. The Harrison family also supplied the dvd for the giveaway.

The Winners Are...

2011-04-18T13:00:00.004-05:00

The Winner of The Art of Crafting dvd is Latoshia.
The Winner of the $20 coupon code for Dayspring is Erin.
Congratulations, ladies!

3 Ways to Naturally Enhance Your Child's Brain Development

2011-04-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

photo credit

1. Omega 3's
Our grocery stores are laden with processed foods, heavy in Omega 6's. Consuming a large quantity of Omega 6's is a major reason why one out of three American children are overweight/obese. Omega 3's are essential for brain development and are widely available in greens (spinach, mustard greens, kale, etc) , flaxseed oil, and fish oil. One recent study showed great promise when fish oil was given to young students. It has been said that it is nearly impossible to learn with a deficit of Omega 3's in one's diet. Drinking green smoothies is a great (and tasty) way to get those essential fatty acids in your diet, daily. Check out one of my blog reader's experience with green smoothies. (She was a skeptic....green and smoothie didn't sound good to her!)

Recommended Reading:
Omega-3 Boosts Brain Matter, May Explain Improved Moods

Omega 3 Fatty Acid DHA Boosts Baby Intelligence

Maternal Supplementation with very long Chain 3 Fatty Acids during Pregnancy and Lactation Augments Children's IQ's at 4 years of Age

2. Plenty of Unstructured Play Time
One of the greatest ways that we can help our children to have a healthy brain, is to open the back door, and let them run outside and play! The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children ought to have 60 minutes of unstructured play, daily. Most children fall dreadfully short of this goal, only spending an average of 5-7 minutes of unstructured free play. Surgeon General Dr.David Rutstein ties the obesity trend among children with lack of outdoor play. He urges adults to help children to have more play time, lest, "we will leave our children a legacy of shorter life spans for the first time in history". Unstructured play stimulates the imagination, aids in physical development, and hones social skills.

Recommended Reading:
10 Reasons Kids Need Fresh Air

Health Benefits

Make Way for Play

Development Experts Say Children Suffer Due to Lack of Unstructured Fun

3. Ample Read Aloud Time
Ample reading aloud time (as in one to two hours daily), in the early years, is essential to language development skills, such as vocabulary, speech, grammar, reading, and writing. There is no better guarantee that your child will be an avid reader, than that he has been read to, often, in his early years. Jim Trelease's book, The Read-Aloud Handbook makes a very convincing case for the importance of reading aloud, and all of the benefits it provides. I highly recommend picking up a copy of his book! Research has shown that the best writers were also great readers. Reading aloud seems too simple....yet it is one of the most effective tools for ensuring further learning success.

Recommended Reading:
Why Read Aloud?

How is My Child's Reading Going to Get Better If I am Doing the Reading?

Book List for Young Children

The Importance of Reading to Your Children

30 Do's to Remember While Reading Aloud

I would love to hear what ways you found to naturally enhance your child's brain development.

March and April Challenges: Apple Butter and Challah Making + a Giveaway!

2011-04-11T20:15:00.001-05:00

Please forgive me for being a little delinquent in posting, but I am happy to report that I have completed my March and April learning goals. I had a lot of fun learning how to make apple butter and challah. Here are the details:

Homemade Apple Butter

I made apple butter in my crock pot and it was scrumptious. I ended up not really following a recipe, since all I really wanted to add was some brown sugar and cinnamon. My big crock pot is almost always cooking dinner, so I wound up just cooking a few apples in my little dipper crockpot. It took forever for the apples to get tender! (about 2-3 days) Once they were tender, I tossed the apples, some brown sugar and cinnamon in my VitaMix, and it was so scrumptious. The children and I ate it all within five minutes.
Verdict:
Next time, I will wait until I have a bunch of apples, and my 6 quart crock pot ready. This is easy and would make a great gift in a pretty mason jar.

Challah

I must admit, I was pretty nervous about making challah. I really wanted to learn to do the 6 strand braid, and thanks to Tammy's video, I finally got the hang of it on the second loaf I made. We made this last Friday afternoon, and the children and I enjoyed researching about the history of challah. Since challah is a reminder of the manna that God provided His People with, the challah loaf is a remembrance of God's provision. We discussed how we are like those Israelites in the wilderness, whom God constantly provided for, yet we murmur as if His gifts were never good enough. It was such a blessing to learn more about God through making challah.
Verdict:
Though it was time consuming to make the challah loaf, it was a great learning experience. It tasted delicious and made two pretty, large loaves of bread. My family ~~scarfed down~~ ate one loaf in about five minutes. I would love to make this again!

