17 Ways to Become a Better Cook

My life and my husband’s have been changed for the better since we started eating real food.

Growing up, my mom definitely taught me how to cook healthy meals. But after I got married, I started reading about what really goes into so many of the things we eat—vegetable oils, margarine, sugars, processed chemicals that are made in a lab instead of in nature. Why would I want to put that stuff in my body?!?

So I kept doing research. And I learned that there are better things to eat and cook with than I had been using. I started making little changes here and there, and noticed a difference. My husband and I started feeling better. I was able to spend less money on groceries (by buying very little pre-packaged convenience food, which is expensive), and then my husband lost about 75 pounds in a year, just because we were eating better, and because he started drinking more water and being more active.
I discovered how easy it is (and how cheap!) to make things at home that I thought I had to buy. Salad dressings, beans (like black and kidney), chicken stock, and yogurt are just a few things I make myself now, instead of buying in a bottle, can, or carton.

However, I also realized that there is an overwhelming amount of information available on real food. Sometimes doing a Google search for a recipe was frustrating, because I had to wade through recipes that used ingredients I wasn’t interested in eating (corn syrup? Canola oil? No thanks!).

However, I have the immense privilege and joy to present something that is exactly what I need right now to help grow my real-food cooking skills. This library of real-food cookbooks covers all the topics I’ve been wanting to delve into but haven’t had a chance yet, like making all your own homemade condiments. I can’t wait to try those recipes! And there’s a cookbook in this library that’s all about cooking with coconut oil. I am slightly obsessed with coconut oil, so I know this one is going to get a ton of use!

Plus, I am honored to tell you that MY COOKBOOK is part of this library! I can’t express how thrilling it is to offer my book alongside these other amazing resources. If you haven’t gotten Real Food for the Real Homemaker yet, this is a great way to get it at an incredible price. (And if you do have it already, go ahead and give away the other copy to a friend or relative!)

Hundreds of Recipes, At Your Fingertips

The Traditional Recipes Collection is a group of 17 different cookbooks from popular and up-and-coming bloggers.  In total, there are over 800 different recipes, spanning all meals and snacks! In this collection, you'll find:

• Lots of allergy-friendly books (half or more are GF/CF)
• Books to teach you to cook with what you have on hand
• Meal planning
• Snacks on the go
• Freezer cooking
• Printable recipe
• cards
• Health benefits of
• various foods
• Healthy desserts
• Gourmet meals
• Simple, everyday
• meals
• Make-your-own sauces
• and condiments
• and so much more!

There is truly something for everyone.  It is a really amazing and well-rounded collection, too. There are books for dinner, books for snacks, books for breakfast, books for gourmet cooks (not too many), books for brand-new cooks, books to teach you to make your own condiments, books for smoothies.... You name it! If you're a beginning cook, new to real food, or just tired of the "same old" for dinner, this is an entire library of how-to-cook just about anything (including plenty of bonus information on kitchen tools, techniques, pantry staples, meal planning, and more).

What's the Deal?

A collection like this might run you over $100.  In fact, the actual value of this collection is around $150. But next week, for five days only, it will be only $14.97. To give you an idea of how great a deal that is, my book by itself is about $13. You're virtually getting 16 other resources (not to mention the bonuses!) for $2!
The sale dates are Sept. 17 (Tuesday) through Sept. 21 (Saturday).  The sale begins at 9 AM EST on Tuesday, and ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday night.  There will be no late sales. Many of these books are brand-new, and have never been included in a bundle before.  Out of the 17 books, 10 have never been in other collections.  This means that if you choose to purchase, you won't be getting "the same old" stuff.
These cookbooks are new, unique, and totally real food. This is also a smaller collection and at a lower price point.  There have been other bundles before...plenty of them. A lot of readers want a bundle that’s a smaller/less overwhelming collection, lower price, and more focused. That's exactly what this bundle is.

What's In the Bundle?
You might be wondering, what exactly is in the bundle, anyway?  Let me tell you all about it.

Kitchen Help

Cooking With Coconut Oil by Jennifer Saleem of Hybrid Rasta Mama (68 delicious recipes featuring coconut oil) (This is one I am SO excited about!)

Design a Dish by Millie Copper of Real Food for Less Money (6 basic formulas for creating recipes with what you have)

Restocking the Pantry by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy (57 sauces, condiments, and more) (And this one. I won’t be buying condiments anymore!)

Real Food, Real Easy by Angela Montgomery of Real Whole Health (13 frugal, easy recipes)

Real Food for the Real Homemaker by Jami Balmet of Young Wife’s Guide, Jaimie Ramsey of Living In the Light and Elsie Callender of Richly Rooted (78 basic recipes + printables + how-to-anything in the kitchen -- NEW!) (Our cookbook is one of the biggest in this group!)

Main Dishes

7 Day Real Food Meal Plan by Roxanne King of The Holistic Mama (7 days of a plan, complete with 38 recipes for 3 meals a day, all GF/CF)

Much Ado About Chicken by Debra Worth of Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes (52 delicious allergy-friendly chicken-based meals, GF, NEW!)

Stretchy Beans by KerryAnn Foster of Intentionally Domestic (13 frugal, bean-based meals, GF/CF, NEW!) (Super-excited about this too. I have got to find new ways to cook beans!)

Divine Dinners by Lydia Joy Shatney of Divine Health From the Inside Out (92 gourmet dinners, sides, soups, and more, GF)

Snacks and Sides

The Veggie Book by Danielle Tate of More Than Four Walls, Sara Shay of Your Thriving Family and Debra Worth of Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes (52 recipes featuring 10 different vegetables, creatively; GF, NEW!)

Healthy Snacks to Go by Katie Kimball of Kitchen Stewardship (40 classic snack recipes that are travel- and lunch box-friendly) (As busy, on-the-go college students, I really need something like this. Thrilled to get this resource!)

Steeped by Katie Stanley of Nourishing Simplicity (56 recipes for tea treats like cakes, scones, sandwiches, tea, and more; GF, NEW!) (TEA is all I needed to hear. Can’t wait to try all the recipes in this one.)

