Aren’t we all a bit of a kid on the 4th of July? Give me all the streamers, popsicles, black snakes, and hot dogs! The 4th of July is just plain fun–it isn’t fancy or stressful! (Except when 20 children are all doing arm circles with sparklers within inches of each other’s faces…) It will…
Lifestyle
20 Cool Summertime Treats
Summer is when things slow down and the weather warms up…and icy sweet desserts are what we crave! It’s the perfect time to create cool treats to tantalize the tastebuds! I’ve got 20 Summertime Treat Recipes–perfect for every day or summer parties! These easy summer desserts are ready in a flash and most of them don’t…
Beach Getaway: JW Marriott Marco Island Review
I love Florida. Maybe it’s because the first time I ever laid eyes on the ocean (and became completely enamored) was on Florida’s sunny coast. The ocean is my happy place. But for whatever reason, my life is firmly planted in the Midwest (about as land-locked as a girl can get). So–I dream of vacation…And…
5 Tips for Tackling the Laundry
Oh, the laundry! There is literally no end in sight. For years, I lived in denial of this fact. I thought I could somehow get it all done. Visions of empty laundry baskets and spotless closet floors danced in my head…Until I accepted the truth. Laundry is a constant work-in-progress. And that is okay–it’s just part…
Does God Hear Me?
Recently, I had the most interesting conversation…A new friend, curious about raising teenagers, asked, “How exactly does one survive that? All the worries about drinking, drugs, sex, friends–you name it…” And I laughed (while pointing to my glass of wine)–but then dead serious, I explained that prayer is everything when raising teens. That is how you…
5 Reasons You Need a Romantic Getaway
Here’s the scoop–if you’re married with kids, you need a couple’s getaway! I know this is entirely easier said than done when you have little people–and the littler they are, the harder it is to leave! But you need this! So get ready to call grandma and pack your bags–I’ve got 5 reasons you need a…
3 Amazing Apps for Preschoolers That You Won’t Feel Guilty About
Often I get asked how I keep my littles (4 year old twins) busy while I’m homeschooling my daughter in high school and first grade son. (Honestly, it sounds harder than it actually is…twins have a way of entertaining each other!) But even if you’re not a homeschool mom, I’m guessing sometimes you could use…
3 Simple Christmas Traditions
The Holidays. Why is it that those two words can stir two completely opposite emotions: Joy and Stress? Oh how I want to grab all the joy and leave all the stress behind. As kids–the holidays were all joy. It was cousins and cookies and toy catalogs and Christmas carols. As adults–I think…
The Wise Men Journey — A New Advent Tradition
Hi Sweet Friends! You know when God puts someone on your path and they just ooze Jesus–and you are flat out humbled and amazed by the whole thing to your core? Well that is exactly what happened to me when I met Lynette Meintjes while waiting around for my kids at dance class! She is amazing…
21 Kitchen Essentials — Classics for Every Home Cook
When I got married at age 20, I had zero clues about cooking. It was bad. I was burning frozen pizza and putting entire pot roasts down the garbage disposal (which to my horror, came back up through the drain in our laundry room)! Thankfully, I’ve come a long way the last 21 years! And…
Aren’t You Too Old to be Trick-or-Treating?
I have three teenagers. They all loved trick-or-treating with friends well into their teenage years–and I happily let them! Initially, I questioned my judgement…Aren’t you too old to be trick-or-treating? But I quickly realized, there are MUCH BIGGER FISH to fry with teenagers…this is not a battle worth fighting. In fact, now I celebrate their…
FlyLady Routines — Bless Your Home and Family!
Here’s the truth. I’m a very messy person at heart. I was the kid in elementary school who stuffed bent folders, stubby pencils, broken crayons, and crumpled notes into her desk. Oh how I envied my friends who kept their desks meticulous–shiny folders all in a row, neat pencil boxes (actually filled with pencils and…
Easy Family Recipes — make every day special
These days I don’t always have much time for cooking (maybe it’s not so much the cooking, but the clean-up)! As a homeschool mom, I feel like I am.always.in.the.kitchen! So when I do take the time to make something for my family (beyond peanut butter and grilled cheese), I want it to be something they…
Cleaning With Essential Oils — My Shortcut
I love the idea of cleaning with less chemicals…And as Chief Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Window Washer, and Countertop Wiper (AKA: Mom)–I get exposed to a lot of them! So, I’ve been searching and experimenting with different natural cleaning brands for a while now. But nothing has really stood out to me–plus they tend to get…
How to Pray — A Simple Prayer Structure
My prayer life has gone through ebbs and flows over the years. Somewhere along the way, someone shared a simple outline for personal prayer with me called ACTS. And while there’s no one right way to pray—I’ve found this strategy really helpful. My hope is that if you want to learn how to pray, or…