Giveaway

Dayspring sent me their Grace Tray to review. The Grace Tray is very large, and ornately hand-carved. I love the beautiful message on this tray: *wonderful grace*simple joy*unending hope*authentic peace*unfathomable love. I love having beautiful, yet simple designs in my home, and this piece fits the bill. I keep finding new ways to use this lovely tray. The Grace Tray is normally $48, but is currently on sale for $24. Dayspring carries so many quality, Christian-oriented items.

Win with Dayspring
Dayspring is giving away a $20 coupon code to one reader of Lily of the Valley.

To Win:
1. Visit Dayspring, and let me know what you like most from their store.

Additional Optional entries: (add an extra comment for each)
1.Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley.

2.Become a facebook fan of Dayspring.

3. Share about this giveaway on your blog or facebook.

This giveaway ends at 12 pm EST on April 18th, 2011.

Disclosure: Dayspring supplied the product and coupon code discount for this review/giveaway.

Homestead Blessings- The Art of Crafting Giveaway

2011-04-10T11:56:00.000-05:00

My favorite homemaking learning resources are the Homestead Blessings dvds. I love reading books to learn new skills, but I learn best by observing others. In the Homestead Blessings dvds, the West ladies demonstrate their compendium of domestic arts including: sewing, bread making, canning, herbs, gardening, candle making, dairy delights, quilting, cooking, and soap making. The latest Homestead Blessings dvd is The Art of Crafting, and I was delighted to receive a review copy from Franklin Springs Media.

Here is the trailer to The Art of Crafting:
Homestead Blessings - The Art of Crafting - Trailer from Franklin Springs on Vimeo.

The Art of Crafting contains a plethora of fun and frugal craft ideas. Many of the crafts in this dvd can be made from materials/resources that are already in your home! I love crafting, but I don't like to spend a lot at the craft store, so I really appreciated the resourcefulness and frugality aspect of these crafts.

A few of the crafts include:

Wax Dipped Crafts: Making wax dipped pinecones, to give as gifts. These are beautiful and are great fire starters.

Potpourri: The ladies show how to make your home smell fragrant by making a homemade potpourri made from discarded orange peels, small pinecones, dried flowers, and other things you may have on your property.

Hand Stamped Napkins: The West ladies share how to make homemade napkins using just a simple piece of linen, acrylic paints, and vegetable slices/sponges (as stamps) to make vintage-looking print napkins.

Quill Pen and Ink: Learn to make a quill pen and homemade ink from berries! This would be a lovely gift to give/make for a young child! It would be a terrific learning tool when studying about American History.

Decorative Bird Feeder: Using some wood pieces, grapevine, dried flowers, seeds, and herbs, one can make a lovely decorative bird feeder!

Cookies in a Jar: Learn how to dress up a jar of homemade cookies. Vicki showed how to adapt the cookies and fabric so they could be coordinated.

My two favorite crafts learned in this dvd:

Crochet Trim and Knitting Needles: Add a homemade touch to pillowcases, washcloths, shirts, blankets, and more by embellishing with a decorative trim. This simple touch is so pretty and gives a homemade look to store-bought materials. The West ladies share that they use this technique to dress up plain shirts. Vicki shares how to make homemade knitting needles out of dowels. These would be lovely gifts for any aspiring, young homemaker!

Gift Baskets: I love the idea of themed gift baskets! I have tried to make a few gift baskets on my own, but I am challenged in the logistics of creating one. I really appreciate the gift basket tips from the West ladies, including how to stuff the bottom of the basket and some great theme ideas. I loved seeing a few gift baskets they had created, and found that it started my creative juices flowing. Some baskets they showed included: tea basket, garden caddy, and a homestead basket (replete with homemade goods they produced: soaps, salsa, candles, loofahs, vinegar,etc.).

I absolutely love watching the Homestead Blessings dvds with my girls! (Even my son got excited when he saw Hannah and Vicki West making quill pens!) These dvds are such a delightful way to learn homemaking skills right alongside your daughters. I loved the frugality/resourcefulness aspect that The Art of Crafting contains.

Win a copy of The Art of Crafting:

Visit Franklin Springs and leave me a comment letting my know which Homestead Blessings dvd you are most interested in.

Additional Optional Entries:
1. Become a facebook fan of Franklin Springs.
2. Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley.
3. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
4. Blog about this or Share on Facebook.

Contest ends April 18th, 2011 at 12:00 pm., EST.

Disclosure: Franklin Springs Family Media provided me with a complimentary review copy and a giveaway copy. I am a Vision Forum Affiliate and if you order through the banner at the top of this post, I will receive a small commission.