Toadally Primal Smoothies by Primal Toad of Primal Toad (150 unique smoothie recipes, primal/paleo)

Desserts, Baking and Special Occasions

Festive Traditions by Jill Marks of Modern Alternative Kitchen (32 holiday and special occasion recipes)

Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts by Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama (30 delicious, healthy desserts)

Sourdough Goodness by Anna Drozdova of Thought For Real Food (13 sourdough recipes, NEW!) (You might know that my sourdough attempts were not phenomenal. This is exactly what I need to fix that!)

Travel Foods by KerryAnn Foster of Intentionally Domestic (13 recipes that go with you easily, NEW!)

As you can see, there are many amazing selections in here, possibly some you've had your eye on.  In this collection, you can get them all for 90% off.

Is There More?

Actually, there is more. :) We'll be offering a few bonus items that anybody who purchases the bundle will get.

A coupon code for Real Salt

A coupon code for Wise Choice Market

A free premium trial membership to Tradishen

Simple Natural Health, by Nina of Shalom Mama

...and more (we're still talking to a few excellent companies!)

We'll also be offering a giveaway (and no purchase is required to enter) of a $75 "Healthy" size Healthy Surprise box.

Whew. So, that's the deal.  17 great books, over 800 recipes, for just $14.97 -- plus four or more great bonus offers and a chance to win a Healthy Surprise box.  The only catch is that the sale only lasts for five days, Sept. 17 - 21. I know this is going to be an incredibly valuable resource to ALL my readers! I hope that you're looking forward to this as much as I am.  Don't forget to visit right here, Tuesday at 9 AM to get your copy!

Which book(s) intrigue you the most?

The Four Meal Planners

Meal planning, while it takes some time and a little effort, can be one of the biggest time-savers for a busy wife, mom and homemaker. I'll admit, I don't do it as often as I'd like, but when I do, I find myself less stressed because I don't have to figure out meals at the last minute. I also use foo dmore economically and efficiently because I have a specific plan for how to use each item in the fridge, freezer and pantry. Often I have to arearrange my meal plan, but usually that results in the meals lasting more days than I'd anticipated (for example, Hubby and I might decide one night that popcorn and some fruit is enough for supper, so the chicken stir-fry I had planned can get scooted to the end of the week, extending my meal plan another day).

There are a variety of ways to meal plan. I'll give you a few ideas, and then tell you what I do and why. Maybe you're already a pro meal-planner. If so, you're doing way better than I am: way to go! But keep reading anyway; maybe I can provide some ideas and hints for you, too.

Meal Planner #1: The "What looks good?" Shopper
This person goes to the grocery store without a set plan--maybe without a shopping list--and buys whatever food looks good and what they feel like eating. Later, they'll make meals out of what ends up in their fridge.

This is the most expensive way to shop: without a plan or list. If you have an unlimited grocery budget, and if this sounds like you and it works for you, great! Do what works best for you and your family. But with just a little planning, you could save money at the grocery store and have a game plan for future meals--both great things.

Meal Planner #2: The Coupon-Clipper
This person buys groceries based on what they can get 50 cents off, two-for-one, or free with purchase of ___. While this person might end up spending less money than their fellow shoppers, they'll probably end up with a cart of food that's not easily made into a week's worth of meals.

A knack for couponing is best when combined with some planning. Use coupons for the items you normally buy anyway--that's the best way to save money.

Meal Planner #3: The Cookbook-Peruser
This person sits down with a stack of cookbooks each week, picks out recipes they want to try, and then makes a shopping list based on the ingredients they'll need to make those recipes. While this is a wise method of planning, it can end up being expensive depending on what ingredients a recipe calls for. However, for someone who likes having clear directions to follow when cooking, or who doesn't have a lot of experience cooking, this method can be very helpful and time-saving.

Meal Planner #4: The List-Maker
This person writes out their grocery list first, filling it with basic ingredients that can be used for a variety of recipes. Then they figure out what meals can be made with the food they buy, and write a meal plan with those meals. This can be the cheapest way to shop, but it can be tricky to figure out meals based on what's in the fridge and pantry.

I'm most like Meal Planner #4, with a little bit of the others thrown in. I have a "recipe repertoire" of about 40 dishes (covering all 3 meals) that I can make with some basic ingredients. I get those basics every time I shop, and I can make quite a variety of things with the food I try to keep handy. I also don't buy much at all of pre-packed foods--I buy more ingredients than ready-to-eat items. To give you an idea, here's what a "typical" grocery list for me might look like:

• milk
• eggs
• butter
• cheese
• potatoes
• carrots
• celery
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• frozen broccoli
• frozen green beans
• bananas
• peaches
• apples
• grapes
• flour
• cocoa
• brown sugar
• baking soda
• spaghetti
• macaroni noodles
• canned tomatoes
• tomato sauce
• 2 cans tuna
• 10 lbs frozen chicken quarters
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 4 lbs tilapia fillets
• coffee
• tea
• rice
• salsa
• barbecue sauce
• ice cream

I don't always buy all these things, because some things only need to be bought once a month or less. Things that last us quite a while are, for example, honey, spices, onions, tea, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, etc. Right now people keep giving us fresh produce and herbs from their gardens, which is great because I've been able to buy less plus I'm getting things I don't normally buy, like fresh parsley and basil.

My point is, with the things I do buy and usually have on hand I can create a lot of different meals. I have a mental list of what I can make and looking at my grocery list I know what meals can come out of it. This is the easiest way for me to keep to a budget, because I don't have to buy fancy ingredients for new recipes, and I can spend about the same every shopping trip because I get basically the same things each time. That's not to say I don't ever use my cookbooks, but I use them more as reference books. If I want to make something specific, I'll look up a recipe for it so I know how to make it.

This is what works with me. I realize everyone has a different lifestyle, budget, and eating preferences, so what works with me might not work with you. But I hope I've given you some ideas that will be useful and might help you save some money.

What kind of meal-planner are you? What method works best for you and your cooking style?

I'm not normal.

I'm not normal.

