Welcome to the Nourishing Pin Party! You may link up any pins that have to do with Nourishing Living (recipes {real food only}, DIY, how-to, gardening, wellness, natural parenting, etc.). We will choose the top three pin links and feature them next week at the pin party, as well as post them on our collaborative board. Happy pin linking!
By linking up your pin, you’re stating that you own the copyright to the image used and give permission for others to “repin” it to their boards. You also give permission to feature your pin on our website during the next Pin it Party if you’re the chosen featured pin. We will always link back to your website/pinterest board and give credit to the creator/owner of the pin. Pinterest is in no way affiliated or endorsing this party.
Welcome to the Nourishing Pin Party! You may link up any pins that have to do with Nourishing Living (recipes (real food only), DIY, how-to, gardening, wellness, natural parenting, etc.). We will choose the top three pin links and feature them next week at the pin party, as well as post them on our collaborative board. Happy pin linking!
By linking up your pin, you’re stating that you own the copyright to the image used and give permission for others to “repin” it to their boards. You also give permission to feature your pin on our website during the next Pin it Party if you’re the chosen featured pin. We will always link back to your website/pinterest board and give credit to the creator/owner of the pin. Pinterest is in no way affiliated or endorsing this party.
Wait! Before you start linking up, if you’re a mom, homeschooler, wife, DIY-er, or foodie, you’ll want to see this! Woot!
Welcome to the Nourishing Pin Party! You may link up any pins that have to do with Nourishing Living (recipes (real food only), DIY, how-to, gardening, wellness, natural parenting, etc.). We will choose the top three pin links and feature them next week at the pin party, as well as post them on our collaborative board. Happy pin linking!
By linking up your pin, you’re stating that you own the copyright to the image used and give permission for others to “repin” it to their boards. You also give permission to feature your pin on our website during the next Pin it Party if you’re the chosen featured pin. We will always link back to your website/pinterest board and give credit to the creator/owner of the pin. Pinterest is in no way affiliated or endorsing this party.
If you don’t love Downton Abbey, then this post won’t make a whole lot of sense to you, nor will you find it humorous. I like humor, and often find it a good way to relieve stress, though I’m not in the slightest funny. But I got to thinking the other day when my children were needing extra attention, whilst giggling to myself and wearing a smirk on my face, what my favorite witty character on Downton Abbey would do or say when faced with various motherhood situations. While I don’t make a practice of this-I usually go away and pray, I did find considerable amusement that day. I made some memes here in this post to brighten your countenance.
Motherhood requires more energy than I would have ever imagined. I always thought that I would instinctively just know the right things to do or say. My children would require teaching and lots of love, of course, and I imagined having a few small attitude issues to deal with.
(Click to see a larger image)
When I became pregnant, I began observing the other mothers around me. I mentally noted how they interacted with their children and decided which strategies I believed in and which I didn’t. I had my game plan all figured out. What I never accounted for in all of my planning, and what I still occasionally struggle with, is how I would deal with my attitude and outlook toward motherhood and my role in the family.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting different results. If this is true, we mothers are insane. When you explain to a child for the millionth time that something is a bad idea and will cause them harm, so they should avoid it, or the like, it wears on your heart. Are they even listening to me? Am I making any difference?
For this reason, I sought out a mentor, someone to encourage me along the way. Funny thing is that I found more like ten mentors. My motherhood mentors were/are the authors of the various books I read to gain insight and wisdom from those who have gone before me. If you are raising children, you need a mentor (or ten!). It’s also probably best not to take the parenting example of the Dowager Countess!
The books above on Motherhood are a great place to start and are being offered as part of the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle. I have read several of these books and love them! I would not recommend them if I didn’t. I am especially looking forward to reading Hula Hoop Girl because I often find myself putting on too many hula hoops! I need to know my limits, which hula hoops are the ones I need to keep up and which ones are okay to let fall.
These eight books alone would cost over $60, but until 5/5/2013 you can get them in the bundle along with over 80 other helpful eBooks and eCourses for only $29.97. Get these books now and start the mentoring process. Your heart will be glad you did.
The other night my three children, ages 8, 4, and 3 cooked dinner for the family by themselves (I snapped this pic above as evidence!). No, this is not a dream, and yes, it was perfectly edible, tasty, in fact. You see, I have always been the main cook in the family. I am very blessed that my husband is happy to relieve me some days, and knows his way around the kitchen very well. I enjoyed cooking from scratch even before my real food days, but once I added in the extra preparation of soaking, fermenting and sprouting, I knew that it was going to be exhausting to keep it all up by myself. Besides that, I had become convinced that the best way to help my kids begin to make good food choices was to get them in the kitchen with me every day and forming good food habits.