Early Spring Garden

2011-04-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

Our garden beds (last week)

Two of my favorite guys planting

Cabbage and Romaine Lettuce

Mustard greens, peas, and spinach

It has been such a blessing to harvest some of the mustard greens for our green smoothies. There is nothing better than homegrown produce, fresh from the garden, for mere pennies! So far, we have planted tomatoes, romaine lettuce, cabbage, golden potatoes, corn, carrots, beets, green peppers, mustard greens, peas, and spinach. We have had a few very cold nights, so we had to re-plant a few things.

What is growing in your garden?

Easter Learning Materials

2011-04-06T20:31:00.000-05:00

Scripture Adventures carries some excellent Bible-study materials, which would be a great homeschooling supplement. We used the Scripture Adventures Give Thanks unit study in our homeschool, this past Thanksgiving, and it was such a blessing to my family and I. I love that my eight-year old, six-year old, and three-year old can do these unit studies together. Currently, Scripture Adventures is offering free downloads of their Easter lapbook. I am planning on ordering An Easter Adventure, which appears to be chocked-full of great ways to prepare for Easter. Currclick is offering a free download of A Passover Celebration for Christian Families here. You can receive 10% any of the Scripture Adventures studies by signing up for their newsletter.

A Lovely Glimpse Into the Simple Joys of a Homeschooling Family

2011-04-06T19:56:00.000-05:00

Watching this video made me smile. Homeschooling is not without it's challenges, but it is a true blessing to spend an ample amount of time with one's children. I am thankful the the Lord has allowed me the privilege of teaching my children at home. Many blessings!

The Winner of the Beeyoutiful Giveaway is...

2011-04-05T11:12:00.000-05:00

Kari . Thank you to Beeyoutiful for hosting this giveaway!

Vision Forum Spring Sale and Coupon Code

2011-03-31T18:10:00.000-05:00

Vision Forum is having a stellar Spring Savings Sale. (40-70% off 400+ items, through April 2nd!)

I have watched a few of the Homestead Blessings dvds, and I absolutely love them! These are currently 50% off, making them $8.50 each. I really want to see the Homestead Blessings Art of Sewing dvd. It includes fun projects that I would love to complete with my eight-year old daughter.

Large Family Logistics has been on my "to read list" for a while now. At $10.80, it is a fantastic deal (more than 50% off), on this textbook of sorts, on managing a large family.

You can also order the Tea with Michelle Duggar for free by using the coupon code FREETEA. I heard this message on cd, and it was a huge blessing to me.

Check out the variety of sale items here.

I am a Vision Forum affiliate. I wholeheartedly endorse these items because they have been a blessing to me and my family.

Superkids Vitamins Review and Giveaway

2011-03-28T11:13:00.001-05:00

I started researching multi-vitamins when I was expecting my second child, my son. I had been taking the prenatal vitamin prescribed by my doctor, but I switched to a more natural vitamin when I learned what was in the prescribed prenatal. (aluminum, etc.) I only use food-based vitamins for my family and I.

One superior multivitamin that we love and recommend are Beeyoutiful's SuperKids Multi-Vitamin. Beeyoutiful sent me two bottles of SuperKids for my little ones to try in the flavors they offer- orange and multiberry. My little ones love the taste of SuperKids, and often remind me that it is "time for vitamins" if I forget.

Here is a little more about the benefits of SuperKids vitamins, from the Beeyoutiful website:

The SuperKids formula is similar to Beeyoutiful's other "Super" products but without the iron.* And there's no synthetic dyes or sugar to hype up your kids. Derived from real foods, every bottle of SuperKids multivitamins for kids is chock-full of antioxidants like vitamins C and E, bioflavanoids, lycopene, and other carotenes that wage war against the free radicals assaulting your child's body every time they eat processed food or breathe polluted air. These goodies will absorb and be better used by your child's body because SuperKids contains aloe vera, the superfood known for smoothing out digestion. It works magic in the colon for happier and more regular trips to the bathroom. Aloe also makes the intestines "slippery" so nasty stomach bugs can't take hold as easily.
Your child's bones will have an easier time enduring bike wrecks and falls thanks to the manganese, zinc, selenium, and other colloidal minerals. Plus, the Vitamin D in SuperKids enhances absorption of calcium -- especially important during the "fast bone growth years" ages 4 to 12.
Sweetened with xylitol, a natural substance actually good for your child's teeth, SuperKids comes in two great flavors: orange and multi-berry. Both taste so good, your kids will look forward to their teaspoonful of vitamin "dessert" after breakfast and supper.**

Beeyoutiful also sent me Liquid D3.
It can be challenging to get enough vitamin D, especially if we aren't in the sun much. I highly recommend having Liquid D3 on hand especially during the winter or rainy days.Our body cannot produce Vitamin D on it's own,so supplementation can be critical. Beeyoutiful's Liquid D3 is very easy to take, as it tastes like water.