If you're a regular reader around here you probably know that already.
"Normal" is what conforms to our culture. Our culture does not recognize Jesus as Lord; it has warped ideas of marriage, family, and sexuality; it encourages us to spend what we want when we want regardless of our income.
By that standard, I am very abnormal.

• I am a follower of Jesus in a world that hates--and sometimes, what is often worse, ignores--him.
• I am committed to honor, respect and even submit to my husband, Biblically, as the Church submits to Christ (aka, place myself under his loving care and leadership, not become a doormat).
• I am a homemaker and proud of it. I do not seek validation from a conventional career, although I do also work outside the home.
• I and my husband plan to homeschool our children as we were also educated at home, and feel that as future parents it would be best for us to be the primary influence in our future children's lives (radical, huh?).
• I and my husband gladly and frugally live within our means and don't have any credit card debt. We rent an apartment (for now), drive a used car, and don't spend more than we make.
• I believe in Biblical femininity--in embracing my God-given role as a woman.
• I believe that sex is an amazing gift of God, designed to be enjoyed within a marriage by a husband and wife (one man and one woman).
• I strive to avoid eating and cooking with processed foods, and cleaning with natural, inexpensive products.

(See all the links in the text above? Click on those to read more in-depth posts I've written on those topics.)

Paul wrote to the Romans, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2)

Jesus said to his disciples (which includes believers who follow him), "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. " (John 15:18-19)

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

Peter wrote, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (1 Peter 2:11)

Scripture itself tells me that I'm not "normal" by the world's standards. I am not to conform to the pattern of the world; I do not belong to the word; I do not fight with the weapons of the world; I am, in fact, an alien and stranger in the world.

I am a child of God: heaven is my eternal home, and therefore I live my life with an eternal perspective--this life is not all there is.

So, no, I'm not normal. And that's just how it should be.

Zealous

Today is the LAST DAY of the A to Z Challenge.

Wow.  I made it.  What an accomplishment!  Way to go to all the other Challengers who completed the Challenge-- give yourself a pat on the back, or a high five, or some other congratulatory gesture!  You should be proud of yourself. :)

What are you zealous about?

Zealous, adj: Ardently active, devoted, or diligent, according to dictionary.com.

I'm zealous about and for my relationship with Jesus.  I'm more devoted to him than anything.  I'm enthusiastic, fervent, and passionate about my relationship with him (synonyms for zealous).

I'm zealous about marriage, and talking about what Godly marriage is.

I'm zealous about homemaking...most of the time, when frustration or weariness don't get me down.  I'm eager to do my best, enthusiastic about learning more, and devoted to my role as homemaker.

Zeal can be applied in the wrong ways sometimes.  It's only good if you're zealous about something good.  I pray that my zeal for the Lord, for marriage, and for my home never fade.

Tell me: what in your life brings out the zeal in you?

Home as a Haven

Tuesdays are Titus 2 Tuesdays at Living in the Light. If you're a new visitor (especially if you're visiting from the Challenge)--welcome!!  I'm so happy you're here.  Check out my "About Me" page HERE, some of my favorite posts on marriage HERE, and my two most popular posts HERE and HERE.

What kind of atmosphere pervades your home?  Is it one of constant busyness--always running from one thing to the next, always stressed, always short on time?  Is it one of anger--everyone always snapping at each other, cruel words flying, doors slamming?

Or is it one of peace--kind words of love and forgiveness the norm, organization keeping everyone on track, time set aside each day to slow down and be together?

As the "lady of the house," setting an atmosphere of peace is primarily my job.  That doesn't mean it's entirely my job, or entirely any wife and mother's job.  Husbands, daughters, and sons all contribute to making home a haven--a place where people feel safe, comfortable, welcome, calm, and peaceful.

There are several ways that home becomes a place like this.  First, it helps if a home is clean, tidy, nicely organized, and tastefully decorated.  These are tasks that generally fall primarily to the wife and mother--but cleaning and organizing are jobs the whole family can help with!

Second, home is a haven when friends and relatives are made to feel welcome and comfortable.  What kind of guest accommodations does your home have?  Are you comfortable with having people over for meals or longer visits?  Do you stress and worry when you have to prepare a meal for more than just your family?  Practice hospitality--be kind and generous to those who enter your home.  And that includes your family!  Is your home a place where you, your husband and children, look forward to returning each day?

Third--and perhaps most importantly--a home is a haven when it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Do you make your home a place where the Gospel is predominant?  Does everyone who comes into your house feel the presence of the Holy Spirit?  Fill your home with prayer, worshipful music, good books, the regular reading of Scripture (individually and as a family), and ask the Lord to be present in your home.  Just as our bodies are living temples of the Holy Spirit because of God's gracious work in us, so we ask that our homes be places where he is present as well.

Jami at Young Wife's Guide talked about this very thing in a sweet and thoughtful post yesterday.  I highly recommend you read what she had to say!

Share with me in the comments--how do you make your home a haven, no matter what your role in the family?

I made yogurt, and it was good.

So I told you early this week on my Facebook page that I made homemade yogurt.

Well, I am thrilled to tell you that it turned out--and it is delicious!!  And super-easy!

It's not waaay cheaper than store-bought.  But I like knowing what's in it: milk, and culture.  That's it.  No artificial sweeteners (I put honey and vanilla in mine).  No preservatives.  No nothin' that I don't want in there.  I'd LOVE to make it with raw milk...but eh, maybe sometime.  For now, a girl can dream. :)

The process is nothing very exciting.
Warm up your slow cooker (on the lowest heat setting).
Bring milk to a simmer, till it foams.  I had a half-gallon and I used my biggest pot.  That milk expanded till it nearly filled the pot.  It was bubbly and fluffy and glorious, and it smelled delicious.
When the milk has shrunk down, take it off the heat.  Let it cool till you can stick your finger in it without burning your finger.  Mix a cup or so of the warm milk with 1/3 cup plain yogurt.  (I just used a store-brand, it was on sale, so was the store-brand milk, 99 cents a half-gallon!)  Put the rest of the milk in the slow cooker, slowly stir in the milk/yogurt, and then cover the slow cooker and turn it off, and unplug it.
Wrap it up in bath towels so it stays warm all night.
Go to bed.
Wake up the next morning and peer in your slow cooker to see half a gallon of lovely, tart, good-for-you yogurt!
That's the exciting part.  That, and trying to find enough old sour cream and yogurt containers in my cupboard to store all this creamy goodness.

