Family Fun: Hiking

Our family really wants to invest in the necessary supplies needed to go on a weekend camping trip. It was even one of my "goals" of 2012 I hoped to accomplish. We still may but, of course, it is a large investment if you only consider a family-sized tent, a camp stove, and sleeping bags. I can think of a few other items I would want to purchase if we were to be camping regularly such as few tarps, rope, a hatchet, a lantern, and probably more camp chairs. Since we are a way off from committing to these investments, we are taking the kids around to visit local parks with decent hiking trails (the more un-paved the better!).

Weekly Menu 7/30-8/5

If you looked closely at this picture before you started reading, you probably noticed I made a few food choice changes. Nothing huge. Nothing drastic. But, Casey and I feel that our family should continue our journey toward Real Food eating. I say "continue" because I've been reading about eating Real Food for a few years and do make a lot of our food from scratch but we're no where near the 80/20 yet. We feel making babysteps is best for a lasting, more natural formation of a healthy-eating habit for our family. There are some people who have switched and never looked back and I admire those people, so this slow-paced attempt is just how we do it and not really meant to be advice for anyone else unless it appeals to you. I'm just learning and attempting to implement changes as I go.

"Feminine Appeal" Book Review for Feminine Friday

Ever read Titus 2 and wish you had your own personal "older woman" or mentor? I know I sure have. Perhaps you are a newly married woman and have moved to a new town where you don't know anyone yet. Or, you are a mom with young children and can't get out to a Bible study or even to visit a friend in this current season of life. Some seasons of life make looking for a mentor or even a godly friend challenging. Look no further! This book sits on my nightstand or kitchen counter and I read it often for encouragement and guidance during naptime or in the evening. It shouldn't replace our Bible study but it acts similar to a mentorship from an "older woman" by gently teaching us the principles of Titus 2 and how we should be living them out in our lives.

DIY Laundry Soap

There are about as many recipes for laundry soap out there as brands you can choose from in the grocery store. Then there is the decision of whether you should make powder or liquid laundry detergent.

Decisions, decisions.

Teaching Traditional Manners/Behavior to Children

Teaching your children politeness and manners is not something that happens overnight or even likely by age two. It is a balancing act of establishing your expectations for good manners to your children while purposefully modeling the appropriate behavior that you wish to teach them. You will be less successful teaching your child to say "thank you" or to be a good sport if you yourself do not display verbal gratitude and a cheerful spirit despite the outcome of the game. Let's talk about what behaviors and manners my family values and how we plan to guide our children to learn our expectations.

$90 Grocery Budget Challenge - Week 4

Can you believe I totally forgot to take pictures of the groceries again? Don't answer that if you know me in real life *cough*. Anyway, I got home late and Casey and I wanted to watch a library movie so I tossed all the cold items in the fridge and we sat down to watch "Dinosaur." Okay, so its probably not what most people would choose to watch on their Saturday night but I'd never seen it and it was free and it was pretty clean which equals a winning two hours of entertainment in my book!

Feminine Friday

Hurray, its Friday! I had Casey, my husband, take a picture of me yesterday as we were setting out to go pick up our car from the "car doctor." It needed some parts fixed. I'm not really a "car person" so I pretty much just make the appointment and pay the bill. All I know is that Casey said it was running really rough and we discovered the exhaust pipe had come unattached from the engine! It ended up costing us a few hundred less than they originally quoted because one part didn't need completely replaced after all. We were immensely grateful for that!

Thankful Thursday: My Gifts

A few pictures of things I am thankful for this week! This picture is of a gluten free and dairy free cookbook my husband brought home as a surprise early birthday present!

Burt's Bees Sunscreen ~ Review

I'm a big fan of Burt's Bees. They have quality products that are made in none-other than my home state of North Carolina. Today I want to review their sunscreen.

Age Appropriate Chores For Toddlers and Preschoolers

Little children are great at finding fun and entertainment in about any situation, that is, except for when you need them to such as when they are strapped into a shopping cart or their carseat! They can spend an hour bounding around the living room from couch cushion to couch cushion (which are on the floor and not on the couches) or battle with sticks outside or build a fort out of pillows and blankets. They know how to have fun and use their imaginations when given the opportunity (meaning: no organized activity every 10 minutes and no TV on). However, their daily adventures and play and regular activities of getting dressed and eating make about a million, okay only a hundred (each?) messes a day. Mom may be responsible for keeping her home but that doesn't mean she should have to clean everyone of those messes when the very capable hands that created those messes can be recruited to help clean them up again.