Here are a few reasons we all need adequate stores of Vitamin D (from Beeyoutiful's website):

Vitamin D does wonders in the body. Most know that it plays a key role in regulating calcium in the body, promoting absorption which helps bone mineralization to occur. This is key in caring for osteoporosis, rickets, osteomalacia, and osteopenia. Vitamin D doesn't stop there, however. When the body is getting enough D to go around, it is used liberally by many cells that are able to make calcitriol and use its cancer-fighting properties! Some of the most exciting research today is finding that D3 deficiency is common in cancer patients, and that D3 may help work against cancer.
Interestingly, cancer is not the only thing that has turned up the common link of a vitamin D deficiency. Blood sugar problems, low back pain, high blood pressure, type I and type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, kidney stones, psoriasis, depression, seasonal affective disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and auto-immune diseases have all been linked with low levels of vitamin D, suggesting that this pro-hormone is a quiet, unsung worker of vast-reaching good in the body!
Last, but certainly not least, vitamin D3 is an immense contributor to controlling the immune system and helping to stave off "bugs" of all sorts. Flus, colds, other viral and bacterial upsets -- these seemingly little attacks on your health can be some of the most draining, often going through the entire family and leaving everyone worn out. Help minimize the down-time with a "bottle of sunshine".

Win it!
Beeyoutiful is giving away one Superkids multivitamin (orange or MultiBerry) and one Liquid D3 to one blog reader of Lily of the Valley. To enter, leave a comment letting me what product you are most interested in on the Beeyoutiful website.

Additional optional entries: (Leave a separate comment for each of these entries.)
1. Become a facebook fan of Beeyoutiful. Tell them Lily of the Valley sent you.
2. Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley.
3. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
4. Blog about this or Share on Facebook.

Contest ends April 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm EST.

Thank you to Beeyoutiful for supplying the Superkids vitamins and Liquid D3 for the review and giveaway.

Menu Plan March 28- April 1

2011-03-28T10:20:00.000-05:00

Here are two yummy things we recently tried:

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Veggie and Cheese Bagel Sandwich This week, we are going to try a lot of bean and vegetable dishes, in order to save money and to eat healthier. Monday- Mexican Black Bean Burgers and Homemade French Fries Tuesday- Salad, Gourmet Bean Soup, 1 Hour Dinner Rolls
Wednesday- Bean Burritos
Thursday- Salad, Homemade Baked Beans, Brown Rice
Friday- Pesto Pasta with Vegetables
What new dishes are you trying this week? For more menu plans, visit Laura.

March Happenings

2011-03-23T21:20:00.000-05:00

My eldest turned eight years old!

My baby turned one!

I turned the big "30"! Gasp!
We hosted a delightful party celebrating all the March birthdays in our family. I feel so blessed by this very full life that the Lord has blessed me with.

I am reading this. I have never read anything so life-changing, before, apart from the Bible.

"Joy is a flame that glimmers only in the palm of the open and humble hand. In an open and humble palm, released and surrendered to receive, light dances, flickers happy. The moment the hand is clenched tight, fingers all pointing toward self and rights and demands, joy is snuffed out."
-Ann Voskamp

Oh, that I would be so much more like Him.

Many blessings, friends!

The Winner of Herbal Nurturing is....

2011-03-15T14:52:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Tannis! I will be e-mailing you shortly. Thank you again to Michele at Frugal Granola for hosting this giveaway. You still have until March 18th at 11:59 pm to get 25% off Herbal Nurturing with coupon code LILY25. Blessings!

Making Herbal Tea in a French Press

2011-03-07T14:06:00.000-05:00

My husband recently bought us a French press, which we use to make herbal teas, Teeccino, and coffee. I have been so impressed by the quality cups of tea or coffee, which the French press makes. We love it so much that we use it a couple of times, daily, and our coffeemaker has found a new home on a storage shelf. Making an herbal tea is very easy in the French press.

1. Measure herbs and put in the bottom of French press.

2. Pour water that was heated on the stovetop into the French Press. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.

3. After steeping herbs, stir with a non-metal spoon, and push plunger down.

4. Pour tea into tea cup, add cream/milk, and honey/brown sugar. Enjoy!
There are few simple joys more delightful than sipping a cup of tea and reading a favorite book. My current read is Organized Simplicity and my tea of choice is Kashmiri Chai.