I already used it to make cornbread, instead of milk.  Success.  Delicious with bananas, honey and vanilla.  Okay with raspberry jam, honey and vanilla.  Going to try it with pineapple tomorrow.  Planning on making homemade granola soon, because the marriage of granola and yogurt is a beautiful one.  Especially when both are homemade, and there is plenty of honey involved...

But I digress.

HERE is the recipe I followed, to the letter for once in my life, because I was a little nervous about this turning out.  (Thanks, Elsie!  It worked great!)

I'm excited to experiment with more flavors for my yogurt.  I'm thinking cocoa, and/or peanut butter, would be good.  I also plan to use it in cooking (for example, in the aforementioned cornbread).  If any of you know of good recipes which use plain yogurt, let me know!  I made a delicious salad last night with chopped tomato, half a sliced cucumber, some lime zest and juice, a little minced garlic, salt, pepper, and about a cup or so of yogurt.  SO good.

Anyway.  I'm excited that this latest experiment worked out.  Next time whole milk goes on sale (that's what I used) I'm going to buy three or four half-gallons and stick them in the freezer, because I think whole milk is probably the best choice for yogurt-making and, sigh, in this non-dairy-farming state whole milk is well over $4 a gallon.  Grr.  And that's the pasteurized, store-brand stuff.  Ah well.

It's worth it for the yogurt.

{Focus} On My Schedule

Most of my childhood, my days were fairly unstructured.  There were, of course, expectations for each day-make bed, do schoolwork, help around the house--but we were never on a rigid schedule.  That lasted through high school (one of the lovely benefits of homeschooling!), but college changed my lifestyle considerably.  Now I have to be in classes at specific times each day and I have a set work schedule.  This all changes every semester, so each semester we have to adjust our daily schedule at home a little.

I was talking to a friend yesterday, lamenting how we haven't been very productive over Christmas break simply because we have no schedule (although classes start again on Monday).  I realized that if I had given myself a schedule--not necessarily rigid, but at least some structure to a day--I could have gotten a lot more done over break.  So I've decided that, for this semester, I'm going to give myself a schedule for while I'm at home, not just at class and work.

I also want to make goals when it comes to housework.  I have a hard time getting caught up on housework once life gets busy with school and other commitments.  This semester I want to stay on top of the cleaning so it doesn't get out of hand.  I know that if I don't set small goals for myself I tend to get overwhelmed and don't feel like doing anything at all, so I'll do one or two easy cleaning jobs a day, and that way I know it will all get done.

My class schedule this semester is fairly easy; I don't start classes till noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  My Tuesday/Thursday classes start at 8.  I want to get up at the same time every day, so I'll be getting up "early" on MWF and, ideally, have time to get a lot of things done those mornings.  Joshua has to be at class at the same time every day, 10:00.

An ideal morning for me this semester will look like this:
6:00 out of bed, get in shower
6:15 get dressed, do hair/makeup
6:30, get tea or coffee brewing, read my Bible at the kitchen table (this will give me incentive to get the kitchen all cleaned up before I go to bed)
7:00 start breakfast (I generally make quick breakfasts--oatmeal, eggs, or something I've prepared the night before).  On MWF I'll have time to make a bigger breakfast; probably on Tues/Thurs I'll eat by myself since Joshua doesn't have to leave as early as I do.
7:30 Tues/Thurs, get ready to leave for class.  I still plan on walking/biking a lot to school, even though we have the car now, but it's a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute bike, so that will give me time to get my backpack ready.
Mon/Wed/Fri: 7:30, write/publish a blog post.
8:30, pack lunch, finish tidying kitchen.
9:00, Wednesdays, get ready to leave (we'll go to chapel together on Wednesdays).
9:00, Mon/Fri, housecleaning and homework.
11:30, get ready to leave for class.

What I am NOT going to put into my schedule is any computer time other than blogging.  This weekend I'm planning on reorganizing my desk so I can put my computer away when I'm not using it, and thus cut down on the temptation to be on it so much.  I have plenty of free time during the day, when I'm already at school, to check email and Facebook.

The chores I want to accomplish weekly are:
-clean the bathroom
-clean the kitchen floor
-dust/declutter/vacuum the living room
-dust/declutter/vacuum the bedroom
-pick up/organize the closet

Daily chores will include getting the dishes all done and kitchen cleaned up, tidying my desk, and basic wiping down in the bathroom.

Monday mornings: bathroom, and kitchen floor
Tuesday afternoons (I'll get home around 4:15): pick up/organize the closet
Friday mornings: dust/declutter/vacuum living room and bedroom

This weekend I'm going to make a master chart with both of our daily schedules on it.  This will keep both of us on task, and that way we'll always know where the other one is going to be.

I'll keep you updated on how I do with this!  I'm excited and a little nervous, but I know how satisfying it will be if I can accomplish this.  My main reasons for setting this schedule for myself are so that I can {Focus} more on being in the Word, {Focus} on being a better homemaker, and {Focus} on using my time more productively.  I hope that this will also reduce my stress!

Please be praying for me and Joshua as we start this new semester!

these yellow-tinted days

I know life isn't always perfect.  I may be optimistic, but I'm also realistic.

However, on days like this, it's easy to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses.  These days:

~church with my hubby, in a place we like, worshipping the God who loves us.
~sleeping in.  Together.
~good food...lots of it.  Good leftovers.
~time to do things we like: together, and by ourselves.
~teamwork.  Working together.  Installing plastic on our bedroom windows, to hopefully lower the heating bill.  Laughing, helping, coordinating.  And making a pie together.
~that pie.  Not to brag, but the best apple pie I've ever had, anywhere.  Kudos to my mother for training me in the kitchen.
~getting homework done.  Two days early!
~time to sit, watch TV, and not feel guilty about it in the least.
~dishes: DONE.
~sunny day, windy day--after the rain last night.  God is Lord of all seasons, of even the changeable weather.