How It All Started
My oldest, who is now 8, has been in the kitchen with me since she was about 2, though we didn’t start doing real food until she was 5. She began cooking entire breakfast meals and a few other things by the time she was 7. As soon as my younger daughter was about to understand and recognize numbers, about three, I taught her how to measure out and soak rice, beans, and oats. My baby, who is now 3 (wow!), happily stirred things for his sister, or was the designated taste tester.
My oldest daughter wanted to make a video (on the fly!) to show other kids the how-to of soaking beans and rice. She doesn’t get into the nutrition explanation of it so much, though she does understand why we do it, but it’s a good demonstration of something that she has been able to do for quite some time now. She is now capable of cooking many meals on her own. That dinner we ate the other day was a recipe she concocted all by herself! Little sis helped measure ingredients and my little man helped chop some things in his chopper.
How Can You Get Your Kids in the Kitchen?
Lorelei is getting more passionate about what she is learning and wants other kids to know that they can do it too! All of my kids appear with me in the Real Food Kids eBook and eCourse on GNOWFGLINS, the point of which is to give parents helpful strategies, tools, and encouragement to invite their children (all ages!) into the kitchen, in real-life learning situations, in order to teach them the importance of real food, nutrition, and cooking. These are life giving skills that are just as important as the daily hygiene practices and household chores we teach our children. Our motto is “Everyone eats, everyone cooks!”
Disclaimer: The post above contains affiliate links. Eat Nourishing will receive a commission if you purchase any products through this link, which helps support this site. We would never recommend any product to you that we didn’t love.
Do you ever get tired? Are you an introvert like me and need some quiet time everyday or your head will explode? Do you spend energy studying and soul searching, trying to be the best mom and wife you can possibly be? I feel so privileged to have my family and am honored to be able to stay home and use my gifts to nurture and grow my family and home, but I can’t do it alone!
I am forever searching out helpful tools to make things more efficient, spending hours reading blog posts, ebook, and regular books. Learning from others who have gone before me has been transformational in my life. In the past, I had a tendency to compare myself to these seemingly perfect women, but I’ve learned that we don’t all have the same giftings or personalities, and each of our families are unique because of such. Now, I thoroughly enjoy reading books, blogs, and watching videos of other moms and wives to try and get some of their insight. I have a teachable spirit, rather than a judge mental one. Getting into the heart of these other ladies has incredibly changed mine.
That is why I am so excited about this homemaking ebook bundle! Before this bundle came about, I had already read many of these resources for my own personal journey. I have to say that these ladies touched and changed my heart and family (and they will yours too!) with their words of wisdom and helpful tools. This past week I’ve been catching up on the ebooks I hadn’t read and I am reminded of so many things that I have set aside. Even though I have been consciously working on my intentional living, there are always things I need constant reminding of.
I put together a short video to preview the bundle. Feel free to share it with your other mom friends. This bundle would make an excellent Mother’s Day gift! (I’m probably buying one for my sister and mother-in-law-hope they aren’t reading this…) I’ll be vlogging (video blogging) about some of my favorites next week, so check back!
I am more excited than I can express to share with you about a monumental ebook library that will be going on sale beginning on Monday. I have already read several of the ebooks and I am doing my best to pour through the rest before next week, so I can give you detailed feedback. But there are not only ebooks! There are eCourses and bonuses as well! You will find these books to be inspiring, encouraging, and educational. There are so many resources here that there is something for everyone.
For 6 days only, more than 75 widely-known bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere have joined together to offer 97 of their most popular eBooks and eCourses, valued at just over $600, for the incredibly low price of $29.97!
This library of homemaking helps include topics such as mothering, organization and cleaning, recipes and kitchen helps, home education, spiritual growth for both moms and kids, home décor and DIY, pregnancy and baby care, frugal living, health and fitness, and even work-from-home and financial tools. See the complete list of books, resources, and bonuses here.
To sweeten the pot, we’ve also teamed up with 10 companies to bring you over $140 in bonus offers, giving you an affordable opportunity to get products you’ll use and love for only the cost of shipping, or in some cases, entirely for free! Plus, we will be holding a giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD during the sale!
eBooks are wonderful additions to any library. I love them because they are portable, they don’t take up any (physical) space-remember I live in a bus, they are easily searchable, they include links to other fun stuff, and best of all they don’t need dusting. We use our Nook every day for homeschooling, to free reading, to doing research, and more.