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy.

Herbal Nurturing Giveaway

2011-03-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

I have enjoyed Michele Augur's blog, Frugal Granola, for a long time. Frugal Granola is an inspiration for any Christian, natural-living home maker. Michele is the author of two e-books, Herbal Nurturing and A Natural Noel. Michele graciously sent me a copy of her e-book, Herbal Nurturing, for review purposes. I love learning about natural remedies that I can make in the comfort of my own home, to aid in my family's health. I was so impressed by the variety of herbal remedies and information, contained within the 44 pages of Herbal Nurturing. The following is the table of contents from Herbal Nurturing:

There are so many recipes included, which would make lovely natural gifts, such as: Scrapes Soother, Aches and Pains Massage Oil, and Mama's Passion Bath Salts . There are so many remedies included, which I would love to add to my herbal "medicine cabinet" including: Immune-Booster Syrup, Pink Eye Relief, Child or Adult Headache Relief, and Sinus Steam. Herbal Nurturing contains additional ideas for learning more with your little ones, as well as urgent care options.

Herbal Nurturing is a fantastic deal at only $8.95, delivered to your e-mail address! If you enter coupon code LILY25 , you can receive 25% off this e-book, through 3/18 at 11:59 pm.

Win it!
Michele is graciously giving away one copy of Herbal Nurturing to one Lily of the Valley reader.

To Enter Giveaway:
Mandatory Entry- Check out the table of contents and leave me a comment letting me know what herbal remedy you are most interested in making.

Additional Optional Entries: (leave a separate comment per entry)
1. Follow Lily of the Valley via Google Connect Friend. If you already follow, simply leave a comment.
2. Become a facebook fan of Frugal Granola and Lily of the Valley.
3. Share about this giveaway via facebook, twitter, or your blog. (you get a separate entry for each of these three)

This giveaway ends March 15, 2011 at 12 noon, EST.

I received a complimentary review copy of Herbal Nurturing. Thank you to Michele for the review copy and the giveaway copy. This review contains my honest opinions about this resource.

Learning Goal: Homemade Yogurt

2011-03-01T13:18:00.000-05:00

I completed my February learning goal of making yogurt, a few days ago. I found the crockpot yogurt recipe to be very easy , and it was not labor-intensive on my part, at all. I mainly had to let the milk heat up and then let it sit for a few hours. My cost was $1.50 for the half gallon of milk, and .30 cents plain yogurt for the starter, so the total was $1.80. I don't know exactly how much it made, but it has lasted us a few days and we have plenty left. Normally, my little ones could eat a large tub of yogurt in one afternoon, so this has been wonderful. This yogurt is a bit runnier than I am used to, which I have heard is normal for homemade yogurt. I usually add a little raw honey and blueberries, and whip it up in my Vita Mix for a delicious drinkable yogurt for my little ones.
I am so thankful for the blessing of being able to be a homemaker. There is so much within this realm to learn!

March's Learning Goal: Apple Butter
My other Learning Goals can be found here.

What are you learning this month?

Menu Plan Monday 2/28-3/4

2011-02-27T20:48:00.001-05:00

It is hard to believe that March is almost here! I am planning a family tea party to celebrate the six March birthdays in my extended family including: Lily (my eldest daughter is turning eight), Olivia (my youngest daughter is turning one), my mother (50 years young!), sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and myself. I am turning the big 30- how is that even possible? If you have any tea party tips, I would love to glean from your ideas!

Monday- Baked Ziti, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls
(We loved this new to us recipe, last week, so we will enjoy it this week, too!

Tuesday- Breakfast for dinner (Whole-Wheat Waffles, Spinach Omelettes)

Wednesday- Middle Eastern Lentil Soup

Thursday- Chicken Fajitas

Friday- Homemade Pizza

For more menu plans, visit Laura. What are your menu plans this week?

My 2011 Learning Goals

2011-02-22T13:51:00.001-05:00

I want to grow and learn throughout my life. I chose relatively simple goals, as I am in a very busy season of life, raising four precious gifts from the Lord. I selected goals that weren't terribly time-consuming. I hope my children will be encouraged by their mama's desire to learn new arts. I consider it a wonderful homeschooling project for my children to observe/participate in as well. I hope to post a monthly update of my successes/failures after I have completed each goal. I would love to hear your words of wisdom regarding any experience you have had with any of these projects.