I want to focus more on the good things.  The blessings that so often go unnoticed.  Even on the days when they're not so obvious as today's.  Because you know what?

My perspective isn't always the same.  The glasses aren't always rose-tinted (or, even prettier if you ask me, a golden buttery yellow...everything looks sunny through yellow).  Some days they might be puke green.  Or gray.  Or a depressing kind of blue (not all blues are depressing).

But even when my perspective changes, God stays the same.
He always blesses--even when I can't see the blessings.
He always loves--even when I'm the most unlovable.
He's always near--even when I'm turning so far away.

That's my God.  That's the one I believe in.

That's the God I thank, on days like these...


(and yes, of course, every day.  but some days it's easier to remember.)

The results of the soap-making experiment...

I'm sorry I don't have pictures.  It's plain white, nothing very interesting, and I just put it into sterilized glass jars and my shower-gel bottle.

I had to laugh yesterday when I came home from work and the stuff had "gelled" already--it only took about six hours!  It was like not-quite-set jello in the pot, so I whipped it up with a whisk, and then with my hand mixer.  And I'll be honest--the reviews I read saying the consistency was "snot-like"?  They were absolutely right.  It is. :)  It was hilarious pouring the stuff into the bottle and jars... such a funny consistency!

But you know what?  It smells good.  It cleans my skin and leaves it feeling perfectly soft.  It's workable in the shower.  I won't force my husband to use it--but hey, now I won't have to buy shower gel for probably three or four months or more!

Most of all, I'm proud of myself for trying something new.  For sticking with it.  And for not having high expectations of myself or my project for once--I couldn't be disappointed, just amused! :)

Next on my list for do-it-myself, natural beauty products is to switch from regular shampoo and conditioner to baking soda water and apple cider vinegar water.  Have you heard of this method?  I'm most interested in it as a money-saving enterprise (a little baking soda and acv is waaay cheaper than a bottle of shampoo or conditioner!), plus as another effort to use more natural products on or in my body.  I'm getting there...slowly but surely. :)  Probably in another five years you'll be able to label me a "crunchy" homemaker--but I'm good with that!  See this site, this one, and this one for info on the "no-poo" method.  I'm excited. :)

What about you?  Have you started making any homemade cleaning/beauty products?  What works for you?

I'm experimenting--with homemade liquid soap!

So, blogging friends, I'm embarking on a new homemaking, home-made adventure: making liquid soap!  I've been wanting to do this for a while, ever since I happened on this recipe.  My mom gave me a couple bars of nice Yardley's soap for my birthday, and I bought a $7, six-ounce bottle of glycerin at the drugstore the other today, and today I decided to go for it!  I also referred to this post , and I read somewhere else (forgot to bookmark that one) that including isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol added antibacterial qualities, so I mixed in that too.  Here's the final recipe that I used:

10 1/2 cups water
1 cup grated soap flakes
1 tablespoon glycerin
2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol

I sanitized my grater, measuring spoons, cutting board, whisk, and glass measuring cup with boiling water.  Set the 10+ cups of water to boil while I grated the soap.  (If I do this again, I'll use a food processor--it was tiring and I think I breathed in some soap dust.)  The soap melted almost instantly, and the mixture foamed a bit when I poured in the alcohol.  The fumes were a bit strong, but now the entire apartment smells nicely of lavender soap!  I'm going to let the mixture cool in the pot until it reaches the consistency I want.  If it turns out too runny or too "snotty" (that's a word a lot of commenters on both those posts used to describe their soap), I'm going to try whisking it or using a hand beater to incorporate air.  We'll see if that works.

If it's too thick (which I doubt will happen) I'll probably heat it up again and add some more water.

A lot of people were complaining that the soap didn't lather.  Plenty of others explained that lather doesn't equal cleaning.  I know it's soap, and I know it'll do the job whether it lathers or not!

Others were concerned about bacteria growing in the soap if purified water wasn't used to make it.  I'm not worried about that, for these reasons:  I boiled my water, for several minutes, before I added the soap, and boiled it some more after the soap flakes were mixed in.  I sanitized all my utensils, and I'm going to sanitize my storage containers before I put the finished soap in them.  Also, again-- it's soap.  It already contains ingredients that kill germs.  Plus, that's why I added the rubbing alcohol.  If the boiling didn't already kill off any bacteria, the alcohol will!

Finally, if this experiment turns out to be a complete flop, I'm not going to fuss.  The soap didn't cost me anything since it was a gift, and I wrapped the leftover bits in a piece of cotton fabric and tightly rubber-banded it shut, and I plan to use that in the shower.  And I still have most of a bottle of glycerin, which I can use as a skin moisturizer mixed with water.  So even if I decide that I can't use my homemade liquid soap, it's still not a loss--and maybe I'll try again with a different technique!

In the meantime, I'm baking bread (a combination of white and whole wheat flours), and I finally figured out how to get the loaves to rise properly and avoid having the dough stick to the towel covering it.  Cover the dough first with a well-greased piece of plastic wrap, and then put the wet towel over that.  Also, the second and third risings were on top of the warming-up oven, not in it, so that I wouldn't collapse the dough by taking it out of a very warm oven into a less-warm kitchen.

I'm so proud of myself.  And feeling so very domestic. :)

How I'm Frugal at the Grocery Store (8 Tips and Ideas)

Otherwise known as, "How To Save Money at the Grocery Store and Still Get Lots of Good Food."  :)

I'm not nearly a professional at this yet, having had only a little over a year of practice.  However, I have developed some tips and tricks for saving my family money at the grocery store.  I'd like to share my new routine with you in the hopes that it will prove helpful for you as well!

1) Divide items on grocery list by category. That way I don't make multiple trips across the store.

2) Check weekly store fliers. If a store has a sale on something that I'll be buying anyway, I'll get it at that store (but I only ever go to two or three).

3) Note on shopping list which stores have which items.  If milk is $2.50 at one store and $3 at another, I'll get it at the first.