Don’t have an eReader like the Kindle or Nook? Not a problem! You can still enjoy ebooks.
If you have a smart phone like the iPhone or Android you can download an eReader app, Nook app or Kindle app which will allow you to read the ebook on your phone any place!
Surprisingly, statistics tell us most people read eBooks on your home computers.
Here are a few recommended eReader softwares to help you manage your digital library on your desktop/laptop:
Calibre - Works with almost all eBook formats. Requires install on your home computer. REALLY nice organization. Can also convert formats. Highly recommend.
Google Books - Manage your eBook library online, which means no installation on your home computer. You can access your library on any computer by signing into your Google account on the browser. Can only access what’s available on Google Books though.
Firefox ePub extention - If you’re running Firefox this plugin allows you to read ePub format ebooks that you’ve downloaded in a browser. No software to download.
Kindle for PC - software to read Amazon Kindle eBook formats. Syncs with Kindle account online.
Nook for PC - software to read ePub formats and PDFs. Syncs with B&N account.
Be sure to subscribe to our RSS or subscribe to our email newsletter so you don’t miss the sale or the giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD we will be doing to accompany it! Next week I’ll cover several of the books so you can really see what’s being offered in more detail.
Wait! Before you start linking up, if you’re a mom, homeschooler, wife, DIY-er, or foodie, you’ll want to see this! Woot!
Welcome to the first Nourishing Pin Party! You may link up any pins that have to do with Nourishing Living (recipes (real food only), DIY, how-to, gardening, wellness, natural parenting, etc.). We will choose the top three pin links and feature them next week at the pin party, as well as post them on our collaborative board. Happy pin linking!
By linking up your pin, you’re stating that you own the copyright to the image used and give permission for others to “repin” it to their boards. You also give permission to feature your pin on our website during the next Pin it Party if you’re the chosen featured pin. We will always link back to your website/pinterest board and give credit to the creator/owner of the pin. Pinterest is in no way affiliated or endorsing this party.
NOTE: The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is no longer available. Thank you to everyone who purchased. The books are available on an individual basis though, so be sure to check them out.
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For 6 days only, more than 75 widely-known bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere have joined together to offer 97 of their most popular eBooks and eCourses, valued at just over $600, for the incredibly low price of $29.97!
More than anything, our goal for this sale was for it to be, well… ultimate! We firmly believe that you will not find a more comprehensive collection of homemaking resources anywhere on the web, and particularly not in this price range. For this low price, you gain access to every single one of these resources, so that you can customize your own collection to contain exactly the ones you want and know you’ll use.
Disclaimer: Links on this page do include affiliate links. Eat Nourishing will earn a small commission if you purchase any products through our links. Your cost is not affected. We would never recommend products to simply make a commission. We love this product (and have been super blessed by them!) and know you will too, or we wouldn’t recommend it to you. Thanks for helping to support Eat Nourishing!
This library of homemaking helps include topics such as mothering, organization and cleaning, recipes and kitchen helps, home education, spiritual growth for both moms and kids, home décor and DIY, pregnancy and baby care, frugal living, health and fitness, and even work-from-home and financial tools.
To sweeten the pot, we’ve also teamed up with 10 companies to bring you over $140 in bonus offers, giving you an affordable opportunity to get products you’ll use and love for only the cost of shipping, or in some cases, entirely for free!
What’s Included in the Sale?
When you purchase The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection , you will get instant access to any of the 97 eBooks and eCourses listed below.
PLUS over $140 of FREE Bonuses
Each The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection comes with more than $140 of FREE Bonuses from 10 companies that we know you’ll love. More on these bonuses below.
Even if you don’t have an eReader, you can still read these! Read this post and scroll part way down to read about other options for viewing ebooks on your desktop or smartphone.
Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered.
PLUS, You will receive FREE Bonuses from these companies…
A FREE Two-Month Membership to Fit2B Studio, where their wholesome workouts for the whole family are tummy safe and particularly target Diastasis Recti (split abs). ($19.98 value.No shipping restrictions.)
A $15 store credit to TruKid. With products like their aware-winning sun care, they are dedicated to providing all natural skin and hair care for kids, babies, and now pets. ($15.00 value.Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)
Your choice of incredible natural products like sea salt and clay for FREE. Choose from the Redmond Trading Earthpaste Bundle ($24.90 value) or the Facial Mud Bundle ($26.90 value). (Standard shipping applies. Continental US only.)