~~January--Make New York Style Cheesecake~~
I had always used Keebler's pie crusts, previously, and I wanted to make a rich cheesecake in a springform pan. It happens to be my hubby's favorite type of cake, and his birthday was in January. The middle of the cake cracked, so I am not sure how to prevent that from happening again. I had read how some people put their springform pans in another pan of water while their cheesecake is baking, to prevent their cake from cracking. If you have any experience with this, I would love to hear what helps to keep your cheesecake from cracking. Thanks! Overall, I absolutely loved the coffee-house style cheesecake.

February-Make Yogurt

March- Make Apple Butter

April- Make Challah
(I thought this would be a perfect project for Easter! I was reading a bit about the history of Challah, and it is fascinating. The challah loaf commemorates the manna that God provided the Israelites with!)

May- Make Ginger Ale
When I was expecting baby #4, I was on a quest for some healthier ginger ale. I was horrified to see that most commercial ginger ales contain high fructose corn syrup and no ginger. It really is shocking that they get away with calling themselves "ginger ale". During that pregnancy, I did enjoy one bottle of Reed's natural ginger brew from the health food store. At $2.50 a bottle, that was a very rare treat. I would love to learn to make it myself.

June- Learn to Can!
I have to say that I am really nervous about canning; I need to just get on with it and give it a try!

July- Make Lattice-Topped Apple Pie
I have finally gotten the hang of making pie crusts, but I have never made a lattice-topped pie.

August- Dehydrate Herbs from garden for use year-round

September- Make Tincture (Perhaps a Wild Cherry Tincture)

October- Embroidered Hand Prints
Be still my heart....this will be a treasure for this mama.

November- Homemade Lip Balm (Great Christmas Gift Idea!)

December- No Sew Fleece Blanket

I would love to hear what learning goals you have, this year. If you plan on listing your goals, please leave a link in the comments section. It would be so much fun to learn together!

Infantino Cloud Review

2011-02-20T19:38:00.002-05:00

I had often seen other mothers using shopping cart covers, but I used to write them off as an unnecessary baby-gear gadget. Infantino sent me a complimentary baby Infantino Cloud Shopping Cart Cover to review, through their test drive program. Since test driving the shopping cart cover, I have found the cover to be a very useful item. When my nearly one-year old daughter would ride in the cart, she would often try to lick or chew the metal parts of the cart. The Infantino Cloud Shopping Cart Cover contains 360 degree coverage, so no matter which way my daughter turned, she could only chew on the cover's fabric. With cold and flu season in full-force, I really appreciate the fact that my daughter can be cozy in the buggy and chew on the cover, with less of a chance of germ exposure. I love the fun, gender-neutral fabric, which the Infantino designers utilized in designing this cover. The Infantino Cloud Shopping Cart Cover also doubles as a high chair cover, which is so helpful in restaurants! The Cloud cover comes in a totable bag, making it very convenient to bring into a store or restaurant.This is the final Infantino product that I will be reviewing; I hope you enjoyed reading about their quality products.

Check out Infantino on:
Twitter

Facebook

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review, and this post contains only my honest opinions.

Menu Plan and New Learning Goal

2011-02-20T18:35:00.000-05:00

I have decided to challenge myself in learning one new thing each month, this year. My goal for February is to make homemade yogurt in my crock pot. I have heard that yogurt is very easy to make, and that it is so much more frugal to make your own. My little ones could devour a whole tub of yogurt in one sitting, so I am eager to see how this works out!

February 21-25

Monday- Baked Ziti, Homemade Bread, Salad (This is a new to me recipe, but I love that this meal can feed 8 people for around $5. That is fantastic!)

Tuesday- Breakfast for Dinner- Baked English Omelette, Hashbrowns, Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Wednesday- Hamburger Vegetable Soup (We tried this for the first time last week and loved it! This is such a hearty soup with a delicious variety of veggies.)

Thursday- Mexican Chicken Skillet

Friday- Homemade Pizza- Family Fun Night

Breakfasts- Green Smoothies (Daily),Steel Cut Oatmeal, Overnight Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, Muffins, Fruit and Granola Parfaits

Lunch- Hummus and Veggies, Homemade Sweet Potato Fries, Banana/Honey/PB sandwich, homemade wontons, Salad

What are you enjoying this week?

For more menu plans, visit Laura.

The Winner is...

2011-02-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

The winner of the autographed copy of the book, Cancer Step Outside the Box is Renae. Congratulations, Renae!

Raising Lifelong Learners

2011-02-16T14:25:00.000-05:00

Before I even had children, I started reading books about home education. I am a hopeless planner, organizer, and maker of lists. I was on a quest to find the "perfect methodology". I tried a few approaches, and finally found that this eclectic blend of learning modes works best for us. Many home-educating moms wonder if their children are learning enough. I used to worry if my little ones didn't know every item listed in the recommended scope and sequence charts. I recently read something very encouraging from Renee (who was quoting her friend)

"I once read a really cool tip for new moms that applies to homeschooling as well. Instead of writing a to-do list, write a list of everything you did as the day goes on. Then at the end of the day, you'll see how much you got accomplished without setting your sights high."