4) Include rough estimate of what each item will cost, on grocery list. 

5) Round up costs on everything.  That way, if I accidentally round low on something (since I don’t know exactly how much everything is) it mostly evens out.  It helps me avoid going over-budget.

This week I have a bigger grocery budget than usual, thanks to a bigger-than-usual paycheck—God is good!  However, there are a few extra things I need that I don’t usually buy, like plastic sandwich bags, plastic wrap, a pork roast for when my family comes for dinner on Monday, and toilet paper.  Those are things I don’t often buy, however, so they don’t need to be regularly budgeted into my groceries.

6) Add up estimated costs on all items, including things not absolutely necessary.

What I like doing to myself is putting things on the list that I would like but don’t necessarily need, like more vinegar for cleaning (I still have over half a gallon), coffee, which is a would-like-very-much-but-don’t-absolutely-need, and ground beef, which is expensive and not the healthiest meat out there.

7) Cross off like-not-need things if total cost is over budget. I might end up being able to get them anyway, if I come under-budget with the necessary things..

This week, after adding up my grocery list, I came out about $50 over budget.  I’ll cross off things like lemonade ($5 for 5 cans), Reese’s Cups (which I was going to use in a dessert but don’t have to, $5), elbow macaroni and Velveeta (Velveeta is expensive, $6), and other things.  I ended up crossing off about $48 worth of items.

Now, most of my crossed-off items probably won’t be as much as I estimated, and the other things on my list probably won’t be as much as I expect.  So I might be able to get a few of the things that I crossed off anyway.  (Coffee is top priority!)

But, the thing is, they’re all non-essentials.  We’ll have plenty of food without them; most of the things I crossed off were “extras.”

8) Take a calculator to the grocery store.  For littler trips, I just add mentally. When I add, I'll round everything up to the nearest 50 cents or so. Then, when I have everything on my list, if I’m under budget at all, I can get some of the “extras”…

and, since I will have rounded up, I’ll still come out under-budget at the cash register!

Maybe I'm weird, but I find this sort of thing fun.  I hate spending money, so anything I can do to save money is great!

It's important to not make saving money all-important, of course.  What's my real reason for doing all this?  Am I honoring God and serving my family?

I think the answer to that is YES.  I'm doing my best to be frugal, to be a good steward of what God has given me, and still to provide good food for my family.

What are your ideas for saving money and time at the grocery store?  I'd love to have you share in the comments!

My All-Purpose Wonder-Cleaner

I wish I remember what blog I first read about using vinegar for cleaning!  Since my first discovery of it a few months ago, I've done a bit of reading into it (and I mean just a little), and a little more experimenting with it myself.

Growing up, the only thing my family really used vinegar-water for was...cleaning up vomit stains from the carpet.  Sorry.  Anyway, it took a while for me to get excited about using vinegar for anything else, because of the smell association!  Vinegar smell had always been associated with vomit smell.  Yuck, I know.  Well, I've gotten over that, and now I've been raving about the wonders of vinegar (combined, fairly often, with baking soda--my second-favorite cleaner) when it comes to cleaning.

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(And yes, I do usually use Walmart's or another store brand.  It's cheaper!)

Some of these may be ways you use vinegar already.  I hope some of them will be new ideas!  If you have any suggestions I haven't listed, please share them in the comments!  So, without further ado, my top uses for vinegar:

1) All-purpose cleaner.  I mix about half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle and use it all over the bathroom and to sanitize the kitchen counter and table.

2) Toilet bowl cleaner.  Undiluted, a cup-ish in the bowl when I start cleaning, then I swish it out.  One of these days I'm going to drain the bowl, make a paste of baking soda and water, and really get that thing clean.

3) De-scummer on kitchen/bathroom faucets (use with baking soda for best results).  I did this on my kitchen faucet the other day and oh. my. goodness.  It's so shiny now.  The tub faucet is going to get shined up soon!

4) Floor cleaner.  When I scrub the floors (which is on hands and knees, with a rag), I fill a bucket with hot water, add a cup or so of vinegar, and sometimes a few drops of dish soap and a sprinkling of baking powder.  That helps cut dirt and grease better than plain vinegar-water.

5) As a tub cleaner.  Especially when mixed with baking soda, this is an impressive one.  My tub was VERY soap-scummy.  I sprayed it with the vinegar-water to moisten, sprinkled liberally with baking soda (lovely foaming action!  Just like Scrubbing Bubbles, lol), and then used a sponge with a "scrubby" side to it to scour the tub.  I did this barefoot, in shorts and a t-shirt, and used my foot to do a lot of the work.  Saved my back that way, plus my legs are stronger than my arms!  It worked really well.

6) To remove urine stains from toilet.  This goes with being a toilet/all-purpose cleaner, but the vinegar spray, when used with a little baking soda, whitens those spots on the floor by the toilet like a charm.

7) As a window cleaner.  Just plain vinegar-water, rubbed vigorously with a dry cloth, shines windows and mirrors beautifully.  Newspaper also works wonderfully to dry the windows as well!  Something in the ink (and you must use regular newsprint, not magazine-like paper) helps keep the windows from streaking.  Lovely way to recycle, too!

8) To clean the top of the refrigerator.  I don't know about you, but the top of my refrigerator gets covered in a nasty grime from the combination of dust and grease that floats around the kitchen.  Once again, vinegar spray, a hefty sprinkle of baking powder, and a lot of paper towels got it cleaned right up.  (And in case you look askance at me for using paper towels, I'm in the process of (gradually) transitioning to using more rags.  But I don't have my own washing machine yet.)

9) To clean the rest of the refrigerator!  I did a quick wipe-down of mine the other day with just vinegar-water, and it got a lot of grime and gunk out.  The whole fridge needs a more thorough cleaning, but that will come.  Soon. :)

10) Microwave cleaner.  For those of you who use a microwave, this is SO much quicker than anything else.  Put a cup or so of vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl, add some water, and microwave on high until the mixture boils.  Let it sit for a minute or so before you open the door--the fumes will be strong--but then take it out and quickly wipe out the inside.  Scrubbing should be hardly necessary!