Your choice of: a FREE 3-Month Subscription (for new accounts) or 30% off a One Year Subscription. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)
A FREE Culinary Herbs Assorted Seed Pack Check just in time for spring planting from www.wheatgrasskits.com, a living whole foods company. ($11.95 value.Standard shipping applies to all US states and territories- no international shipping for seeds.)
Get $10 off Union28’s original “my husband rocks” tee. Their marriage apparel lets you celebrate your spouse in style. ($10.00 value. Standard shipping rates apply. International shipping available, but free shipping only available within USA.)
A $10 store credit plus 1 FREE lip balm from Bee All Natural. Their whole body products nourish and heal, and are made using only the highest quality, food grade, organic ingredients. ($13.49 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)
A FREE 2 oz. bottle of your choice of liquid herbal formula from TriLight Health. They specialize in fast acting, great tasting natural herbal remedies. ($12.95 value or more. Standard shipping applies, within the USA only.)
Your choice of 3 FREE ePlanners OR a 3-Month FREE Membership to ListPlanIt, whose mobile lists will help to organize your life. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)
The fine print:
Bonus Offers
Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase.
For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.
All bonus offers are free gifts from the bonus sponsors, are their sole responsibility to provide, and are subject to availability.
All bonus offers expire at midnight on May 19th, 2013 (3 weeks from the last day of this sale).
General
It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase within the 1-month download time-frame. With proof of purchase, we can renew download links up until August 1st, 2013. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.
Due to the nature of this sale, there will be no refunds available. However, we would invite you to read our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the file types, the download process, how the bonus offers work, etc.
Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure that you get your bundle right away!
Disclaimer: Links above do include affiliate links. Eat Nourishing will earn a small commission if you purchase any products through our links. Your cost is not affected. We would never recommend products to simply make a commission. We love this product and know you will too, or we wouldn’t recommend it to you. Thanks for helping to support Eat Nourishing!
I have always wanted to make my own extracts and give them away as gifts during the holidays. I have finally gotten around to trying it, but all the research begged the question, “Is it worth it?” Too much work? Not cost effective? I’ll go through a few pros and cons and then discuss the financial aspect, which was really my focus in this research.
Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe
3-4 Vanilla Beans (we’ll talk varieties below)
8 oz. Vodka (or other clear alcohol 35% or more)
Cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise and then cut into three smaller pieces. Place into bottle with vodka. Leave in a cool place for 2 months. It’s really that easy.
Use cute Bormioli Rocco Wire Bail Bottles to house your extract for a great gift!
Pros
Simple to make
Supposedly cheaper to make yourself
Only two ingredients
Cons
Takes at least two months to extract the flavor
Vanilla beans aren’t exactly local and can be difficult to source (though hardly with the internet!)
What about the cost factor?
The major deciding factor for me was whether or not it was worth it financially. See, I’m a pretty busy girl, and though I love DIYing just to say I can, there are times when I need to draw some lines. I knew I wanted to make organic extract, since supposedly some heavy metals can be left in the final distilled product, though according to other sources there is chemically no difference at all between organic spirits and regular. I also needed to use a variety that was not made with a gluten grain, since my husband has sensitivities.
Before we get into homemade cost breakdown, here’s a list of some brands of vanilla extract:
Of course, you want to have good quality beans to make your extract. Tahitian is the best, but also more expensive. I would settle with Madagascar or Bourban. I sourced out vanilla beans in a few places. 25 beans is enough to make about 6 -8oz batches using the recipe above.
If you’re not looking to make organic extract, you can easily get a liter of potato vodka at Trader Joe’s for $10. I found organic vodka for $26, but it was rye derived. The organic potato vodka I found was $50 (Ouch!)
Let’s Recap
Regular Vanilla Extract: $10 for vodka + $25 for beans = $35 for 4 batches of extract with some beans left over, or $8.75 per batch. TOTALLY worth it, financially.
Organic Vanilla Extract: $26 for grain vodka + $25 for beans = $51 for 4 batches of extract with some beans left over, or $12.75 per batch. As you can see this is a STEAL over buying organic vanilla extract. Even with the non-grain based vodka I can make it for $18.75 a batch which is still cheaper than the above options!
So is it worth it to make your own homemade vanilla extract (and other extract, too!), the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Have you ever made your own vanilla extract or other extracts? Do you think they are worth it?