Instead of agonizing over whether we accomplished everything on our "to do" list, I decided to write down what we did learn. It was very freeing and empowering. If you are including your little ones in your chore time, cooking time, etc., they are probably learning much more than you may realize.

The following was what my daughter learned/did during an ordinary homeschooling day, last week.

Lily's Learning Log- 2/10/11

- Recited Bible verses, listened to one chapter of the Bible
- Completed workbook assignments in Math, Language Arts, and Bible Reading
- Learned about Samuel Morse, wrote her name in Morse Code
- Read books to her 3 year-old sister.
- Swept kitchen
- Washed dishes
- Completed science experiment learning about acids and bases from this kit.
- Helped Mommy make Chicken Lasagna
- listened to one chapter of Beautiful Girlhood
- Playtime with Olivia (11 months).

I must tell you that I was so encouraged after I jotted down this list of Lily's accomplishments for the day. I am so used to just crossing off goals, and there are usually plenty that we don't get around to completing. But seeing how much she learned and accomplished was so inspiring to me.

"Education is not the filling of a bucket, but a lighting of a fire." -Yeats

Education is so much more than merely covering every topic on the scope and sequence list. I truly desire that my children will be lifelong learners; I believe that starts by making learning interesting and exciting. I love what Jamie says about reading,

"Our goal for our children should not only be reading ability, but reading longevity. We shouldn't really care if our children can read at age four - it's more important that they're still reading at age 24."

I love watching my children learn, whether it be through reading a story, writing a letter to Grandma, or taking a nature walk. It is such a blessing to watch them learn, and to be fortunate enough to learn right along beside them!

What ways have you found to relax and to enjoy learning along with your little ones? Blessings!

Menu Plan Monday : Grocery Shopping on a Budget

2011-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

We just finished our first week with using cash only for grocery shopping. In Dave Ramsey's FPU, I found it fascinating to learn that our brain actually feels pain when we part with cash. Consumers tend to spend 20% more when using other forms of payment, such as credit cards. I usually grocery shop at 3-4 stores, so I take out my weekly allowance for groceries before shopping. I also started using my calculator to figure out my total as I check out. This works out well except for my sweet little Olivia, who is usually in the ERGO baby carrier, usually finds a way to hit the clear button. She is so funny!
Though I don't usually look forward to sitting down and planning the budget, I am always very glad that I did. As Dave Ramsey says, "Managed money has more muscle." I have definitely found that budgeting is very freeing, as it is nice to know that I can spend x amount on food without feeling like I overspent. We definitely tended to spend more on groceries when we just mentally set aside a certain amount for groceries and used our debit cards. I was thrilled to even have a few dollars left over, after buying everything I needed for the week. If you are interested in reducing your grocery budget, I highly recommend Crystal's 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget Series.

My daughter Lily is my ultimate Kitchen Aid! She loves making pizza dough, pie crusts, and so much more. She is amazing!

Monday- February 14- Chicken Lasagna, Bread, Salad ( I think I gain 20 pounds every time I eat this delightful meal....but I daresay it is worth it!)

Tuesday- February 15- Pasta Salad

Wednesday- February 16- Spaghetti, Salad, Bread

Thursday- February 17- Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Friday- February 18- Homemade Pizza

Saturday- February 19- Out

To Make:
Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Energy Bars

Granola

I would love to hear more about how you budget for groceries each week.

For more menu plans, visit Laura.

The Book to Read if you Have a Son

2011-02-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

Though I am always reading a bunch of books, my main non-fiction book, during January, was Raising Real Men. Raising Real Men is a practical guide in the rubrics of raising sons to be godly men of character. I daresay that this book is a must-read if you have been blessed with a son. Hal and Mel Young, authors of Raising Real Men, are no strangers to raising boys to become men. The Youngs have been blessed with six sons! Raising Real Men covered such important topics as: encouraging sons to emulate noble heroes, reading recommendations, raising an independent-spirited son (despite living in a culture which nourishes perpetual adolescence), preparing sons for leadership, and so much more. I relished this engaging, biblical, and witty work; I will turn to it often throughout the course of raising my son.

My reading selection for February is Organized Simplicity.
Don't miss my current giveaway of my favorite health book ever, Cancer Step Outside the Box.
Check out my 2011 reading list here.
For more book lists, visit Life as Mom.