11) Drain freshener/de-clogger.  Pour that hot vinegar down the drain when you're done cleaning the microwave!  You can also pour straight vinegar, and then boiling water, down drains.  It doesn't remove all clogs, but it will clean them and freshen up any nasty smells.

12) Sanitize and freshen kitchen dishrags and sponges.  For a while I was using disposable sponges to do my dishes.  I didn't like how, even when well-rinsed, they'd get smelly after just a couple days.  So I tried soaking one in some vinegar for several hours, and that cleaned it enough to give it a longer usage time.

These are the main ways I use vinegar in my home.  What are some of your favorite cleaning tips and tricks?

Eating well and spending little

As a way to contribute to our family finances this summer, I've been doing my best to go grocery shopping as little as possible and, when I do go, to spend as little as I can.  We're still eating really well, I'm just getting creative with food and doing a few little things that make a really big difference!  So here is some of what I've been doing--perhaps it will be helpful to you as well!

1) Watch for sales and use coupons.
I'm not a big coupon-using person.  We don't get a regular newspaper and we live in such a small town that there aren't many stores to put out ads anyway!  But there are sales every week and often the weekly fliers contain coupons.  Plus, a lot of stores will have coupons in the checkout lane--I just picked up a packet of them the other day.  Please note, however, that the only way to really save money with coupons is to use them only for items you would normally buy.  Even if a box of name-brand cereal is on sale for $1.00 off, I wouldn't be saving any money by buying it because I wouldn't get it in the first place!

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2) Compare, compare, compare!
Prices, ingredients, and package sizes, that is.  Often store-brand products are the cheapest.  However, that does NOT always mean they're the best deal!  I always check these things:
-price per unit (ounce, pound, whatever.  Also, if you shop at multiple stores, compare prices on the things you buy most often, such as milk and eggs, and see which store has the better overall deal.)
-ingredients and nutrition facts (does the store brand have the same ingredients and nutritional value as the name brand?  Which one is the most healthful?)
-package sizes/serving sizes (this one is tricky!  Sometimes something is cheaper because it contains less product.  Packaging companies like to play visual tricks on consumers.  Just because two packages look like they're the same size doesn't mean they contain the same amount.)


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3) Eat less meat.
Meat is EXPENSIVE!  Ground beef prices just make me shudder.  We eat beef MAYBE once a week, if that.  Otherwise it's chicken, fish, or vegetarian options!  We're not vegetarian, but we've been eating like it because it's cheaper AND much healthier.  Also, I'm very careful to pay as little as possible for the meat I do buy.  I buy whole chickens for roasting (and get at least three meals out of them, between meat and making stock from the bones), or I buy bone-in, skin-on thighs or leg pieces.  It means a little more work to prepare, but the price difference is so worth it.

4) Make the food you have last longer.
For those of you who have starches (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice) as a main part of your diet, this is the best way to make food stretch.  For example, I made homemade refried beans and mixed in some rice.  Voila: twice as much food for pennies.
As another example, I bought one pound of ground beef the other day (for nearly $4.00!) and am making it stretch through THREE meals.  Meal one: meatballs with cream-of-mushroom-soup-and-sour-cream sauce (it is SO good) with mashed potatoes and a green salad.  Meal two: macaroni and cheese from a box (on sale for 50 cents!) with three of the leftover meatballs cut up and mixed in, as well as some leftover crm-of-mushroom soup, with green beans on the side and berry muffins for dessert.  Meal three (coming soon): beef-and-bean quesadillas with broccoli or salad on the side.  (P.S. Homemade tortillas are yummier and cheaper than the store-bought version.)

Also, another way to make food last AND keep it interesting is to vary the way you prepare it.  Instead of plain white rice, mix it with various herbs and spices (a cheap, calorie-free way to add tons of flavor to dishes), add it to beans like I did, stir in some shredded cheese, put it into soup, etc, etc.  Potatoes are just as versatile: add to soups and casseroles, bake, mash, fry, or shred them; roast alone for oven-fries or with other root vegetables; etc, etc.  Chicken can be prepared in a myriad of ways.

I realize many of these tips and ideas are ones you've already discovered for yourself...but perhaps one or two things here will be of use to you!  Now I'd love to hear your ideas.  How do you eat well while spending little?

On Staying Home

Most days this summer, I stay home while Joshua goes to work for eight hours every day.

I don't go back to bed.  (I did that a lot last summer.)  After I make breakfast, we eat, we have devotions, and he leaves, I spend a couple hours reading other blogs and writing my own.  Then I do dishes, some cleaning, some other project, until about 11 when it's time to think about making lunch to take over to Joshua.  I bike over to campus, where we go to school and where he works, with our lunch in my backpack.  After lunch I do dishes, more housework, more reading and writing.

Sounds super-boring when it's in black-and-white like that.  My days don't always follow this schedule, though.  Yesterday I cleaned at one house from 8:30-10, came home, made lunch, biked over lunch, came home, rested for a bit (it was HOT yesterday), biked over to another house for cleaning from 2:30-4:30, stopped at the bank, and THEN came home for the last time and made supper.

Today I have to catch up on cleaning.  And dishes.

I LOVE being at home.  Which is why I've been wondering at myself, why I don't have the get-up-and-go to get more stuff done around here.  I mean, it's not like the entire house is in shambles.  It's not bad.  Not nearly as bad as it gets during the school year sometimes, when my time is really stretched.

I struggle with feeling like I'm lazy, and then Joshua reassures me that I'm not.  I guess if I really think about everything that I do in a day or a week, it's plenty.  I'm not insanely scheduled all the time, but I'm not sitting around constantly, either.

Sometimes I feel guilty for staying home while Joshua works so hard.  I wanted to get a more permanent job this summer, but I wasn't contacted by any of the places I applied.  And God's been gracious...I kind of have three jobs this summer: housecleaning, subbing at the campus library (which I get to do 3 days next week), and working with the catering service on campus, on occasion. I have been working, just not as much as my hard-working husband.

And that, I think, is how it's supposed to be.  I stay busy, at home and with other things.  He makes the bigger paycheck.  I like that setup.  We're a good team.

I guess I'm just in one of those less-than-enthusiastic phases.  Don't get me wrong...I love my life.  So much. We're so blessed, and I wouldn't have things any other way.  But I'm not always as happy-go-lucky as I think I portray myself sometimes.

I'm going to write some more.  And then go clean up the kitchen.  And I'm thankful and blessed for every minute of it.

Loving Him in Little Ways

"She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family..."

Proverbs 31:15

I've never considered myself a morning person.  I used to get up early when I was little, but that was because I went to bed so early then.  Since starting college, sleep has become both more precious and more disposable than ever before.  Staying up late to finish projects and papers, and to hang out with friends and my man, has become the norm, but during the school year, I avoid getting up early if I can help it.  I like sleeping, and if at all possible I like sleeping late.

That became rare last summer...and then again this summer.  Joshua's summer job requires him to be at work at seven a.m.  We don't have a car, so he bikes/walks the mile to work.  We don't buy cold cereal very often, so breakfast takes longer than five minutes to get on the table.  And I always make us breakfast.  I always get up with him--sometimes before him--to get him fed so he has energy for his day.  Then we have devotions and a prayer together before he leaves.

I get up at 5:40 most days this summer.

For a lot of people, I know that's typical, or even late.  But for a girl who shuddered at the thought of getting up before 7 am until just recently, this is really early, and a huge change.

I started breakfast this morning by just the pre-dawn light coming in the kitchen window.  It was cool from the breeze coming in the open window; birds and crickets were chirping outside, and the sky was clear and gray-blue.  It wasn't quite light yet.  That verse from Proverbs came to mind: "She gets up while it is still dark..."

Joshua expressed to me the other day that he really appreciates the fact that I get up early with him.  "You don't have to, you know," he said.  "But I like it," I replied.  I've actually come to enjoy and appreciate these early mornings.

Getting up early...making a filling, healthful breakfast...these are two little things I do to love my husband.

I'm learning that it's the little things that make the biggest difference.  Getting up early was a big deal at first, but now it's routine, and it's a precious routine.

Some other little things I try to often do for Joshua are...

take him his lunch at work each day, and spend his lunch hour with him.

tidy myself up (brush teeth and hair, put on perfume and lipstick) before he comes home from work

let him rest while I make supper

make foods he really likes fairly often

None of these is very difficult.  None of them takes much effort.  But they mean a lot to my husband.

What else can wives do to love their husbands--little things that make a big difference?

Possibilities...

-invest in some new lingerie.  Men are visually stimulated and most husbands would be thrilled to see their wives in something flirty and sexy.

-spend a little time learning about his interests.  One thing I could and should do is learn more about football and sports in general, and really listen when Joshua talks about things that he gets excited about.

-rent one of HIS favorite movies for a surprise.

-learn more about his sexual needs and desires and how to fulfill them.

-spend time doing their favorite things with them.  If he likes disc-golfing, give it a try.  If video games are his thing, learn to use the controller.  (Preaching to myself here.)  If he likes cooking and you don't, watch some YouTube videos or the Food Network to learn some new skills.  You might just find that you like the things he does.

Again...doing one or two of these things won't take much time or effort, but the results could be huge.

I'm not guaranteeing anything.  I have a lot to work on myself, lots of ways I know I could love my husband better.  We're all growing and becoming the people God has created us to be.  I'm thankful that we live under his grace and that he doesn't leave us to learn and grow on our own, but he shapes us and helps us in everything.

I have a few ways in mind that I'm going to love on my husband in the next week...what about you?

(And husbands, if you're reading, what are little ways we wives could show love and support for our husbands?  My list is certainly not exhaustive!)

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My Greatest Desire

If you could do anything, be anything, what would it be?
If you could have one wish granted...what would you wish for?

Would you want to be a doctor?  An actor?  An artist?  The president of a Fortune-500 company?
A missionary?  Teacher?  Pastor?
All these are worthy callings.
But none of them (well, except missionary) have ever appealed to me.

I'll let you in on a secret--which you might already know about, if you've been here with me for a while.

The two things I've always wanted to be are a wife and mother.


There.  I said it.  If I could wish for anything, it would be to spend the rest of my life as a wife and mother.
Wife, check.
Mother...someday. :)

When I tell people this, I often get funny looks.  And questions like, "So why are you in college?"  (For the answer to that, read THIS POST.)  I'm at a small Christian university that, until just about fifteen or twenty years ago, was actually called a "Teachers' College."  And I'm not in the education program.  That puts me in a minority.

When I fill out applications for jobs and there are questions like, "What are your future goals?" or "How is this job preparation for your future career?" I shake my head and smile.  Because what I write is not what most people expect.

Since the 1970's, when feminism became popular and its influence filled nearly every household in America, it has been unusual and even strange for women to want to be full-time wives, mothers and homemakers.  For many women, it is absolutely necessary for their family's financial well-being that they work outside the home.  I'm sure there are many women in the workforce who wish they could stay home with their children.

But the fact that I have a choice, and I choose to stay home, is not nearly as common now as it used to be.

I'm blessed to have a husband who plans on helping me fulfill this dream.  On his (future teacher's) salary, we'll never have a lot of money, but we will never be wanting.  He supports me completely in my desire to be a full-time mother and homemaker.

I know that the profession of "homemaker" will not make me a lot of money.  It won't earn me much recognition in society.  My promotions--from mother of an infant, to a toddler, to a child, to a teen--won't increase my salary.  Learning new skills and perfecting the ones I have won't earn me a "Homemaker of the Month" plaque.

But love and appreciation from my husband and (future) children will be worth far more than that.  When I can look back on a life spent serving my family and those around me by being a godly wife, mother and homemaker, my greatest wish will have come true.

I don't have high aspirations or career goals according to the standards of society.  But when God created Eve he made her to be a helpmeet to her husband, to take care of the home in which God had placed them, and to be a loving mother to her children.  I like to think that God has given me the same jobs he gave the very first woman.  To fulfill them to the best of my ability, with his help and forgiveness, is my "dream job."

What about you?  To what vocation has God called you?