I received a free copy of Raising Real Men for review purposes.

Cancer Step Outside the Box Giveaway

2011-02-10T15:48:00.002-05:00

Approximately one out of three people, currently living, will be diagnosed with cancer. Almost everyone knows someone, a friend, relative, or neighbor, whose life has been affected by the "C" word. Within a span of eight years, Ty Bollinger lost seven family members to cancer. Consequently, Ty plunged himself into researching cancer preventatives, as well as alternative cancer treatments. He has combined all of his thorough research into one volume, Cancer Step Outside of the Box. I have read many books on health and proper nutrition, over the years. Yet, I haven't encountered one as comprehensive, inspiring (yes, hopeful!), and well-documented as Cancer Step Outside the Box is. I appreciate Mr.Bollinger's clear explanation regarding the probable cause(s) of cancer, and his practical recommendations for restoring health. There are excellent sections in this book regarding toxins to be avoided, and super-foods and supplements recommendations. I appreciate that this book is such a thorough work on such a timely topic, and that the author shares from a Christian perspective.

Ty Bollinger is graciously giving a signed copy of Cancer Step Outside of the Box to a Lily of the Valley blog reader!

To Enter:
(Mandatory Entry)
Please leave a comment on this post. Include your e-mail address, so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Optional Additional Entries (Leave a separate comment for each one.)

1. Sign up for the Cancer Truth Newsletter.
2. Share about this giveaway on twitter, facebook, blog.
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Cancer Truth and Lily of the Valley.

This giveaway ends Thursday, February 17, at noon EST, and is open to US residents.

Disclaimer: The author of Cancer Step Outside the Box sent me a free e-book copy, and has provided the signed edition of this book, for this giveaway.

Tips for Easily Increasing your Vegetable Consumption

2011-02-08T12:49:00.000-05:00

We all know that we need to eat a large amount of vegetables, every day, to maintain health. Unfortunately, according to a CDC report, Americans aren't eating enough portions of fruits and vegetables. Growing up on mainly processed foods, it has taken me years to baby step my way into eating healthier. One fabulous thing about consuming more fruits and vegetables is that the healthier you eat, the healthier your cravings tend to be! The following are a few tips for incorporating more fruits and vegetables into one's diet.

1. Start your day with a green smoothie.
Anyone who has read this blog for a while has certainly heard a lot about green smoothies. They have definitely changed my life. My family and I usually drink green smoothies first thing in the morning. This is a fantastic way to get a hearty dose of fruits and vegetables into your diet before eating anything else! Blending leafy greens, fruit, and water is not only nutritious, but is very tasty. I encourage you to try it, no matter what type of blender you have. I own a Vita Mix, which I absolutely love. Even if you have a lower powered blender, try adding some spinach or kale in when making a smoothie. Green smoothies are a wonderful convenience food. You can even take your blended concoction with you on the road while running errands. I am convinced that green smoothies are the way to eat your green leafies, which have so many health benefits.
Tips for helping children and newbies to enjoy smoothies here.

2. Keep fresh vegetables on hand for easy snacking.
Stock your fridge with baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, broccoli florets, etc.. Use homemade hummus or guacamole for dipping. Vegetables are wonderful when a snack attack happens!

3. Add vegetables to your main dish.
Add vegetables to your pasta salads, sandwich wraps, etc.. Sandwich wraps are scrumptious with avocado slices, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, and baby spinach.

I love adding a variety of fresh vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, broccoli, and peppers to homemade pasta salad.

4. Serve at least one side dish of vegetables at dinner.
Short on ideas? Roast some root vegetables, steam some broccoli, or bake a butternut squash.

Lately, when we get a craving for fries, we make our own. Homemade sweet potato fries are so yummy and nutritious.

5. Start by eating one or two vegetarian meals for dinner each week.
Some of our favorites include Middle Eastern Lentil Soup, Mediterranean Vegetable Stew, and Tempeh Chili.

6.Eat a salad before eating any cooked food.
Raw vegetables and fruits contain enzymes, which are the life force in food. Eating raw before eating cooked foods provides you with enzymes which aid in digestion of your food.

7. Find healthy dessert alternatives.
I love baking and I definitely indulge my sweet tooth more than I ought to. One wonderful thing I have found is that there is almost always a healthy (and delicious) alternative for nearly every decadent dessert! Check out these raw dessert recipes.

This is a scrumptious, healthy chocolate pudding that I love to make. You won't believe the secret ingredient! Check out the recipe here.

What tips do you have for incorporating more veggies in your diet?

Visit Tammy for more kitchen tips!